5 things I have learnt working with content designers
I have been lucky enough to work with some very talented content designers during my time at Barnardo’s.
Having a background in advertising, I had preconceived ideas of what a content designer was. When I first started in product design, I naively thought they were copywriters. I thought they ‘filled in the gaps’ with words and worked to character limits. I could not have been more wrong!
Content and product design go hand in hand. I have learnt a huge amount working alongside them for the last few years. Together, our main aim is to create products that work for our users.
1. Less is more
Do not overcomplicate things. If content isn’t helping the user, take it out!
2. Think about a user’s cognitive load
When designing for practitioners at Barnardo’s we know from research that they are time poor. They are often dealing with stressful situations. To make it easier for them to find information on our online risk guide, we sectioned long articles. We used clear headings and accordions. This saves the user time and reduces cognitive load. It means the user can find what they are looking for quickly.
3. Talk to subject matter experts
Just because you don’t know much about a certain topic, it doesn’t mean you can’t find out. Use subject matter experts to share knowledge. You can then simplify the information in a way that best fits the user needs.
4. Keep it simple
You don’t need to use a thesaurus. The average reading age is 9 years old. It is best to use language that all users can understand.
5. Collaborate!
If you are a product designer, content lead or developer, you should all be working towards the same goal. Creating a product that works for the user.
