Sarah Johnson: Moving Content Forward with Content-first Design
Feb 2, 2025
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Sarah Johnson, the Principal and founder of Content First Design, shares her insights on the vital role of content in digital product development. She emphasizes how a content-first approach can enhance user experience and engage stakeholders effectively. Sarah discusses the emotional complexities of financial transactions and how innovative design thinking can reshape e-commerce. She also highlights the importance of active listening and community engagement in developing successful content strategies, drawing from real-world examples to illustrate her points.
Prioritizing content in digital product development enhances user experience and prevents inefficiencies caused by misaligned visual design.
Johnson advocates for community collaboration among industry professionals to evolve content-first design practices and share best practices.
Deep dives
The Importance of Content-First Design
Content-first design emphasizes the necessity of prioritizing content in the development of digital products. This approach ensures that research, exploration, and evaluation of content requirements inform the structure and user interface, ultimately enhancing user experience. Sarah Johnson highlights that many organizations traditionally prioritize visual design before addressing content, leading to misalignment and inefficiencies. By starting with content, businesses can avoid significant redesigns and better meet user needs, ultimately saving time and resources.
Building Community Around Content Strategy
Johnson advocates for creating a community to advance the practice of content-first design, emphasizing collaboration and inclusivity among industry professionals. Her initiative, Moving Content Forward, not only serves as a platform for sharing experiences and insights but also promotes dialogue around best practices within the field. She demonstrates the impact of community by mentioning the diverse backgrounds of individuals contributing to the conversation, enhancing the richness of ideas about content strategy. By fostering this environment, practitioners can collectively evolve their approaches to content design.
Addressing Stakeholder Relationships
Successful implementation of content-first design requires careful navigation of stakeholder relationships within organizations. Johnson emphasizes the importance of active listening and building trust with all stakeholders involved in the content creation process. She shares that including stakeholders in every phase fosters understanding and collaboration, leading to designs that effectively incorporate user insights. By creating spaces for open dialogue, practitioners can advocate for content-first principles and improve the overall outcome of digital projects.
Sarah Johnson asks, "If a digital experience is a conversation with a user, how can you have that conversation if you don't know what the words are?"
Sarah addresses the crucial role of content in her new book, "Content-first Design," tackling both the pragmatic aspects of a content-first approach to design as well as how to advocate for content practice.
https://ellessmedia.com/csi/sarah-johnson/
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