AI Skill Report Card
Auditing Navigation Systems
Navigation System Audit
Quick Start15 / 15
Immediate Audit Checklist:
Navigation Health Check:
□ 3-click rule: Can users reach key pages in ≤3 clicks?
□ Mobile strategy: Hamburger vs tab bar appropriate for content depth?
□ Progressive disclosure: Complex features properly layered?
□ Sticky behavior: Nav persists during scroll on long pages?
□ Mega-menu necessity: >7 primary categories or deep hierarchy?
□ Breadcrumbs: Present for sites >3 levels deep?
□ Findability: Search + clear labeling for complex products?
Recommendation▾
Add a specific framework or scoring system for quantifying navigation quality (e.g., Navigation Health Score 1-100)
Workflow15 / 15
Step 1: Map Current Architecture
- Document full sitemap and user paths to conversion goals
- Identify primary user journeys and measure click depth
- Note mobile vs desktop navigation differences
Step 2: Apply Decision Frameworks
Mobile Pattern Selection:
- Tab bar: ≤5 primary sections, frequent switching expected
- Hamburger: >5 sections, content-focused experience, infrequent nav use
Menu Complexity Decision:
- Simple dropdown: ≤7 items per category, shallow hierarchy
- Mega-menu: >7 items, need to show relationships, rich content preview
Step 3: Test Findability Heuristics
- Task-based testing: "Find pricing for enterprise plan"
- Information scent: Do labels clearly indicate destination content?
- Mental model alignment: Does structure match user expectations?
Step 4: Document Issues & Solutions
Progress:
- Architecture mapped and click depths measured
- Mobile pattern validated against content strategy
- Menu complexity appropriate for user goals
- Findability issues identified with specific fixes
- Implementation priorities set with rationale
Recommendation▾
Include more concrete metrics and benchmarks (e.g., 'acceptable mobile menu items: 7±2', 'mega-menu trigger: >40 total pages')
Examples18 / 20
Example 1: B2B SaaS Navigation Audit
Input: Complex product with 15+ features, multiple user types, deep documentation
Current Issues:
- 5-click path to key integrations page
- Hamburger menu on mobile with 12+ items
- No progressive disclosure of advanced features
Output:
Recommendations:
1. Implement mega-menu with feature categories:
- "Core Features" → Daily-use tools
- "Integrations" → Partner ecosystem
- "Advanced" → Power user features
2. Add sticky secondary nav for feature exploration
3. Mobile: Replace hamburger with hybrid approach
- Tab bar: Dashboard, Features, Account, Support
- Hamburger: Secondary items only
4. Progressive disclosure: Basic → Advanced toggle in feature sections
Example 2: E-commerce Category Navigation
Input: 200+ product categories, seasonal merchandise, multiple brands
Output:
Issues Found:
- Breadcrumbs missing on product pages (4+ levels deep)
- Mobile mega-menu causing thumb-reach problems
- Seasonal categories buried 4 clicks deep
Solutions:
1. Implement contextual breadcrumbs: Home > Category > Subcategory > Product
2. Mobile: Collapsible category accordion with visual hierarchy
3. Promote seasonal nav to primary level during active periods
4. Add "Recently Viewed Categories" for return navigation
Recommendation▾
Expand the pitfalls section with more specific failure modes and their business impact
Best Practices
Progressive Disclosure Hierarchy:
- Level 1: Core user goals (3-5 items max)
- Level 2: Feature categories with clear grouping
- Level 3: Specific tools/pages with contextual help
Sticky Navigation Rules:
- Always sticky: Primary navigation, search, account access
- Contextually sticky: Section navigation within long-form content
- Never sticky: Promotional banners, secondary utility links
Breadcrumb Implementation:
- Required: Sites >3 levels deep, complex product catalogs
- Format: Home > Category > Current Page (not clickable)
- Mobile: Collapse to "< Back" with category context
Label Testing:
- Use card sorting for category validation
- A/B test ambiguous labels ("Solutions" vs "Products")
- Avoid internal jargon in user-facing navigation
Common Pitfalls
Over-Engineering Mobile Navigation:
- Don't replicate desktop mega-menus on mobile
- Avoid horizontal scrolling in navigation elements
- Don't hide search behind hamburger menu
3-Click Rule Misapplication:
- Rule applies to goal completion, not information discovery
- Some complex B2B tasks legitimately require >3 clicks
- Focus on logical progression rather than arbitrary limits
Progressive Disclosure Failures:
- Hiding essential features behind too many layers
- Inconsistent disclosure patterns across sections
- Making basic users navigate advanced feature complexity
Breadcrumb Anti-Patterns:
- Breadcrumbs on shallow sites (<3 levels)
- Making current page clickable in breadcrumb trail
- Using breadcrumbs as primary navigation replacement