28.1 Global Navigation
Global Navigation is a UI/UX design skill that helps make products easier to understand, use, test, and improve. The method should be tied to a real user problem instead of decoration alone.
Step by step
- Define the user problem connected to Global Navigation.
- Collect evidence before jumping to a polished solution.
- Create the smallest flow, sketch, wireframe, prototype, or test needed to answer the question.
- Test the design with realistic content, states, and device constraints.
- Record what you learned and change the design based on evidence rather than preference.
10 practical examples
- Apply Global Navigation to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Global Navigation to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Global Navigation to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Global Navigation to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Global Navigation to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Global Navigation to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Global Navigation to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Global Navigation to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Global Navigation to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Global Navigation to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
UI/UX PRACTICE
Problem: A user struggles with Global Navigation.
Evidence to collect: interview, observation, analytics, or usability result.
Artifact: flow, sketch, wireframe, prototype, or test plan.
Success measure: task completion, clarity, error reduction, or satisfaction.
Next step: test one assumption.Expected output
A user-centered design artifact for Global Navigation plus a clear statement of what evidence would confirm or reject the design decision.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Global Navigation using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
28.2 Local Navigation
Local Navigation is a UI/UX design skill that helps make products easier to understand, use, test, and improve. The method should be tied to a real user problem instead of decoration alone.
Step by step
- Define the user problem connected to Local Navigation.
- Collect evidence before jumping to a polished solution.
- Create the smallest flow, sketch, wireframe, prototype, or test needed to answer the question.
- Test the design with realistic content, states, and device constraints.
- Record what you learned and change the design based on evidence rather than preference.
10 practical examples
- Apply Local Navigation to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Local Navigation to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Local Navigation to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Local Navigation to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Local Navigation to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Local Navigation to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Local Navigation to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Local Navigation to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Local Navigation to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Local Navigation to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
UI/UX PRACTICE
Problem: A user struggles with Local Navigation.
Evidence to collect: interview, observation, analytics, or usability result.
Artifact: flow, sketch, wireframe, prototype, or test plan.
Success measure: task completion, clarity, error reduction, or satisfaction.
Next step: test one assumption.Expected output
A user-centered design artifact for Local Navigation plus a clear statement of what evidence would confirm or reject the design decision.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Local Navigation using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
28.3 Tabs
Tabs is a UI/UX design skill that helps make products easier to understand, use, test, and improve. The method should be tied to a real user problem instead of decoration alone.
Step by step
- Define the user problem connected to Tabs.
- Collect evidence before jumping to a polished solution.
- Create the smallest flow, sketch, wireframe, prototype, or test needed to answer the question.
- Test the design with realistic content, states, and device constraints.
- Record what you learned and change the design based on evidence rather than preference.
10 practical examples
- Apply Tabs to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Tabs to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Tabs to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Tabs to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Tabs to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Tabs to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Tabs to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Tabs to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Tabs to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Tabs to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
UI/UX PRACTICE
Problem: A user struggles with Tabs.
Evidence to collect: interview, observation, analytics, or usability result.
Artifact: flow, sketch, wireframe, prototype, or test plan.
Success measure: task completion, clarity, error reduction, or satisfaction.
Next step: test one assumption.Expected output
A user-centered design artifact for Tabs plus a clear statement of what evidence would confirm or reject the design decision.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Tabs using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
28.4 Breadcrumbs
Breadcrumbs is a UI/UX design skill that helps make products easier to understand, use, test, and improve. The method should be tied to a real user problem instead of decoration alone.
Step by step
- Define the user problem connected to Breadcrumbs.
- Collect evidence before jumping to a polished solution.
- Create the smallest flow, sketch, wireframe, prototype, or test needed to answer the question.
- Test the design with realistic content, states, and device constraints.
- Record what you learned and change the design based on evidence rather than preference.
10 practical examples
- Apply Breadcrumbs to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Breadcrumbs to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Breadcrumbs to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Breadcrumbs to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Breadcrumbs to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Breadcrumbs to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Breadcrumbs to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Breadcrumbs to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Breadcrumbs to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Breadcrumbs to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
UI/UX PRACTICE
Problem: A user struggles with Breadcrumbs.
Evidence to collect: interview, observation, analytics, or usability result.
Artifact: flow, sketch, wireframe, prototype, or test plan.
Success measure: task completion, clarity, error reduction, or satisfaction.
Next step: test one assumption.Expected output
A user-centered design artifact for Breadcrumbs plus a clear statement of what evidence would confirm or reject the design decision.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Breadcrumbs using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
28.5 Search
Search is a UI/UX design skill that helps make products easier to understand, use, test, and improve. The method should be tied to a real user problem instead of decoration alone.
Step by step
- Define the user problem connected to Search.
- Collect evidence before jumping to a polished solution.
- Create the smallest flow, sketch, wireframe, prototype, or test needed to answer the question.
- Test the design with realistic content, states, and device constraints.
- Record what you learned and change the design based on evidence rather than preference.
10 practical examples
- Apply Search to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Search to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Search to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Search to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Search to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Search to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Search to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Search to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Search to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Search to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
UI/UX PRACTICE
Problem: A user struggles with Search.
Evidence to collect: interview, observation, analytics, or usability result.
Artifact: flow, sketch, wireframe, prototype, or test plan.
Success measure: task completion, clarity, error reduction, or satisfaction.
Next step: test one assumption.Expected output
A user-centered design artifact for Search plus a clear statement of what evidence would confirm or reject the design decision.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Search using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
Chapter 28 review — 10 questions and answers
1. What is the main purpose of Global Navigation?
Answer: Global Navigation is a UI/UX design skill that helps make products easier to understand, use, test, and improve. The method should be tied to a real user problem instead of decoration alone.
2. What is a common mistake with Global Navigation?
Answer: Treating Global Navigation as a visual preference instead of connecting it to a user need, constraint, or testable outcome.
3. What is the main purpose of Local Navigation?
Answer: Local Navigation is a UI/UX design skill that helps make products easier to understand, use, test, and improve. The method should be tied to a real user problem instead of decoration alone.
4. What is a common mistake with Local Navigation?
Answer: Treating Local Navigation as a visual preference instead of connecting it to a user need, constraint, or testable outcome.
5. What is the main purpose of Tabs?
Answer: Tabs is a UI/UX design skill that helps make products easier to understand, use, test, and improve. The method should be tied to a real user problem instead of decoration alone.
6. What is a common mistake with Tabs?
Answer: Treating Tabs as a visual preference instead of connecting it to a user need, constraint, or testable outcome.
7. What is the main purpose of Breadcrumbs?
Answer: Breadcrumbs is a UI/UX design skill that helps make products easier to understand, use, test, and improve. The method should be tied to a real user problem instead of decoration alone.
8. What is a common mistake with Breadcrumbs?
Answer: Treating Breadcrumbs as a visual preference instead of connecting it to a user need, constraint, or testable outcome.
9. What is the main purpose of Search?
Answer: Search is a UI/UX design skill that helps make products easier to understand, use, test, and improve. The method should be tied to a real user problem instead of decoration alone.
10. What is a common mistake with Search?
Answer: Treating Search as a visual preference instead of connecting it to a user need, constraint, or testable outcome.