Product Guidelines

Voice & Tone

Brand Voice

{{BRAND_VOICE_DESCRIPTION}}

Voice Attributes

• {{ATTRIBUTE_1}}: {{ATTRIBUTE_1_DESCRIPTION}}
• {{ATTRIBUTE_2}}: {{ATTRIBUTE_2_DESCRIPTION}}
• {{ATTRIBUTE_3}}: {{ATTRIBUTE_3_DESCRIPTION}}

Tone Variations by Context

Words We Use

• {{PREFERRED_WORD_1}}
• {{PREFERRED_WORD_2}}
• {{PREFERRED_WORD_3}}

Words We Avoid

• {{AVOIDED_WORD_1}}
• {{AVOIDED_WORD_2}}
• {{AVOIDED_WORD_3}}

Messaging Guidelines

Core Messages

Primary Message:

{{PRIMARY_MESSAGE}}

Supporting Messages:

1. {{SUPPORTING_MESSAGE_1}}
2. {{SUPPORTING_MESSAGE_2}}
3. {{SUPPORTING_MESSAGE_3}}

Message Hierarchy

1. Must Communicate: {{MUST_COMMUNICATE}}
2. Should Communicate: {{SHOULD_COMMUNICATE}}
3. Could Communicate: {{COULD_COMMUNICATE}}

Audience-Specific Messaging

Design Principles

Principle 1: {{PRINCIPLE_1_NAME}}

{{PRINCIPLE_1_DESCRIPTION}}

Do:

• {{PRINCIPLE_1_DO_1}}
• {{PRINCIPLE_1_DO_2}}

Don't:

• {{PRINCIPLE_1_DONT_1}}
• {{PRINCIPLE_1_DONT_2}}

Principle 2: {{PRINCIPLE_2_NAME}}

{{PRINCIPLE_2_DESCRIPTION}}

Do:

• {{PRINCIPLE_2_DO_1}}
• {{PRINCIPLE_2_DO_2}}

Don't:

• {{PRINCIPLE_2_DONT_1}}
• {{PRINCIPLE_2_DONT_2}}

Principle 3: {{PRINCIPLE_3_NAME}}

{{PRINCIPLE_3_DESCRIPTION}}

Do:

• {{PRINCIPLE_3_DO_1}}
• {{PRINCIPLE_3_DO_2}}

Don't:

• {{PRINCIPLE_3_DONT_1}}
• {{PRINCIPLE_3_DONT_2}}

Accessibility Standards

Compliance Target

{{ACCESSIBILITY_STANDARD}} (e.g., WCAG 2.1 AA)

Core Requirements

Perceivable

• All images have meaningful alt text
• Color is not the only means of conveying information
• Text has minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1
• Content is readable at 200% zoom

Operable

• All functionality available via keyboard
• No content flashes more than 3 times per second
• Skip navigation links provided
• Focus indicators clearly visible

Understandable

• Language is clear and simple
• Navigation is consistent
• Error messages are descriptive and helpful
• Labels and instructions are clear

Robust

• Valid HTML markup
• ARIA labels used appropriately
• Compatible with assistive technologies
• Progressive enhancement approach

Testing Requirements

• Screen reader testing with {{SCREEN_READER}}
• Keyboard-only navigation testing
• Color contrast verification
• Automated accessibility scans

Error Handling Philosophy

Error Prevention

• Validate input early and often
• Provide clear constraints and requirements upfront
• Use inline validation where appropriate
• Confirm destructive actions

Error Communication

Principles

1. Be specific: Tell users exactly what went wrong
2. Be helpful: Explain how to fix the problem
3. Be human: Use friendly, non-technical language
4. Be timely: Show errors as soon as they're detected

Error Message Structure

[What happened] + [Why it happened (if relevant)] + [How to fix it]

Examples

Error States

Recovery Patterns

• Auto-save user progress where possible
• Provide clear "try again" actions
• Offer alternative paths when primary fails
• Preserve user input on errors