A Word on Navigation

Site navigation is one of the core parts of every website. Sufficient time should be spent determining what's appropriate for the audience you're trying to reach. Some of the most important questions to ask, answer and then consider during the inital phase of the site design are:
- Is the site B2B or B2C?
- How many products or services are offered?
- Is it an e-commerce site?
- If the site is not for e-commerce, what's its goal?
- How does a user reach the site's goal? (Example: Learn-Buy-Checkout)
- How can Search Engine Optimization be ensured?

Once these questions are answered, potential type(s) of navigation and the ideal combination of them should be reviewed. Here are some examples of good solid executions (looking mainly at: labeling, ease-of-use and clarity)

Primary navigation:
Volkswagen
Rolex

Primary navigation and sub nav:
Acura
Mini USA
Amazon
Whirlpool

Left/Assisted/Faceted navigation:
Dell
Home Depot
eBay

Innovative navigation:
Usage-based: Navigate your way and organize the site navigation in a way that helps you find what you're looking for - an approach more companies should explore: Virgin

Purely innovative, great concept and visuals, but not that easy to navigate (BUT neat background music): Metropolis.

Intuitive, alphabet-based flash navigation on this Mercedes UK micro site.

Great integration of products into navigation on the Wrangler Europe site.

A helpful penguin in the bottom right helps users through the initial steps in the Red Universe, while more conventional navigation is also featured on this site.

For further reading and thinking, have a look at 'Where Am I?' on A List Apart.