Daily UX Writing Challenges

A series of UX writing prompts by Ryan Farrell, featuring real-life scenarios and copy limitations
Solutions by Jarrod Armour, December 2020

UX Writing Challenge: Day 1

Scenario:

A traveler is in an airport waiting for the last leg of a flight home when their flight is abruptly canceled due to bad weather.

Challenge:

Write a message from the airline app notifying them of the cancellation and what they need to do next.

Headline:

45 characters max

Body:

175 characters max

Button(s):

25 characters max

About my solution:

Travel delays are frustrating. → The headline is direct and clear to avoid ambiguity during a possibly stressful moment.
The traveler is inconvenienced yet faultless. → The body is all about empathy, showing contrition and guiding them to ending this unpleasant experience by contacting the airline.
The buttons with icons are convenient, and the traveler has a real-life alternative if preferred.

Flight XX123 canceled due to bad weather

We apologize for the delay. Let’s get you to your destination as soon as possible. Contact us or visit an agent at a nearby counter for assistance.

Call

Message

UX Writing Challenge: Day 2

Scenario:

A user is a working parent, and a big sports fan, in the midst of their favorite sports season who can no longer attend games.

Challenge:

Write a promotional screen for an app that lets a user choose teams, sends game reminders, real-time score updates and highlight videos.

Headline:

Body:

Button(s):

40 characters max

175 characters max

25 characters max

About my solution:

For a major sports fan, missing out on their favorite team's games is disappointing. → The headline reminds them there's still a chance to follow the action.
Using follow in the body and CTA is more approachable, coming from the common expression follow a sport or a team.

Catch every game this season

Follow your favorite teams to get game day reminders, see real-time scores, and view highlight videos of all the action.

Follow your teams

UX Writing Challenge: Day 3

Scenario:

The user entered the wrong email address to sign in to their account.

Challenge:

Tell the user to enter the right email.

Body:

40 characters max

About my solution:

Mistakes happen when we're typing quickly or distracted. → The question and suggestion pair invite the user to re-examine what they've entered and fix with no onus of blame.

If users don't have an account, the linked CTA guides them to creating one.

Log in

sanfranxisco@school.edu

Did we read that right? Try again

Create an account

Scenario:

A user is in their favorite supermarket. They open the supermarket’s app on their phone to see what’s on sale and are greeted by a promotion.

Challenge:

Write a promotional home screen for a subscription service that delivers groceries to the user once-a-month for a flat fee.

Headline:

45 characters max

Body:

175 characters max

Button(s):

25 characters max

About my solution:

Shopping for groceries can be hectic. → The headline lets the shopper know they can opt to chill at home instead.
The body reinforces these benefits and provides the key money matter
The button features a reinforcing CTA, while the shopper can opt out if they're not interested.

Relax and shop at home with grocery delivery

Next time, you can relax at home and let us do this for you. We’ll hand-pick and deliver all the essential items you order each month for a flat $15.

Order delivery

No thanks

UX Writing Challenge: Day 5

Scenario:

The user works in graphic design. While critiquing a design in a mobile app, their phone abruptly turns off. When they restart the phone, they reopen the app.

Challenge:

Write a message that the user will read immediately upon opening the app. What do they need to know? What steps (if any) do they need to take to recover their content? What if they can't recover the content?

Headline:

40 characters max

Body:

140 characters max

Button(s):

20 characters max

About my solution:

As a designer working with various apps all day, this challenge was all too real! These disruptions are super frustrating. → The headline eases any negative feelings by letting the designer know what happened and the status of their progress leading to the moment.
The body apologies for and recognizes the inconvenience of the moment to show empathy. The designer gets a reminder of the benefit of using the app and guidance back to what they were doing.
Depending on the designer's workflow, they can either pick up where they left off, or return to the previous saved version if they need to work through the process again.

We lost you there, but your work is safe

We’re sorry: crashes are frustrating. Yet D-Zone is worry-free because you can restore your progress, or return to your last saved version.

Restore progress

Return to saved version

UX Writing Challenge: Day 6

Scenario:

It’s Monday. A user has just gotten into their car to drive to work. They plug their phone into the car and start driving.

Challenge:

How would you let the user know there’s a fire happening in a nearby town that is causing road closures? The effect on their commute is unknown, but there is a definite danger if the fire gets closer. How do you communicate this to them? When? Write it.

Headline:

30 characters max

Body:

45 characters max

About my solution:

The situation is developing, and the impact on the driver, are unknown. So, the headline states the cause for concern and its relevance with no fuss to avoid causing undue alarm.
The body mentions the possible effects and ends with an uplifting and encouraging message to the driver.

Fire reported by your commute

Chance of delay or reroutes. Drive safely

UX Writing Challenge: Day 7

Scenario:

A sports fan is at a wedding while their favorite team is playing against their arch-rivals. Their team scores.

Challenge:

Headline:

Body:

How would you, quickly, let the sports fan know about the latest play, the current score, and the key players? Write it.

30 characters max

45 characters max

About my solution:

I had to dig deep on this one: I'm not a sports fan. :)
I'm based in Oakland, so I kept the content locally-themed.
I keep the headline conversational while expressing what happened and when.
The body provides the details of who scored and how it happened—the contents of which came from research since I'm a sports newbie.

A’s up 7-6 at top of 8th

Kemp hits a single to drive home two RBIs.

UX Writing Challenge: Day 8

Scenario:

The user is a casual music fan and (on occasion) goes to live concerts. They have a music player app on their phone.

Challenge:

Tell the user that one of their favorite bands is playing live in their town. How would you compel them to want to go?

Headline:

30 characters max

Body:

45 characters max

Button(s):

25 characters max

About my solution:

The headline and the body work in tandem to be enticing:

The body apologies for and recognizes the inconvenience of the moment to show empathy. The designer gets a reminder of the benefit of using the app and guidance back to what they were doing.
Depending on the designer's workflow, they can either pick up where they left off, or return to the previous saved version if they need to work through the process again.

Hot Chip at the Fox Theater

Catch the debut of their new tour in Oakland.

View tickets