Google nav redesign
For all the great things Google does, it's pretty bad at organization and layout (ironically enough, just like its adversary, Apple). Google's navigation doesn't just leave something to be desired, it is an outright time sink. You're usually better off typing in every direct URL instead of clicking through, but a) their URL's aren't very consistent (images.google.com, but google.com/finance?); and b) that's why we have navigation in the first place.
After doing a brief audit of the current navigation links, I reorganized a bit and put together a little prototype. Comments below.
Please note: I am not a designer, an info architect, or a UX'er. I am just a user with an idea.
After doing a brief audit of the current navigation links, I reorganized a bit and put together a little prototype. Comments below.
Please note: I am not a designer, an info architect, or a UX'er. I am just a user with an idea.
I'm making a few assumptions, and a taking a handful of small liberties.
First, I'm assuming the simple CSS-based linking criteria employed by the current system has meaning and reasoning behind it (i.e. reasons for not going graphics crazy). As such, core styles remain the same.
Secondly, I'm sure Google has done all kinds of user testing, but the current navigation organization is pure chaos to users. So trusting that Google has its reasons for the current system that just aren't being communicated, I've focused more on the organization and layout by moving things around a bit, and just adding slight additional visual separation through color.
Lastly - and I don't know that this is even an assumption as much as it is a given - vertical spacing across the top of any Google page is at a premium. Clearly this design beefs up to three horizontal lines, up from one, and so I've tightened the existing spacings a few pixels, both vertically and horizontally, to bring everything in a bit.
Liberties include replacing the labs beaker with the word "Labs" for consistency (why only one icon?), and the titles of each group ("Google", "More", account name, "Settings"). But most obvious would be the actual grouping choices. Until now, I hadn't realized the navigations change depending on what page you're on within the Googleverse. So again, in assuming that Google has its reasons for the current nav items' (loose) orders, I'm simply defining buckets and making their groups standard, like a real nav.
Usefulness of this design is subjective; it lies in my own interpretation of what I see on the site. But I'm interested to know what other users think, both about this suggestion and Google's current system in general. Is it actually "broken" for you too, or could you not care less?
First, I'm assuming the simple CSS-based linking criteria employed by the current system has meaning and reasoning behind it (i.e. reasons for not going graphics crazy). As such, core styles remain the same.
Secondly, I'm sure Google has done all kinds of user testing, but the current navigation organization is pure chaos to users. So trusting that Google has its reasons for the current system that just aren't being communicated, I've focused more on the organization and layout by moving things around a bit, and just adding slight additional visual separation through color.
Lastly - and I don't know that this is even an assumption as much as it is a given - vertical spacing across the top of any Google page is at a premium. Clearly this design beefs up to three horizontal lines, up from one, and so I've tightened the existing spacings a few pixels, both vertically and horizontally, to bring everything in a bit.
Liberties include replacing the labs beaker with the word "Labs" for consistency (why only one icon?), and the titles of each group ("Google", "More", account name, "Settings"). But most obvious would be the actual grouping choices. Until now, I hadn't realized the navigations change depending on what page you're on within the Googleverse. So again, in assuming that Google has its reasons for the current nav items' (loose) orders, I'm simply defining buckets and making their groups standard, like a real nav.
Usefulness of this design is subjective; it lies in my own interpretation of what I see on the site. But I'm interested to know what other users think, both about this suggestion and Google's current system in general. Is it actually "broken" for you too, or could you not care less?
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