User experience vs User Interface;
User Experience is defined by:
- Personas
- User stories
- User research
- Usability testing
User Interface is defined by:
- Layout
- Visual design
- Branding
They are both linked through wireframes
User Experience is broken down into: Look, Feel and Usability
- Look: Credibility, Trust, Harmony and Spirit
- Feel: Joy of use, Interaction and Reaction
- Usability: Functionality, Individuality and Predictability
Common navigation patterns include:
- Tabs (navigation and module tabs)
- Menus (horizontal and vertical dropdown menus and accordion menus)
- Jumping in hierarchy (shortcut dropdown, fat footer, home link, breadcrumbs)
- Content (carousel, event calendar, article list)
Using these navigation patterns:
- Tabs: when there’s 2-9 navigation modes and you want them to take up the entire width of the page. Don’t use when you want to show content specific data
- Dropdown menus: when users need to navigate between sections of a website. They save space by organising and concealing information
- Drawer menus: they are space savers and allow for quick access
- Search bar with dropdown: users can access specific action or functionality of website
- Big footer: users as shortcut to hierarchical information
- Home: create safe space for users to know they’ll be redirected to a familiar page
- Breadrumbs: take up minimal space and hint to layout of page
- Carousel: when users need to browse through set of items
Graphic Design: Interactive Digital Media 