Designing Web Navigation

[David]

Designing Web Navigation by James Kalbach

The most comprehensive text on website navigation available. This book covers some of the usual stuff about accessibility and usability (see: Don't Make Me Think) but it also talks a lot about information architecture and site structure. Very comprehensive with hundreds of colour illustartions, this is an excellent book and goes straight onto the key text reading list for the Website Planning course.

[Tom]

I had a look through the Foyles section on web design last week and came away with the impression that it is shrinking. I think this is because many aspects of the subject are becoming specialist disciplines in their own right (eg database applications). But I also noticed that the eBusiness section, once burgeoning, has shrunk to half a shelf. I think this must be because web business has gone mainstream. One can hardly think about any kind of business without a web component.
Another interesting point is that a friend has taken a desk in a small business centre. Most of the desks are occupied by people who have got a little capital from somewhere (£25-100,000) and hope to make a killing. His view is that they are all doomed nutters - because they do not have a well-rounded understanding of the technical/IA/business issues involved. Nor do I know of a book which deals with these in balance. Someone ought to have a go at it - or can someone recommend a book?

[David]

Originally Posted by Tom

...because they do not have a well-rounded understanding of the technical/IA/business issues involved. Nor do I know of a book which deals with these in balance. Someone ought to have a go at it - or can someone recommend a book?

Tom, surely these are potential students. I doubt one single volume could possibly cover the ground.

I agree about the bookshop issue. Most highstreet retailers I've visited recently have drastically reduced the space dedicated to "computer" books. I guess they're just not selling as well as other books - maybe technical readers are more likely to shop online.

[Tom]

Not quite that - Foyles computer book section is a good deal larger than 5 years ago, but the Web Design section is smaller.