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.
