Navigation Basics
What is the purpose of navigation in mobile design?
To help users avoid getting lost and find content/features easily
What are the four key elements of environmental psychology in UI?
Paths, Edges, Nodes, Landmarks
What navigation pattern is best when everything fits on one screen?
Single View
When should you use scroll views?
When content is too large for a single screen
What does KISS stand for in mobile design?
Keep It Simple, Stupid
Keep It Stupidly Simple
What is “wayfinding” in digital design?
The process of using visual ques to understand location, goal destination, path to next page, arrival to location, and return to previous location.
What defines a “Path” in mobile navigation?
Routes users take to access content, often labeled or grouped
What pattern uses a central hub with links to separate sections?
Hub and Spoke
What type of navigation is best for large datasets and goal-driven tasks?
Search-driven navigation
What’s better: text alone, icons alone, or both?
Text + icons
What question does “confirmation” answer in wayfinding?
How do I know when I've arrived?
What is an example of a “Node”?
A text box to enter a delivery address
A login form with username and password fields
A product filter menu (e.g., size, color, price)
A “Choose your plan” screen in a subscription app
A checkout button on a shopping cart screen
What’s a key design hint for stacked navigation bars?
Avoid deep hierarchies and multi-segment breadcrumbs
What’s a design hint for modal controllers?
Reminder Modals Popups
- Confirmation Dialogs/Alerts
- "Save Changes" Prompts
- Settings/Options Windows
Only change mode at user request and always allow cancel
Why should edges be clearly defined in mobile UI?
To help users learn the interface, separate content and navigate easily
What’s the return path in wayfinding?
How do I get back?
What is a “Landmark” in mobile UI?
A noticeable reference point like a logo or search bar
What’s the ideal number of tabs in a Tab Controller?
3–8 tabs
Why is gesture-based navigation risky?
Gestures are hard to discover and violate recognition over recall
What’s the role of white space in mobile navigation?
It separates regions and improves clarity
Note - with a smaller screen size white space needs to be used sparingly
Why is clear navigation critical for mobile UX?
It reduces confusion, improves usability, and supports task completion
Why are icon positions learned faster than icon meanings?
Because spatial memory is stronger than symbolic recognition
Why should you avoid nested tabs or multiple tab rows?
They confuse users and break parallel navigation logic
What’s a good fallback when gesture navigation isn’t intuitive?
Provide visible controls or alternative navigation methods
Why do users prefer larger screens even if performance is worse?
Because it improves perceived usability and enjoyment