Architecture and Common Mistakes

Website design and architecture, no matter the purpose of your site, it crucial in order for your user or audience to navigate and understand both what you are doing and what they are going to get out of your website.

In W3's Web Architecture from 50,000 Feet , many protocols and guidelines were addressed regarding the creation and design of websites. Although this was written in 1998, most of the information still seems relevant to what we have been talking about in class (aka I recognize some of the acronyms and terms we've been using...). "The document is written for those who are technically aware or intend soon to be, so it sparse on explanation and heavy in terms of terms."

The second reading, Nielsen's 10 Most Violated Homepage Design Guidelines, was easy for me to relate to. I hate visiting websites that don't  tell me the links I've already visited and those ones don't have a clear and explicit purpose. Nielsen's Rule #5: Include a tag line that explicitly summarizes what the site or company does. 

Finally, the last reading, Williams' Designing the Interface Navigation is another that I could continue to come back to throughout the process of the next assignment. If I am not comfortable in the online space I will provide to an audience on the World Wide Web, neither will those users who are trying to navigate the site.
Williams suggests that interface designers:
1. Start with a simple plan
2. Think about horizontal format
3. Think about navigation design, styles, frames
4. Think about repetition and consistency
5. Create and flow through more than one navigation method
6. Think about including a site map or index 
7. Selective linking (internal (local) vs. external(remote))

Just as we are using our classmates knowledge while doing in-class activities and our future assignments, Williams encourages us to learn from others.