I'm working on a personal website where I want to store all kinds of information – everything from cooking and coding to sewing and store coupons. Since this is my first time creating a site that encompasses such a wide range of topics, I'm struggling with how to structure it for easy navigation and a visually appealing layout. I've seen some sites that sort information into endless sidebars, which is not my style because scrolling for ages to find something is frustrating.
One idea I had was to create a structure like this: first, a main category like 'Coding', then a sub-category like 'C++', followed by 'Sorting Algorithms', and finally, the algorithms themselves. Alternatively, I could categorize hobbies under 'Game Development', followed by 'Art Styles', leading to 'PS1 Style' tutorials.
I was also considering a carousel format for the categories, but I'm unsure how aesthetically pleasing that would be. I'm looking for any suggestions or examples of websites that are well-organized and visually appealing. Thanks for the help!
5 Answers
You might want to consider a wiki-style layout with tagging for better organization. It allows for easy navigation and helps categorize your content without overwhelming visitors with too many subcategories.
Using a platform like Discourse for documenting your learning journey could be perfect. It supports both tags and categories and allows for easy linking to specific content, plus it has a built-in feature for image uploads. Just be aware of the maintenance if you go online with it.
A flat structure with a solid search function usually works better than deep nesting for personal knowledge bases. Instead of endless sidebars, focus on tagging content with multiple tags and featuring a search bar prominently. You can display a grid of categories visually to keep navigation simple while searching for specific content.
Have you checked out Drupal? It's a bit steep on the learning curve but really rewarding once you get the hang of it. Perfect for creating something really complex and functional.
That's cool and all, but I've got the coding down! I just need creative ideas on how to visually structure it.
Consider using something like Fumadocs. It's markdown-based, has a file tree for organization, and is easily searchable. It might provide the clarity and structure you're looking for!
But I’m really looking for inspiration on how to make it visually appealing too, not just sorting it. My issue is the navigation experience!
Thanks for the suggestion! I found some fandom wiki sites that seem to implement easy, simple navigation similar to what I'm envisioning!