Creating

Definition

Creating is a generative mental mode where users are producing or authoring something new — content, records, data structures, or designs — often starting from a blank slate or template. This mode benefits from smart defaults and emphasizes structure and ownership of output. It is part of the ‘Task-Oriented’ Mode family.

Synonyms include: Authoring, Building, Designing, Generating.

Contextual Relevance by Role

• Content Creators: Writing internal or external content, documentation, or help articles.
• Designers: Creating mockups, diagrams, or page layouts.
• Developers: Authoring new experiences through tooling.
• Administrators: Authoring workflows, rules, or policy content.
• Power Users: Building dashboards, data visualizations, or reusable structures.

Mental Model

• Building something from scratch or from template starting point
• Translating ideas into tangible form
• Iterative refinement toward a vision
• Balancing constraints with creative freedom

Emotional Context

• Creative and expressive
• Focused on quality and originality
• Pride in craftsmanship
• Potential anxiety about reception or adequacy

Behaviors

• Starting with templates or blank canvases
• Iteratively adding and refining elements
• Previewing work in progress
• Saving drafts and publishing final versions
• Returning to update or polish created items

Journey Stage

When in the user journey this intent typically occurs:

• Initiating a new workflow, report, or piece of content
• Customizing a system to reflect a team’s structure or process
• Authoring new documentation, designs, or data schemas

Measuring Creation Success

How effectively users can produce new content, structures, or designs that meet their goals.

Quantitative Metrics

• Creation completion rate
• Time to create (minutes to produce finished work)
• Template usage effectiveness
• Reuse potential of created items

Qualitative Indicators

• Creation quality rating
• Satisfaction with output
• Perceived creative control

Design Implications

1. Provide Both Blank Slates and Templates

Some users want full control, others need a head start. → Offer starter templates, scaffolds, and pre-filled examples alongside blank starting points.

2. Support Non-Linear Creation Processes

Creative workflows aren’t always step-by-step. Users may jump ahead, backtrack, or explore alternatives. → Avoid rigid wizards; enable flexible layouts, drag-and-drop, and in-place editing.

3. Include Robust Undo/Redo Capabilities

Experimentation is core to creativity. Users need confidence that they can explore safely. → Support multi-level undo/redo, version history, and reversible changes.

4. Offer Real-Time or On-Demand Previews

Creators want to see what they’re making as they go. → Provide live previews, toggle views, or side-by-side modes to reduce context switching.

5. Enable Saving Drafts and Progressive Disclosure

Not all creation is completed in one sitting. Respect in-progress work. → Support draft modes, autosave, and staging options for review or iteration.

UX Domains

• Content creation
• Design tools
• Authoring systems

UX Context Examples

• Content editors
• Form builders
• Workflow designers
• Dashboard creators

Components and Patterns

• Rich text editors
• Drag-and-drop builders
• Dashboard grid systems
• Multi-step creation flows
• Template pickers

Do’s and Don’ts

Mistaking Creation for Form Filling

• Creative tasks require flexibility, not just input fields. Rigid flows block momentum.

Underestimating Blank Slate Anxiety

• Too much freedom can be paralyzing.
• Templates, prompts, or suggested structures help creators get started.

Ignoring Ownership

• Users often take pride in what they create.
• Avoid overwriting, losing work, or hiding their contributions.