Faceted navigation has become very popular in the last decade. It’s seen as way to improve the findability of information on many sites, particularly those with large collections of products or documents. The design of real-world faceted navigation systems, however, proves to be more intricate than people first assume, and designers must be aware of many details.
This workshop covers principles of faceted classification and shows you how to use facets in web design. Many examples of faceted navigation will be presented and discussed. A clear, structured framework for understanding the individual components is presented to help you understand all the decisions involved. The topics are brought to life through several hands-on exercises.
Features
Using facets. After a brief overview of facets, we’ll discuss how to plan out their implementation.
Interface design. You’ll learn about the layout, display, and interaction with facets in detail. We’ll examine real-world examples, and you’ll apply what you’ve learnt in hands-on exercises.
Advanced topics. You will also be exposed to advanced topics in faceted navigation design, selecting multiple values, grouping, and more.
7. Exercise 1 – Facets (5 Minutes)
What are facets of wine?
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8. Typcial Structures for Values
TYPE DESCRIPTION EXAMPLES
Flat list without - Author
List hierarchy - Job titles
Tree structure with - Region
Hierarchy parent-child - Subject
relationships
Values with only 2 - Gender
Binary options; either-or - Yes/No
condition
Unbroken list on a - Price
Continuum range, usually - Date
numerical
Like a continuum, but - Rating
Scale with descrete - Price categories
categories
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9. Resources On Facets
• Denton, William. “How to Make a Faceted Classification and Put It On the Web.“ Nov. 2003.http://www.miskatonic.org/library/facet-web-
howto.html.
• Endeca, ―User Interface Design Pattern Library.― http://patterns.endeca.com
• Fast, Karl, Fred Leise, Mike Steckel. "0. All About Facets and Controlled Vocabularies" Boxes and Arrows, 9 December
2002. http://www.boxesandarrows.com/archives/all_about_facets_controlled_vocabularies.php.
——— "1. What Is a Controlled Vocabulary?" Boxes and Arrows, 16 December
2002.http://www.boxesandarrows.com/archives/what_is_a_controlled_vocabulary.php.
——— "2. Creating a Controlled Vocabulary" Boxes and Arrows, 7 April
2003.http://www.boxesandarrows.com/archives/creating_a_controlled_vocabulary.php.
——— "3. Synonym Rings and Authority Files" Boxes and Arrows, 26 August
2003.http://www.boxesandarrows.com/archives/synonym_rings_and_authority_files.php
——— "4. Controlled Vocabularies: A Glosso-Thesaurus" Boxes and Arrows, 27 October
2003.http://www.boxesandarrows.com/archives/controlled_vocabularies_a_glossothesaurus.php.
——— "Facets and Controlled Vocabularies: An Annotated Bibliography" Boxes and Arrows,
n.d.http://www.boxesandarrows.com/archives/Facets_CV/Bibliography.htm
• FLAMENCO.berkeley.edu
• Instone, Keith ―"Faceted Browsing - How User Interfaces Represent and Benefit from a Faceted Classification System", SOASIST meeting, Dayton,
Ohio http://instone.org/facetedbrowse
• Blog posts by Jim Kalbach:
• Faceted Navigation: Grouping – An UnTapped Potential?
http://experiencinginformation.wordpress.com/2010/12/06/faceted-navigation-grouping-an-untapped-potential/
• Faceted Navigation: Displaying and Forecasting Magnitude
http://experiencinginformation.wordpress.com/2011/12/26/faceted-navigation-displaying-and-forecasting-magnitude/
• ROI Of Faceted Navigation? http://experiencinginformation.wordpress.com/2011/07/17/roi-of-faceted-navigation/
• Faceted Navigation: SEO and Facets http://experiencinginformation.wordpress.com/2010/09/04/faceted-navigation-seo-and-facets/
• Faceted Navigation: Typical Structures for Values
http://experiencinginformation.wordpress.com/2010/07/18/faceted-navigation-typical-structures-for-values/
• Faceted Navigation: Bring Back the Dead Ends (post by Pete Bell)
http://experiencinginformation.wordpress.com/2010/06/19/faceted-navigation-bring-back-the-dead-ends-post-by-pete-bell/
• Faceted Navigation: Layout and Display of Facets
http://experiencinginformation.wordpress.com/2010/06/12/faceted-navigation-layout-and-display-of-facets/
• Faceted Navigation: Showing More Values
http://experiencinginformation.wordpress.com/2010/05/25/facetted-navigation-showing-more-values/
http://experiencinginformation.wordpress.com/2010/05/30/faceted-navigation-showing-more-values-part-2
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10. • Kwasnick, Barbara H. "The Role of Classification in Knowledge Representation and Discovery." Library Trends 48 no. 1 (Summer 1999): 22-47.
http://www.ideals.illinois.edu/bitstream/handle/2142/8263/librarytrendsv48i1d_opt.pdf?sequence=1
• Louie, Aaron J., Eric L. Maddox, and William Washington. "Using Faceted Classification to Provide Structure for Information Architecture." Paper
presented at the ASIS&T 2003 Information Architecture Summit, Portland, OR, 21-23 March
2003. http://depts.washington.edu/pettt/presentations/conf_2003/IASummit.pdf.
• Greg Nudelman, ―Numeric Filters: Issues and Best Practices.‖ UX Matters. http://www.uxmatters.com/mt/archives/2010/02/numeric-filters-issues-and-
best-practices.php
• Priss, Uta, and Elin Jacob. "Utilizing Faceted Structures for Information Systems Design," in ASIS '99: Proceedings of the 62nd ASIS Annual Meeting,
Washington, D.C., October 31 - November 4, 1999: Knowledge: Creation, Organization, and Use, edited by Larry Woods, 203-212. (Medford, NJ:
ASIS, [1999?]).http://www.upriss.org.uk/papers/asis99.pdf.
• Ranganathan, S.R. Elements of Library Classification. 3rd ed. New York: Asia Publishing House, 1962.
• Spiteri, Louise. "A Simplified Model for Facet Analysis: Ranganathan 101." Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science 23 no. 1/2
(April-July 1998): 1-30. http://aifia.org/pg/a_simplified_model_for_facet_analysis.php.
• Steckel, Mike. "Ranganathan for IAs." Boxes and Arrows, 7 October 2002.http://www.boxesandarrows.com/archives/ranganathan_for_ias.php.
• Tunkelang, Daniel. Faceted Search. Morgan & Claypool Publishers, 2009.
• Tzitzikas, Yannis, Anastasia Analyti, Nicolas Spyratos, and Panos Constantopolous. "An algebraic approach for specifying compound terms in faceted
taxonomies," in Proceedings of the 13th European-Japanese Conference on Information Modelling and Knowledge Bases, EJC’2003 (Kitakyushu,
Japan: 2003).http://www.csi.forth.gr/~tzitzik/XFML+CAMEL/papers/CoTeCAlgebra_paper.pdf.
• Tzitzikas, Yannis, Nicolas Spyratos, Panos Constantopolous, and Anastasia Analyti. "Extended Faceted Taxonomies for Web Catalogs." Paper
presented at the Third International Conference on Web Information Systems Engineering, WISE 2002, Singapore, December, 2002. Gzipped
PostScript version available athttp://www.csi.forth.gr/~tzitzik/publications/Tzitzikas_WISE_2002.ps.gz.
• Van Dijck, Peter. "Introduction to XFML." xml.com, 22 January 2003. http://www.xml.com/lpt/a/2003/01/22/xfml.html.
• ——— "XFML Core - eXchangeable Faceted Metadata Language." 2003. http://www.xfml.org/spec/1.0.html
• Vickery, B.C. Faceted Classification: A Guide to Construction and Use of Special Schemes. London: Aslib, 1960.
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12. Determining Facets
STEP 1. Identify main concepts within a domain
• Look for entities: People, places, things, objects, ideas
• Create a list of terms from interviews, websites catalogs,
search logs, taxonomies, content analysis
STEP 2. Cluster and group into logical categories
• Determine which categories are the primary facets of the
information your providing.
• Test groupings, card sorting
STEP 3. Create a domain model
• Show relationships
• Consider navigation paths
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15. Exercise 2: Select & Document Facets (20 mins)
In groups
1.Read your scenario aloud and think about how your customers might shop for wine.
2. Select 6 (or so) facets from Exercise 1 that best support user goals and business goals.
3.List the facets below and their values. How are the values structured?
FACET VALUES STRUCTURE TYPE
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16. STEP 3: Domain Model – Concept Map for Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bryce/58299511/ 16
17. Domain Model - BBC Wildlife
Mike Atherton, ―Beyond the Polar Bear.‖ http://www.slideshare.net/reduxd/beyond-the-polar-bear 17
34. Facets have no medium Interface
Information Architecture
1.
Facet 1
Opening
Facet 2
Facet 3
Facet 4 2.
Facet 5
Middle
Game
Facet 6
Facet 7
3.
Facet 8
End
Game
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35. Exercise 3 – Using Facets (15 Minutes)
1. Based on the previous exercise, map your facets in
relation to the 3 phases just discussed:
1. Opening
2. Middle Game
3. End Game
Sketch how they might appear or add notes on the right.
Consider these questions:
- Is there a logical order of selection?
- Where does it make most sense to have each facet appear?
- In what form might each facet appear (navigation, filter, sort, just for info,
etc.)?
- Can users navigate facets from the Opening? From the End Game?
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38. Design Considerations
1. Where do facets appear on page?
Showing or hidden by default?
2. How will values be displayed?
How do you show values and item count? What do
you do with wrapping? In which order are values
shown? How many by default?
3. How do you see further values?
4. How are values selected?
Single selection? Multiple selection
5. Where are selected filters placed?
6. How do you undo a selection?
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44. Links + More - NCSU Library
• Values = Text links
• Count = grey with () after value
• Wrapping = indented
• Order = by item count
• Default = 5 values (+ ―show
more―)
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45. Links + Scrolling - Baur.de
• Values = Menu option
• Count = grey with () after value
• Wrapping = None (scrolling)
• Order = Alphabetical
• Default = All (+scrolling)
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46. Checkboxes, Sliders - Kayak.com
• Values = Checkboxes,
sliders
• Count = Not given for most
• Wrapping = None
• Order = Mixed by facet
• Default = Show all
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47. Input – Amazon.com
PRICE
• Values = Scale categories
• Count = grey in () after link
• Wrapping = Not needed
• Order = Ascending
• Default = Show all
+ Input for continuous range
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69. Summary
Amazon HomeDepot Yelp Kayak Flamenco
Facets Category, Category, Neighborhoo Various… Person,
Brand, Price, Price, Brand, d, Distance, Style,
Rating etc Feature, Location, Era,
Price, etc
Category
Layout Left Left Top center Left Left
Display of Text links with Text links + Links, Links, Links with
Wrapping, item count Checkboxes sliders, Wrapping,
values includes item checkboxes including
count count
Number of 2-5 (max. 5) Varies: 5-15 4 All showing max. 12
default
values
Order By count By scheme ?? By scheme By count
Showing Link: “More“ Link: „“More“ Scrolling All showing Link: new
(inline expand) (inline expand) page
more values
Multiple Yes No Yes Yes No
selection?
Selection Inline in the Breadcrumb; Inline; Inline; Top middle
list; Click to Make new Move slider, as stack;
location and
Select top remove selection or uncheck, Click X to
removing category to remove
selection remove
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70. Exercise 4 – Design & Interaction (15 mins)
Based on the previous exercise, design the interaction
with facets by sketching wireframes.
Focus on either the “Opening“ or “End Game“ pages
first.
Time permitting, look at the “Middle Game.“
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79. 2. Overlaying Facets
Narrowed by: Region - Australia > NSW Sort: On (change order )
Elfin Hills Hunter Valley
Types of Wine (4): Types of Wine (3):
Barolo Australian Dry Red
Bordeaux Merlot
Pinot Noir Zinfandel
Shiraz
Facets
Overall Ratings Overall Wine Ratings
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
Lea Estates Pokolbin Cellars
Types of Wine (2): Type of Wines (2):
Type Type
Type Type
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80. 2. Overlaying Facets
Narrowed by: Region - Australia > NSW Sort: On (change order )
First sort by:
Elfin Hills Hunter Valley
Winery Name, alphabetical
Types of Wine (4): Types of Wine (3):
Barolo Australian Dry Red
Then by
Bordeaux Merlot
Pinot Noir Types of Wine, descending
Zinfandel
Shiraz
Facets
Overall Ratings Overall Wine Ratings
Then by
Rating, descending
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
Lea Estates Pokolbin Cellars
Types of Wine (2): Type of Wines (2):
Type Type
Type Type
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88. IA is independent of any medium.
―Since information architecture relies
on principles that are largely
independent from any specific
medium…it provides a flexible but solid
conceptual model for the design of
cross-context and cross-channel user
experiences…By addressing these
structural issues, it is capable of
providing all actors with a constant,
coherent cognitive framework
throughout the whole process.― 88
89. Drive engagement through discovery.
We found that if the users used search to
locate their target content on the site,
only 20% of them continued looking at
other content after they found the target
content. But if the users used the
category links to find their target, 62%
continued browsing the site. Users who
started with the category links ended up
looking at almost 10 times as many non-
target content pages as those who
started with search.
JARED SPOOL, "Users Continue After Category Links" (December 2001).
http://www.uie.com/articles/continue_after_categories 89
91. Benefits of faceted navigation
• Conversion: Customers can’t buy what they can’t find
• Efficiency: Good navigation increases productivity
• Confidence: Faceted navigation increases information
scent
• ―Aboutness‖: Facets show semantic make-up of a
collection
• Reduced Uncertainty: Not required to specify precise
queries
• Guided Experience: Browsing categories provides a
different experience than keyword search
J K , ―ROI of faceted navigation‖
IM ALBACH
http://experiencinginformation.wordpress.com/2011/07/17/roi-of-faceted-navigation
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92. Conclusion
• Plan your IA around the core facets of your domain
• Conceive of IA separate from the UI
• Leverage facets throughout the discovery experience
• Drive engagement with information interaction
• Pay close attention to the interaction design
• Improve, explore and innovate faceted navigation
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93. Thank You
Jim.Kalbach@Gmail.com
www.experiencinginformation.com
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94. Upcoming Workshops
1. “Mapping the User Experience with Alignment Diagrams“
Workshop at Design for Experience, Cologne
Friday, 26 April 2013, 9:00-13:00
2. ―UX Strategy: Using Design to Solve Business Problems”
Workshop at IA Konferenz, Berlin
Thursday, 2 May 2013, 14:00-18:00
More details on www.experiencinginformation.com
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