6.0.Components
6.1.Navigation
The navigation concept is comprised of various components. All of the elements are interlocking, thus ensuring that the information available on the page is both clear and accessible to the user.
6.1.1.Header and site identifier
Internal applications
The word "Daimler" and the application name must be placed in the same position in the left-hand side of each page header for an application ("site identifier"). In the case of business units, the business unit name and the name of the application should be indicated.
Internal applications only use typography in the header i.e. the Daimler logo is not used. Either a graphical element in Daimler CS or a pure text or image text solution can be used.
The assist bar should be placed in the upper right-hand section. It contains links such as help, contact and profile settings.
For applications or pages with a horizontal navigation it must be ensured that the page header has sufficient space and that the minimum height is met (approx. 60 px).
External applications
Sites and applications that are primarily accessible externally use the Daimler logo. Accordingly, the header area must be designed differently.
6.1.2.Horizontal navigation of internal sites and applications
Complex applications or sites can use a one- or two-line horizontal navigation to structure functional areas or content.
In general, a horizontal navigation in particular, the two-line version – is limited to the employee portal or similar central portals.
The one-line horizontal navigation can, however, also be used for standard applications, blogs or specials. Purely informational intranet pages that are integrated in the portal do not have a horizontal navigation.
6.1.3.Horizontal navigation of external sites
As with the corporate website, external sites use a horizontal navigation. Here, up to three levels can be displayed, as is necessary for sites with complex content, such as the corporate website. Less comprehensive sites can easily make do with one or two levels of navigation.
On the homepage, the level 1 navigation items are visible between the menu and search buttons. After clicking on one of these items, level 1 is reduced to a button to the right of the menu button and the level 2 menu items appear (sub-items of the active category), replacing the level 1 elements.
If only one or two levels of navigation are required, it is sufficient if level 1 is displayed between menu and search button and, if required, level 2 is placed on a white background below it, as shown below it. It is not necessary to hide navigation level 1 if the site has a less complex structure.
If the level 2 elements contain additional menu items, level 3 is displayed centered in a separate line below the header.
Level 4 and 5 menu items can be placed as explained in the section "Vertical navigation" below.
In addition, there is a flyout menu to help orient users. It is displayed by clicking on the menu button.
6.1.4.Vertical navigation
- The main navigation that should be used on the intranet and for applications is a vertical navigation, placed in the left-hand content area.
- Users of an application should never be unsure of which page they are on; for this reason, the current menu item should always be highlighted.
- For more deeply-nested structures, ideally the user will also be informed as to which main section he/she is currently in.
- A navigation structure should not be deeper than three or four levels.
- Different functions should not be combined. For example, the filter and navigate functions should not be included in the same navigation structure or components.
- Every page must have a page heading that reflects the name of the selected navigation item.