Form Design Considerations

Take advantage of important design considerations and tips before creating or editing a form

Before creating a form, consider the following:

• Audience: Who is the form for? (example: User or customer? Technician or executive? etc.)
• Purpose: For what purpose will the form be used?(example: For detailed call logging, for self-service activities, for read-only purposes, etc.)
• Client access: From where will the form be accessed? (example: CSM Desktop Client, CSM Browser Client, CSM Portal, or Cherwell Mobile)
• Layout: What types of controls will be on the form (example: Field controls, standard controls, special controls) and what will it look like? (example: colors, font, alignments, etc.)
• Security: Who can access the form?
• Devices: What devices will be used to access the form?

Review the following tips for designing an effective form:

• Make it useful: Consider the audience and what they need most. Technicians may need very detailed information, CSM Portal customers may need more simplified and colorful forms, with more user-friendly labels, casual contributors (example: Knowledge Article contributor) may need abbreviated details, etc.
• Make it pretty: Do not underestimate the visual experience. Employ visual elements, such as images, colors, styles, alignment, and layering to convey information and embellish the aesthetic. Use consistent, browser-friendly fonts and colors (or themes) to ensure stability and cohesion.
• Make it conditional: Use expression-driven colors, text, images, and visibility to dynamically change the way a control looks and behaves based on a defined condition.