Overview
Components
The individual components that constitute a consistent user experience are -
1. Visual page layout
Navigation, branding, images and content must be positioned in a consistent layout on all government internet sites to ensure the visual user experience is standard across agency websites. For example, the section of a page branding the Queensland Government should be in the same location throughout agency websites.
2. Underlying structural page layout
For a visually impaired person the underlying code structure of the page will be different to the visual layout. The code structure must ensure that a visually impaired person accessing government sites with a screen reader can find the most important functions such as the search, navigation and content quickly and in the same order from site to site.
3. Functionality of each page section
Web pages are divided into sections based on the functions provided by each section.
Users must be able to perform certain actions in the same section of a page as they browse agency websites, for example, locate the search facility in a standard place. These will be consistently positioned and ordered throughout Queensland Government websites.
These sections are likely to include one or more of the following functions
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Identity and branding
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Navigation schemes
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Dite utilities such as Home, Site map and so on
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Content.
Refer to the screen layout diagram.
4. Visual elements: graphics and fonts
Graphics and images brand websites and are used to identify the Queensland Government, the agency and the content provided. The section of Queensland Government web pages that brands the government will incorporate the corporate identity standard. The section that brands content will incorporate imagery via a visual branding strip that reflects the nature of the content.
This design allows agencies flexibility to choose a colour scheme that reflects the corporate identity of the agency within the government branding section. The colour scheme can include, but is not limited to, the corporate colour palette and supporting colours palettes as defined in the Queensland Government Corporate Identity manual.
Fonts also add visual consistency to websites. A standard set of fonts as defined in the CUE standard, section 2.2.2 must be used.
5. Navigation schemes
Navigation schemes must be in a consistent order and location across Queensland Government websites and provide the same functionality. For example, a user can expect to find the primary navigation under the agency branding strip on each content page and to know that its function, eg a text link or pop-up menu, is the same from site to site. The agreed standard is documented in the CUE standard, sections 1.2.3, 1.2.6, 1.2.7 and 1.2.9.