Using the same card sort information in question, create a single vertical navigation bar with links corresponding to the individual items.

Question

a. Since all of the links are visible, do the group names need to be links? Why or why not?
b. Use one or more of the four visual organization principles to set off the groups. Explain the principles you used and how you used them.
c. How did you choose to distinguish the group name from the items within the group? Explain in terms of one or more of the four visual organization principles.

Answer 1

The answers will vary a bit because this question is more free-form. However, there are some specifics.

The group names do not need to be links. Since all of the links are already visible in the navigation bar, there is no need to take people to another page to see an individual secondary navigation bar.

The answer here is given in context of the solution given below. It uses proximity to create physically separate groups. Each group has the same alignment – the group name is set off from the group items, and all group items have the same alignment. This alignment choice is consistent for all of the groups. Students should be able to mention at least two and preferably three of the visual organization principles.

The group items are indented to set off the group name. This is an example of alignment.