Project overview
At a rapidly growing startup, I identified a lack of standardization across the user interface and product documentation. Without established patterns, microcopy and content decisions were often subjective and inconsistent. I developed a product style guide, including UI content pattern guidelines, to help provide a consistent, professional user experience.
Skills
Brand awareness
UX consistency
Style guide creation
The Process
To make sure that documentation was consistent, I set the standard that Microsoft style guide would be the primary style guide for basic style and conventions. I extended this industry standard with bespoke guidelines to address company-specific needs, strictly defining how to phrase procedural steps, reference UI elements, and standardize terminology. I also created best practices for microcopy and in-app content. This ensured that users would have a consistent experience across product and documentation deliverables, increasing trust and comprehension.
The following are some examples of conventions I created to increase clarity and consistency throughout the product and documentation:
Buttons: Enforced a specific [Verb] + [Noun] syntax (e.g., "Save Report" instead of just "Save" or "Done") to maximize accessibility and clarity.
Error Messages: Standardized the structure to always include the Cause + Solution, banning generic system errors in favor of actionable guidance.
Empty states: Created guidelines that these screens be educational opportunities rather than dead ends.
The Impact
I used this guide to inform my own suggestions when writing microcopy for new designs and to encourage a culture of UX consistency and best practices among all product teams. This significantly increased customer satisfaction, reduced support inquiries, and sped up product development.