Designing with words
It's a thing
V. Sri, Content Designer
But first: A POP QUIZ
WHO DIS
ELTON JOHN
How about this guy
Bernie Taupin
Melody
Lyrics
Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters
While Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters
Sons of bankers, sons of lawyers
Turn around and say
"Good morning" to the night
Melody
Lyrics
VISUAL
Language
Today
What is content design?
Let's design with words
Principles of content design
What is content design?
UX writing
UX content strategy
Content design
=
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Different names for roughly the same job
Content design
Language that's “easier to grasp” makes a product easier to use.
let's design with words
Remove redundant text
Highlight important info
Clarify using sections
Make it easier to leave feedback
Before
After
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Before
After
Onward to principles
Straw poll
Deeper to TSA
Before
After
Serves the user no matter how they pick up the card
This used to be a wall of bulleted text.
Important information is highlighted on both sides of the card.
A 3-second test for quality
- Is this "glanceable"?
- What is the main idea?
- Is there a clear call to action?
PRINCIPLES OF CONTENT DESIGN
we help users get where they are going
We make complex concepts easier to understand
The principled use of language to help people do things.
CONTENT DESIGN IS
I take notes so you don't have to
Start with the story
A radical concept in which you consider what you are trying to say before you say it.
All the names on screen are writers
Start with the story
Respect the user
Users don't want to deal with your software. Users are people too.
Respect the user doesn't look like this
Respect the user doesn't look like this
Respect the user doesn't look like this
Respect the user doesn't look like this
Respect the user doesn't look like this
Respect the user doesn't look like this
Respect
Respect
Respect
Respect
Respect
Respect the user
Look for patterns
The hard part of content design isn't writing the words. It's learning how to write patterns.
Look for patterns
C is for content
solve the real problem
Uncover the user's real world desires. Read between the lines and think beyond the immediate solution space.
it had to make scents
Solve the real problem
Solve the real problem
Solve the real problem
This ain't content design
Principles
Today
What is content design?
Let's design with words
Principles of content design
