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
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