Though understated and often overlooked, microcopy is a powerful tool for improving product experiences. These were the slides for my presentation at UX Australia 2018. In this presentation we covered what microcopy is and how it can be used. The overarching message was for design teams to be more responsible with their choice of words, and mindful of the impact it has on the user experience. To see the slides in all of animated glory: https://d.pr/v/6hq1ub

1. UX AUSTRALIA 2018
The Role of Microcopy
in User Experience
Richard Sison
User Experience Lead at PreviousNext
@richardsison

2. I work here.
…and I post
microcopy
stuff here.

3. •What is microcopy?
•What can it be used for?
•Choosing your words wisely

4. …What's microcopy?

5. Microcopy spotted!
Circa 1995–1998

9. Spark
Email App on iOS
MailChimp
THE MailChimp
PROVIDING FEEDBACK
Sending something successfully

10. Abstract
Version-control for Designers

13. What can microcopy
be used for?

14. Providing
Context
Setting
Expectations
What am I looking at?
What do I do next?
What's happening now?
What just happened?
What will happen next?
What will happen if I do this?
What am I getting into?

15. Providing
Context
Setting
Expectations
Confident
Actions
+ =
☝
What will happen next
☝
What's happening now

16. Siri
Apple's Virtual Assistant

17. Siri
Apple's Virtual Assistant

18. Choose your
words carefully

19. Spotify
Music Streaming
Figma
An Awesome Design Tool for Awesome People
FRAMING MATTERS
The "Monthly" Subscription
"Monthly"Monthly.

20. Spotify
Music Streaming
Figma
An Awesome Design Tool for Awesome People
FRAMING MATTERS
The "Monthly" Subscription

22. Dropbox
The one and only

23. very.co.uk
Online Retailer (Registration Form)
☝
"Tick this box
if you don't want spam."
Source: darkpatterns.org
DARK PATTERNS
"The Bait and Switch"

24. Tick to opt-in
very.co.uk
Online Retailer (Registration Form)
Tick to opt-out
DARK PATTERNS
"The Bait and Switch"

25. Evernote

26. Evernote

27. Evernote

28. Evernote

29. Evernote

30. Evernote

31. Evernote

32. Evernote

33. Evernote

34. Evernote

35. Evernote

36. Evernote

37. Evernote

38. Evernote

39. Evernote

40. Be Responsible.

41. Be Responsible.
👎

42. Slack
🤖 💬

43. Slack
🤖 💬

44. Slack
🤖 💬

45. Slack
🤖 💬

47. =
Confident
Actions
+
Setting
Expectations
Providing
Context

48. Choose your
words carefully

49. Be Responsible.

50. Questions, comments
or just want to have a coffee?
@richardsison
@goodmicrocopy
linkedin.com/in/richard-sison