In Gerry McGovern’s book on top tasks he describes seven principles of effective digital navigation:

  1. Momentum
    Keep people moving forward

  2. Unity
    Make navigation as unified as possible.

  3. Twins
    Design for the journey customers are on.

  4. Minimalism
    Have navigation take up as little space as is practical.

  5. Clarity
    Navigation must immediately communicate what it is – and what it is not.

  6. Fidelity
    A link is a promise – navigation should keep its promises.

  7. Magnetism
    Maximize clean magnetism, minimize dirty magnetism.

Source: Top Tasks: A How-to Guide (No affiliation)