The document discusses forms and form design. It notes that Caroline Jarrett has worked on forms for 28 years. A form is defined as something that looks and works like a form, asks questions and expects answers, and allows someone to achieve a goal. Good forms have good service, content, and interaction design and make it easy for users to complete the form and achieve their goals. The document provides tips for designing good forms, such as understanding how the form answers will be used, writing clear questions, and using a question protocol to help with the writing process. It recommends resources for learning more about question protocols and form design best practices.

1. Caroline Jarrett @cjforms
xgov forms meeting October 2020
Let’s have a lovely chat
about forms

2. I’ve worked on forms forever*
*28 years

3. 3
What is a form?

4. Is this page a form?
4 https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs

5. Is this page a form?
5
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/255671/town-village-green-registration.pdf

6. It’s a form
if it …
Looks like a
form and
works like a
form
Asks
questions
and expects
answers
Allows
someone
to achieve
a goal
6

7. Looks like a
form and
works like a
form
Interaction
Design
Asks
questions
and expects
answers
Content
Design
Allows
someone
to achieve
a goal
Service
Design
7

8. A great form works well across all three layers
Service design
Content design
Interaction design
Easy to get it done
Easy to move on
Goals achievedEasy to understand
Easy to answer
Goals achievedEasy to use
Easy to read
8

9. 9
Fix the forms, one at a time

10. Making a form is conceptually simple
1. Get the questions 2. Put the questions onto pages
10

11. Old paper form + magic of digital = ????
1. Get the questions 2. Put the questions onto pages
11
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312012851_Electronic_Referrals_and_
Digital_Imaging_Systems_in_Ophthalmology_A_Global_Perspective/figures?lo=1
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/
6/66/Cartoon_Man_Approving_His_New_Computer.svg

12. Before you ask a question,
find out exactly how you will use the answer
12
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/711736/a08-take-wild-birds-for-health-safety-form_May_2018.pdf

13. The double diamond for forms has questions in the middle
Work out
how you’ll
use the
answers
Write good
questions
Make
the form
13
Credit: designers in Leeds and at NHS Digital see
https://www.effortmark.co.uk/discussing-a-topic-map-for-how-to-design-better-a-form/

14. Let’s look at it like baking a cake
14 Idea from: participants at a workshop at #UXBristol, July 2019

15. A form builder helps, but only with one aspect
15 Idea adapted from participants at a workshop at #UXBristol, July 2019, especially @dframpton, @emmaboulton, @_kylemorris

16. You have to choose a recipe and shop
Work out
what
ingredients
you need
Measure
ingredients
Make
the cake
16

17. To make a good form, you must know
how you’ll use the answers
Work out
how you’ll
use the
answers
Write good
questions
Make
the form
17

18. A question protocol can help a lot
Question
protocol
Writing!
Form
builder
18

19. Some resources about question protocols and forms
• Blog post from Adam Silver on the Child Funeral Fund Service:
https://adamsilver.io/case-studies/designing-the-child-funeral-fund-service/
• The Australian Style Manual page on forms:
https://www.stylemanual.gov.au/format-writing-and-structure/content-formats/forms
• NHS Digital service manual ‘How to write good questions for forms’
https://service-manual.nhs.uk/content/how-to-write-good-questions-for-forms
• Forms stuff from me:
https://www.effortmark.co.uk/category/forms/
19