Navigation flowchart tips for wireframes

These are some tips to creating wireframe navigation flowcharts for your projects using Justinmind Prototyper. Use them to understand how users will interact with your website or software.

Guide your users every time

In choosing styles for navigational elements you should try to reach a balance between aesthetics and functionality. Every page must tell the users where they are, and what they’re going to do after. The navigation flowchart is also known as navigation map because of it. The project managers must understand what users do in each and every step, and the designers must take care to show it to the users.

You don’t control how users get to your site. They don’t always come to the homepage, so you must show them there are other pages with content that might interest them. Also, a home link is always recommended.

Simplify the paths through your wireframe

Users don’t want to click several times to reach some information. So, you must create funnels and understand how they move throughout your site to simplify their ways. For example, if almost everyone that gets to your homepage goes to the product page, and then to a specific product, you should consider inserting a direct link from your home to that product.

Sometimes, product managers want users to read everything about their product or service, but that’s not the way users think. It may hinder them from visiting you again.

Think about accessibility issues

Even in the flowchart, you must think about scenarios that involve requirements for people with disabilities. Your project must have a scenario that guides these users and help them find their way.

Start with the main routines but don’t forget the subroutines

Most users will use your site for just one thing: the main one. But sometimes users will use it in several unexpected ways. These can be traced and thought about when you’re planning the navigation map.

Try to include all possibilities and avoid being surprised. Some users can be lost somewhere, because you didn’t think about that possibility. Other way of detecting it is doing usability tests with a simulated hi-fi prototype. That could help you detect a problem long before it happens in a real live website or program.

Justinmind Prototyper is an authoring tool for high fidelity wireframes and prototypes. If you're interested, follow our blog's feed or follow us on twitter.