Yesterday I started creating mockups for a top secret project. I decided that I was not only going to mockup the UI, but that I was going to mock up real copy to go along with it and skip the fake text. Not content with simply banishing “lorem ipsum” I attempted to make the content as real as I could.
There are several advantages to this including:
- Now you can ask for feedback on marketing copy (I was working on the home page.) as well as UI.
- You’ll learn that the layout in your head doesn’t accommodate the text you really need.
- Text, text size, and placement is a critical component of UI design and real text will showcase how balanced your UX is.
- Text should be used to guide users through the intended flow of your UX and your application is not complete without it.
- You’ll start getting a feel for the type of content you want to see on your site and how it blends.
- You may not work in marketing… but this could make their messages more real.
- You’ll have to bug fix the real text later if you don’t when you realize your UI crushes your dreams.
So, when I say “real text” what do I mean?
- If you have a blog or twitter feed show the headlines you’d expect the user to see.
- If you expect user generated text then ask some of your customer advisers for examples of content they would be posting.
- Any marketing copy or calls to action should be real.
- Expand your menu with the real links. You may realize you needed space for 6 items instead of 5… or you need to change your IA.
Ok, now go forth and change the world by bringing it a touch of reality.