Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
in the same exact location on every page. Good repetition is when you use
consistent navigation systems in your site.
Bad repetition happens when things are repeated for no good reason than
simply to repeat them. As with the case of blinking items and putting four
instances of a logo on one Web page. Another event that exemplifies bad
repetition is when navigation is repeated in the exact same way on the same
page. Navigation can be repeated on a Web page. It is a good idea to have main
navigation which is graphical or text-based at the top of the Web page and if
the pages are scrollable, main navigation should be located at the bottom of the
pages in a simple, small scale text-based navigation bar. Components to the
Web portfolio page such as a contact button should be repeated in the same
place on every page, but not multiple times on the same page for no good
reason. When you begin to design your Web page screens think about the role
of repetition in your designs. Once you decide that an element should be
repeated, make sure that it is repeated consistently throughout all of its
occupied pages. Before duplicating items on a page asked the questions: Why
am I doing this? Will this be effective or bothersome to the user? Is this
repetition needed to benefit the user? Will this repetition help guide the user
when they are navigating through the site? Will this repetition help promote my
personal identity and add value to my public appearance? These questions are
given to you so that you consider them when you begin visual design. I offer
them to you so that you can begin to eliminate common visual mistakes that I
made one non designers and new designers begin to create visual work.
Continuity
Continuity is a term that is defined as consistency and adherence to structure.
Continuity within the Web portfolio relies on keeping pages in the designed site
structure. Technical snafus sometimes cause us to let continuity fail. For
example, if we forgot navigation item after we were well into the design what
should we do? Should we throw in anywhere? Or, should we redesign the
navigation to integrate the missing piece? Sometimes we can add last-minute
items and navigation to the Web page. In most cases doing this will disrupt
continuity. Therefore, it is important that we establish continuity and consis-
tency before we spend the bulk of our time physically creating completed Web
pages. As a rule, you should not move navigation items to accommodate
content. Establish minimum and maximum content sizes so that you can
