S8080 Blog

Here’s some usability research on mega drop-downs which have been appearing on sites (particularly clothing sites and online shops) recently: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/mega-dropdown-menus.html undertaken by useit.com .

So What Are Mega Drop-Downs?

They are those big, chunky, typically 2 column drop-down panels which group navigation options, use typography, icons and tool tips to provide the user with links to content within a section of the site – meaning everything is visible at once with no scrolling.

Mega Drop-Downs vs. Regular Drop-Downs

The bottom line is that regular drop-down menus have many usability problems, but the mega drop-downs from usability studies have overcome the limitations.

Things to Think About When Considering Mega Drop-Downs

• Speed of the mega drop-downs is critical
• Grouping of related options
• Using descriptive labels
• Labels should be a medium level of granularity – and act as trigger words

Finally, it’s important to test the drop-downs, make sure they don’t obscure other key navigation devices (particularly search) and understand accessibility issues for assertive technologies and mobile devices.

Source: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/mega-dropdown-menus.html

Matt and I had a couple of hours to kill in London yesterday after a meeting, so we grabbed the chance to see the Picasso exhibition, Challenging the Past, in the National Gallery.

The exhibition focuses on his variations of the Old Master’s classics including Velázquez’s ‘Las Meninas’ (The Maids of Honour). This huge monochrome canvas is one of over 50 Picasso interpretations of this painting and his caricature of King Philip IV, when compared to his formal portraits, is hilarious.

Other favourites were the atmospheric (and pretty scary) Absinthe Drinker (1901) and the almost psychedelic Man with a Straw Hat and an Ice Cream Cone (1938).

But for me, the highlight of the day was the chance to see my favourite Picasso ‘in the flesh’ – the stunning 2 metre tall Large Bather, painted in 1921.