The Government Digital Service (GDS) is working to revamp in-site navigation of the government’s GOV.UK website so this works better on smartphones, which are responsible for the majority of traffic
GDS is testing plans including a ‘megamenu’ bar that would provide four options: topics, departments, government activity and a search box. The topics and activity options would open drop-down menus with more specific choices. The megamenu would replace three different menu bars currently in use.
It is also looking to simplify the way the site handles topics. In a blog, GOV.UK senior product manager Sam Dub says there are currently three types of topic page, with around 200 for mainstream subjects such as voting, 400 for specialists areas including commercial fishing and 4,000 for cross-cutting topics.
“This triple-system, which has substantial duplication, causes confusion for users who can easily find themselves in the wrong part of the site for their needs,” writes Dub. It also makes life harder for civil servants who have to decide which tags to use.
GDS is planning to redesign the topic page template based on recent experience with coronavirus and Brexit landing pages, which use a grid pattern for subsidiary topics. Dub writes that on mobile devices, the planned new design will significantly increase the area around a link that can be tapped to make it work, making the site easier and more accessible to use.
The service is likely to use A/B testing, where users are randomly served one of two versions of a page, as part of its work on exactly how to implement the changes. “We’re committed to working closely with departmental content teams should any changes be needed, and ensuring these don’t add to their workload,” Dub writes.
GOV.UK has more than 500,000 pages and although most users find material through search engines around 15% use the site’s topic pages to find information.
Image iStock: Ruslan Khismatov
