How we redesigned the navigation for the USA TODAY NETWORK apps
If you’ve installed our most recent native app updates (v5.0 or newer), you’ve likely noticed some significant changes. We wanted to share the story behind these updates.
From app store reviews, emails, and from usability testing we learned that our users were having a hard time finding the things they were looking for within our apps — whether it was their favorite sections, the crossword, or a comfortable way to read at night.
From our analytics, we could tell that most of our readers were landing on our default “Top Stories” screen and staying there, rather than diving into other sections. This was a signal to us that we could do more to help our readers discover the breadth of content we offer.
So, we set out to answer this question: How might we provide our readers with easier access to the news and features they value most?
We decided to focus on our navigation structure to optimize discoverability in our app. After a thorough content analysis and several rounds of usability testing to ensure our new structure would serve the needs of our readers, we were ready to build. We implemented features that surface more content and functionality, while maintaining a familiar look and feel. Let’s take a look at some of our new updates!
Bottom Tab Navigation
Our exposed Tab Bar Navigation showcases the breadth of our content and makes it easier to navigate around the app. By moving away from the “Hamburger menu,” we eliminated a number of steps required to achieve common tasks, therefore creating a more fluid and seamless experience.
Sections
Our new displays for sections and their associated sub-sections are more visually engaging than our previous list-buried-behind-the-icon formats. We now display sub-sections below each section header in the dedicated sections tab, and as a swipe-able ribbon on each section screen. Our new displays provide context to the types of content within each section, and serve as shortcuts to get to sub-sections. We’ve also introduced a “recent sections” feature to make it even easier to get back to sections that users visit frequently.
Easy access to settings
Settings are now just a tap away. Our new design eliminates an extra step and enables quicker access to features. Night mode, anyone?
This is just the beginning. Stay tuned for further iterations with new features and enhancements! Keep the feedback coming…we’re listening!
