Content-First
Design Principles
Start with the real words and images, and let the design serve them.
In practice
Content-first design means the actual copy, data and media come before layout — not lorem ipsum and placeholder boxes that get filled later. It forces honest decisions about hierarchy, length and structure, prevents the layout-breaks-when-real-content-arrives problem, and keeps the design in service of what it is communicating rather than the other way round.
Questions
What is Content-First?
Content-first is a design approach that begins with real content and structures the interface around it, rather than designing containers and fitting content in afterward.
Why do you use Content-First?
Layouts designed around placeholders fail on contact with reality. Real content reveals what the design actually has to do.
How do you use/apply Content-First?
Gather or write real content early, model its structure and variation, design for its true lengths and edge cases, and treat copy as a design material.
When do you use Content-First?
From the first wireframe. Placeholder text is a debt that comes due at launch.
Who uses Content-First?
UX, content and product designers working together.
