Best Practices
6 min
Must-Haves
- Consistency: Match the design to the broader Activate experience.
- Essential Controls:
- Search Bar: Do not remove the dropdown or search button.
- Navigation: Keep standard entry points or provide clear alternatives for browsing and searching.
Do’s and Don’ts
✅ Do:
- Use subtle, light-coloured backgrounds that enhance readability.
- Ensure critical navigation elements remain easily accessible.
- Test designs on multiple devices and screen sizes.
❌ Don’t:
- Use busy or complex background images—they interfere with readability.
- Apply intranet-style designs that remove key Activate components.
- Make radical changes to background colours—this can affect icons, fonts, and styling.
Testing
- Test on multiple screen sizes using browser developer tools (e.g., Chrome device emulation).
- Validate designs for all user roles, not just administrators.
- Ensure that resizing and responsiveness work as expected.
Mobile Considerations
- Desktop designs rarely translate well to mobile—simplify where possible.
- Activate supports separate mobile home pages for better usability.
- Use the Chrome emulator to confirm mobile performance.
Design Process (Summary)
- Provide templates to the customer early.
- Customer selects a theme/template.
- Customer suggests changes; Product Team reviews for issues.
- Scope and document what changes will and won’t be made.
- Obtain sign-off for design and budget.
- Implement agreed changes.