After switching from tab to side navigation, it's become increasingly clear that we also need to switch from two content columns to one. (Technically we're going from three columns to two, but for "core page content" we're not counting the navigation column on the left.) Here are some of the reasons:
Content Discovery: Box-level navigation (which only works on one column) allows users to better find content that’s “below the fold”. In contrast, usability studies show that if there’s a third column, users assume that it’s supplemental or unimportant, often failing to notice what’s in there. Basically, that’s the ad column.
Comprehension: Usability studies also show that when users do realize that there are multiple columns of content, they get confused. Which one is “first”? What’s the difference between the columns? Multiple columns emphasizes the guide as a “bunch of random stuff scattered across the page” rather than a cohesive and organized (i.e. linear) collection of information.
Responsive Design: If the boxes are carefully chosen and organized to work in a multi-column format, then that organization is ruined when the user switches to a smaller screen and all of the columns merge into one.
Shared Content: We're trying to encourage more sharing of content by re-using links, boxes, or whole pages in multiple places. But a 2-column page can't be re-used in a 1-column guide, or vice versa. (Admittedly this isn't an argument for one layout over the other, but is added incentive for choosing one layout and being consistent.)
More Layout Options "in the Box": For those concerned with wasted white space, or who have content that really needs side-by-side layout, we have a number of options for effectively creating columns inside boxes. For example, sidebars can go inside related boxes; in contrast to the “ad column”, a box inside another box actually draws the eye and serves to highlight content.
Fortunately, less than 10% of our guides have 2-column layouts, so there's not a huge amount of work. We're not setting a hard deadline on this, but we do want to move forward as we have time. Above all, please do not create new guides with multi-column layouts!
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