4 min read
Write the error before the screen
If you can't say what went wrong in plain words, the design isn't done.
Error states are where a product shows whether it understands the work.
Start with the sentence
Before drawing a flow, I write the three most likely errors as sentences a person would say out loud: "This van is full." "You've already sent this." "Your card was charged by a company with a different name."
If a sentence needs a code, a policy name or an apology, the problem isn't solved yet. The screen will only hide that.
Then design backwards
Once the sentences are clear, the screens get simpler. Most of the time, the error can show up before anyone clicks save.