Spaces
A concept about navigating websites via smartphones
Challenge
Top navigation is the standard for websites, but with the evolution of smartphones, it is becoming increasingly difficult to operate them easily with one hand. Bottom navigation seems to be a logical solution because it's easier to reach with the thumb,
This brings new challenges. How do users experience this change? Are they willing to change their habits? And does it actually provide a better user experience?
Process
To answer these questions, a test environment was developed that used both top and bottom navigation. This looked at ergonomics, visibility, and consistency with desktop experiences.
In addition, user interaction patterns were analyzed to see how intuitive each navigation type felt. The biggest challenge with bottom navigation was that users did not always recognize it as a navigation and that they were accidentally clicked more often.
Outcome
A social media survey and user conversations showed that top navigation is still seen as the most familiar and intuitive option. Many users reported that they find bottom navigation less noticeable and sometimes confused it with banners or advertising elements. In addition, it was noted that, despite its ergonomic advantages, bottom navigation sometimes comes into conflict with other elements such as keyboards and interactive buttons. This leads to frustration and unintended actions.
However, bottom navigation offers clear advantages, especially on larger screens where the thumb has difficulty reaching the top of the screen. By the way, bottom navigation is the standard for applications (outside websites) on smartphones. Spaces shows that there is no single best choice. The ideal navigation solution depends on the target group and the specific context of a website.