Content design

Using words in a way that everyone can understand

About this course

This half day course will show you evidence-based ways to structure documents and use written language for a range of potential readers.

In this course, you will learn about...

Reading and understanding
How people read
User research: discovery
Highly readable documents
How machines read
APS standards
User research: usability and readability

Who this course is for

This course will benefit people who:

Are building a new online service
Are improving an existing online service
Need to assess design work that is being delivered by consultants
Want to build design capacity in their team

For public servants

This course was designed with the needs of the Australian public service in mind. It is informed by the DTA Digital Service Standard, the APS learning design standards for digital, and the SFIA digital skills and competency framework.

How this course is taught

This course can be taught either online or in person. Both options are designed for accessibility.

This course uses a combination of lecture content, small group discussions, real-world examples, and collaboration tools such as collaboration boards and polls.

Ask about this course

What you'll learn

Learning outcomes

Describe the basic structure of PIACC literacy levels
Describe population-wide literacy levels among Australian adults
Describe other barriers to literacy (such as brain injury and limited English)
Explain the benefits of simple English for high literacy readers
Explain some risks associated with poor content design
Understand how eyes move when reading
Describe an F-shaped reading pattern
Understand for cultural preferences can influence content design
Describe 'satisficers' and 'optimisers'
Describe the basic hierarchy of importance that English speakers apply to text features
Explain the difference between ‘discovery research’ and ‘usability research’
Explain the fundamentals of usability research
Describe the features of highly readable documents (clear structure, simple language, and consistent formatting)
Explain the basics of font hierarchy in HTML
What standards impact on contact design (such as WCAG 2.1)
Explain the fundamentals of usability research
Describe what an automated tester is
Describe what limits apply to automated testers

Learning outcomes – APSC Learning Design Standards: Digital

Accessibility and inclusion

1. Accessible and inclusive Australian Government services
1.1. Defining accessibility and inclusion
Explain the importance of making Australian Government services inclusive and accessible.

3. Accessibility throughout the product lifecycle
3.1. What to do in Discovery
Influence discovery research to address accessibility and inclusion

User research

1. The role of user research in the digital service design context
1.1. User research for government services
Describe the role of user research in meeting the Digital Service Standard
Explain the importance of understanding all user groups
Conduct user research
Conduct user research as a team sport

2. User research protocols and governance
2.2. Ethics
Apply ethical considerations in designing and conducting research

3. User research in the different design and delivery phases
3.1. User research in discovery
Describe the purpose of user research in discovery
Identify user groups to conduct research with
Select the user research activities in discovery
Describe the user research activity outcomes

4. Methods and tools of user research
4.1. Selecting the right research method
Define a technique to help in applying a user research method
Identify the intended stage and purpose for each method