Navigation is an essential part of any user interface. It allows users to move around the product and find the information they need. When designing mockups, it is important to consider the navigation and how it will work.
There are a few different types of navigation that you can use in your mockups:
- Navigation bars: Navigation bars are typically horizontal bars that display the most important links to the product. They are easy to find and give users a clear overview of the different areas of the product.
- Tab bars: Tab bars are similar to navigation bars, but they display links as tabs that can be clicked on and off. This can be a good way to organize a lot of content into different categories.
- Navigation menus: Navigation menus are typically hidden behind a hamburger icon (three horizontal lines). This can be a good way to save space on the screen, but it is important to make sure that the menu is easy to find and use.
- Navigation hubs: Navigation hubs are central pages that provide links to all of the other pages in the product. This can be a good way to organize a small number of pages, but it can be confusing for users with a lot of pages.
When choosing a navigation type for your mockups, it is important to consider the following factors:
- The size and complexity of your product: If you have a small product with a few pages, then a navigation hub may be sufficient. However, if you have a large or complex product, then you may need to use a navigation bar or tab bar to organize the content.
- The target audience: If your target audience is not familiar with using mobile apps, then it is important to use a simple and easy-to-understand navigation system.
- The overall design of your product: The navigation should be consistent with the overall design of your product.
Here are some tips for including navigation in your mockups:
- Use clear and concise labels for your navigation links.
- Use a consistent design for your navigation links.
- Use visual cues to indicate which navigation links are active.
- Make sure that your navigation is easy to find and use.
- Test your navigation with users to make sure that it is easy to understand and use.
Here are some additional tips for designing effective navigation:
- Use affordances to indicate which elements are interactive.
- Use a consistent layout for your navigation.
- Use hierarchy to indicate the relative importance of different navigation links.
- Use feedback to let users know when they have interacted with a navigation element.
- Use progressive disclosure to avoid overwhelming users with too many options at once.
By following these tips, you can create navigation that is easy to use and helps users to find the information they need.