Designing Microcopy Systems
Quick start
Collect or infer:
- •Component inventory (buttons, modals, forms, toasts, etc.)
- •Existing design system documentation
- •Product voice and tone parameters
- •Platform constraints (character limits, localization requirements)
Then produce output using TEMPLATES.md. Validate with RUBRIC.md.
Workflow
- •Inventory all UI components that require copy.
- •Categorize components by function: action, feedback, navigation, instruction, status.
- •Define copy slots for each component (label, helper text, error, success, placeholder).
- •Establish patterns for each slot: structure, tone, constraints.
- •Document variation rules (when deviation is allowed, when it is not).
- •Create usage examples showing correct and incorrect application.
- •Run the rubric check. Revise until it passes.
Degrees of freedom
- •Low freedom: Pattern definitions and constraint rules must be explicit and testable.
- •Allowed variation: Example phrasing may adapt to product voice, as long as structural patterns remain consistent.
References
- •Templates: TEMPLATES.md
- •Rubric: RUBRIC.md
- •Examples: EXAMPLES.md