lamina-content-design

name	lamina-content-design
description	Copy and labels in contracts — scan-first labels, error text, and empty-state messaging. Use when screen copy blocks actor walks.
metadata	{"lamina":{"id":"content-design","problems":["label ambiguity","unclear error copy","content-heavy screens"],"related":["lamina-navigation","lamina-discoverability","lamina-product-behavior"],"tags":["audit-default"]}}

Content Design (agent-native)

Specify user-visible text in surfaces[] — labels, headings, errors, empty states — so implementers and verify subagents share one source of truth.

Contract encoding

Per screen:

• title, primary_action label
• empty_state copy when scenarios include collection_empty
• error_messages keyed by scenario id
• Navigation labels consistent with workflows operation names

Concise copy: every word earns its place; no happy talk on task screens.

Frameworks

• Scan-first: headings, bullets, one primary CTA visible without reading paragraphs.
• Satisficing: first visible option on primary path should be correct.
• Mindless choices: mutually exclusive nav labels — depth beats ambiguous breadth.
• Eliminate instructions: if copy explains the UI, fix structure (discoverability).

Design checklists

1. Page/screen title matches link that leads there.
2. Error copy: what happened → why → what to do next.
3. Labels use actor vocabulary from entities[], not internal jargon.
4. Home/landing answers: what site, what can I do, why here, why trust — if applicable.
5. Halve marketing copy on task screens.

Verify checks

• Actor walk: simulated actor finds primary action without re-reading labels.
• Walkthrough: link text ≠ page title mismatches → finding.
• a11y: link purpose clear out of context.

Anti-patterns

• Welcome paragraphs users skip.
• "Click here" or jargon labels.
• Instructions compensating for bad layout.
• Clever headings that fail actor-walk goal completion.

Related

• Navigation
• Discoverability
• Empty States