UX research & navigation exploration · Verizon UX team / Publicis Sapient
Keeping the path readable.
The path should show where a page sits within the content structure, not the steps someone took to get there.
On smaller screens, that path can get crowded. I explored keeping the beginning and current page visible, while collapsing the levels in between.
But the ellipsis could do more than reveal what was hidden. It could open the parent section and other categories at the same level, with the current one marked. This would let people move between related services without having to work their way back through the hierarchy.
Overflow-menu exploration · Juan Sanchez & Marcela Morales
Three dots. Different meanings.
Both horizontal and vertical ellipses can indicate additional actions. The choice depends on context, surrounding elements, and how consistently the icon is used throughout an experience.
How much is too much?
At first, nesting looked like the cleanest way to handle a long list of actions.
In practice, every extra level made the menu slower to scan and easier to lose track of, especially on a phone. That was enough reason to keep it shallow.
Keep the important actions close.
Before adding another submenu, I explored grouping, renaming, or removing actions at the first level. In many cases, that was enough to avoid another level of navigation.
The pattern can adapt.
A desktop menu and a mobile sheet don’t have to look the same. They do need to organize actions and let people back out in ways that feel familiar.
Research insights & navigation recommendations.
