Guidelines
Design Guidelines
Design guidelines are sets of principles and recommendations to ensure consistency and best practices in designing products, applications, or websites, creating a functional, user-friendly, and aesthetically pleasing end result.
Purpose
Design guidelines serve as a framework for designers, ensuring adherence to established standards and best practices.
Elements Covered
These guidelines can encompass various aspects, including:
- Style: Brand logos, colours, and overall aesthetic.
- Layout: Grid or list structures, and page organisation.
- User Interface (UI) Components: Menus, buttons, and other interactive elements.
- Text: Font selection, tone of voice, and label/field usage.
- Accessibility: Considerations for users with disabilities, such as ARIA markup.
- Design Patterns: Common design solutions like forms.
Why they are important
Design guidelines promote:
- Consistency: Ensuring a cohesive and recognisable experience across all designs.
- Usability: Making interfaces intuitive and easy to navigate.
- Efficiency: Allowing designers to make informed decisions without starting from scratch.
- Better quality: Improving overall product design by promoting best practices.
Design Guidelines
Design principles that provide a positive user experience
Digital.gov
Guidance for U.S. government websites and social media