Wikipedia:Teahouse/Design guidelines
Question forum »Host profiles »Guest profiles » Teahouse is built on some intentional guiding principles to give visitors a great experience.
Guidelines for Design
Everyone is welcome to contribute to improving Teahouse!
If you'd like to build new features or processes for the project, here are some principles to keep in mind to make sure your new creation enhances the user experience and keeps the spirit of the project.
Build for new editors
- Everyone is welcome in Teahouse, but new editors are the target audience. Consider how your new creation will affect new editors first.
- If it is better for experienced editors but makes things worse for new editors, it probably doesn't belong in Teahouse.
Keep it simple
- Wikipedia can be a complicated and confusing place for new editors. Teahouse works because it is simple and easy to use.
- Make the process of interaction as much as possible like what people expect from the internet today.
- Teahouse features should be clear and easy for everyone. Features which are more complex should only be for hosts.
Invite interaction
- Present clear, inviting calls to action. Each page has a clear call to action ("Ask a question", "Introduce yourself"), and the interface is instructive, concise and friendly.
Be clear and consistent
- On every page you know you are in the Teahouse and you know its central purpose.
- The header of every page includes the Teahouse logo and a tagline to set the tone, as well as links to all 3 main pages of the space.
- The landing page is kept as uncluttered as possible, to route guests quickly to hosts, guests, and questions.
Surface people and community
- To show visitors the human side of Wikipedia, we surface real people whenever possible. For example, at least one host profile is always showcased above the fold on key pages.
Show recent activity
- To show guests a lively, active space that encourages them to get involved, we show new things before old things. For example, active hosts, recent guests, and new questions appear at the top of the Q&A board.
- Make sure the space above the fold includes dynamic content, not just static text.
Play with the theme
- Teahouse’s design is inspired by the theme of a Japanese tea garden.
- We tend to use soft, warm colors and a natural theme to set a welcoming tone.
- Be playful. Teahouse is a place of asymmetry and whimsy, and riffing on the theme is welcome.
Acknowledge participants
- Create a culture where people reward and encourage great participation.
- Tools which make it easier to tell someone when they did something well amplify the good will in our community.
- Provide learning pathways for editors so they have a sense of what skills are out there and what behaviors make Teahouse better.
- Make achievements personal, fun, and visible with badges, barnstars, and thanks.
Make data-driven decisions
- Teahouse is based on research and experimentation to see what works best. If you have an idea, be bold and make it into an experiment.
- Asking questions like "what problem am I trying to solve?" and "what has past research shown works or doesn't work?" is usually a good place to start.
- Test your hunches. What works best for you might not be the best solution for your target audience. Think about how you can design an experiment to learn if your change or new feature is having a positive impact.
- Measure outcomes of changes, and make decisions for the future based on those outcomes.