Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
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Was the navigation presented in easy, understandable terms?
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Did you feel you had control of the interface and portfolio content?
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Was it easy to quit out of the Web portfolio pop up windows?
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Did you require help at any time while using the Web portfolio site?
Thinking about these questions before you fully design the Web portfolio site
will help you keep a grip on usability. Did you discover something that doesn't
seem right with your anticipated information design? If so, simply make a
change before you create the flowchart. After creating the flowchart, ask the
questions again to see if the skeleton is solid and provides access to content in
the most direct routes available.
Now let's map out how the Web portfolio site will work by creating a visual
diagram or flowchart.
Create Your Flowchart
The flowchart is the product of information design. It provides a top down
structure for the entire Web site and allows the designer to estimate the
approximate number of Web pages that are needed to accommodate the
content. The flowchart also allows organization of navigation and external links.
This scope paperwork becomes extremely important when designing a site with
lots of pages and enhances usability through critical vision focusing on how the
site will work. The structure of a Web site is planned on paper first to insure that
functionality and user convenience is consistent and correct. The structure
planning results in a flowchart. Every box in the flowchart represents a page.
Every link in the flowchart is access to a page, URL, or content.
Use the content outline to work from as you develop the flowchart. Each header
or category is going to be a top level item in the flowchart. All content will be
a sub level item, also known as the subcategory. Here is an easy way to plot
out the flowchart: Use boxes for pages (main navigation/major categories),
lines for links, and italic text for loose content. Use indentation to branching of
topics within subcategories.
Boxes for pages/main navigation represent containers for content. Organize the
site structure further by expanding the flowchart with a branch off each box with
