Mystery meat navigation

Mystery Meat Navigation (MMN) is a term used in web design and usability studies to describe a type of website navigation system that is unnecessarily complicated or non-intuitive. This form of navigation often relies on users hovering over icons or images to discover what action will occur if they click, without providing clear text-based links or cues. The term "mystery meat" refers to the practice of hiding the content or function behind ambiguous visuals, making it difficult for users to navigate or understand the site's structure without trial and error.

Overview

Mystery Meat Navigation can be particularly frustrating for users, as it forces them to guess where links will take them. This can lead to a poor user experience, increased bounce rates, and decreased website usability. MMN is often criticized in the field of web development for prioritizing aesthetic design over functionality and accessibility.

Characteristics

• Ambiguous Icons: Use of non-standard icons that do not convey a clear purpose.
• Lack of Labels: Absence of text labels or descriptions for navigation elements.
• Hover-Dependent: Navigation that reveals itself only when the user hovers over certain areas of the site.
• Non-Standard Layouts: Unconventional layout designs that do not follow common web navigation practices.

Impact on Usability

MMN can significantly impact the usability of a website by:

• Confusing users and making it difficult for them to find what they are looking for.
• Slowing down navigation due to the need for users to explore and experiment with the interface.
• Excluding users who rely on assistive technologies or who cannot use a mouse to hover over elements.

Alternatives

To improve website navigation and usability, web designers are encouraged to:

• Use clear, descriptive labels for all links and buttons.
• Follow standard web conventions for layout and design.
• Ensure that navigation is accessible to all users, including those using keyboard navigation or screen readers.

Examples

While specific examples of Mystery Meat Navigation are not provided, many early 2000s websites and experimental art projects employed this technique, often prioritizing visual flair over user-friendly design.

See Also

• Web Design
• Usability
• User Experience
• Website Navigation