Reimagining the hamburger menu
Capstone Project
2024

  • Prototyping
  • Usability Testing
  • Interaction Design
  • Design System Incorporation
  • Accessibility Evaluation
  • Feedback Integration
  • Field Study
  • Think Aloud Method
  • Qualitative Research
  • Desk Research (Quantitative)


Reimagining the Hamburger Menu, is a deep dive into the tension between standardization and creativity in UI/UX design. I began this journey with the question of whether the standardization of UI elements, like the hamburger menu, actually benefits users or if it stifles innovation. The hamburger menu, which we often see in popular apps like Gmail, Uber, and YouTube, has become a staple for hidden navigation. While it keeps interfaces clean, I've realized that it can increase task time, complicate navigation, and reduce the discoverability of essential features. And yet, because it's so familiar, it continues to dominate app design.

Through this project, my goal is to redesign the hamburger menu and propose alternatives that feel intuitive and user-friendly, without sacrificing the simplicity that makes apps work. 




THE PROBLEM:





  • Over-reliance on Standardized UI Elements: I questioned why we stick to the hamburger menu just because it's familiar, even when it's not always the most efficient option    

  • Hidden Navigation Drawbacks: The hidden nature of the hamburger menu can slow users down, make important features harder to find, and complicate navigation, especially for first-time users

  • Ergonomic Issues: As mobile screens get bigger, the placement of the hamburger menu at the top of the screen becomes less practical and harder to reach

  • Lack of User Engagement: Because features are hidden away in the hamburger menu, users often overlook them, which reduces interaction with the app

  • Gesture-based Navigation Alternatives: I explored the potential for gesture-based navigation to replace the hamburger menu, offering a more intuitive, fluid way for users to interact with apps while reducing unnecessary steps

        




THE SOLUTION:





EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN (PROCESS):





to read more about my project, view my research paper

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