UX Designer · Cheatsheet

UX Designer Cheatsheet

A short reminder sheet that pairs with the full playbook. Use it in a meeting when you need the next move, not a long read. Tap “What this means” on any card if a heading is unclear.

Civil Service specific Universal any sector Both

MAP-01

Design maps

Both

Problem: Double Diamond · JTBD · service blueprints

Quality: WCAG · Design System

Public: GDS Service Standard

Match the map to the uncertainty.

RL-01

The role

Both

You own experience quality and evidence.

Run daily:

Whose need?
What would change our mind?
Who might we exclude?

DD-01

Double Diamond

Universal

Timebox Discover / Define
Name the decision each spike unlocks
Dual-track beside delivery
Converge hard enough to build

RS-01

Research craft

Universal

Decision card before fieldwork

Method fits the question

Findings next to backlog items

Include excluded users when risk is high

SD-01

Service design

Both

Blueprint frontstage and backstage

Invite ops staff into research

Design failure and recovery paths

Measure completion and contact demand

A11Y-01

Accessibility

Civil Service

WCAG in critique, Ready and Done
Keyboard + AT on critical journeys
Prefer system components
Log residual a11y risk with owners

DS-01

Design systems

Civil Service

GOV.UK / team system by default

Document exceptions with evidence

Contribute durable patterns back

Assessment will ask why you diverged

CR-01

Critique

Universal

Context before opinions

Must-fix vs taste

End with experiments and owners

HiPPO speaks last

AS-01

Assessment

Civil Service

Warm research and a11y evidence
Exceptions log findable
Handover intent, not only screens
Practice questions in reviews

CM-01

Tone & ask

Universal

Team: buildable intent + a11y

SRO: outcome + inclusion risk + ask

Playback ends with backlog edits

Drop "users will love it"

GV-03

Troubleshooting: symptom to first move

Universal

!HiPPO wins: evidence before opinion; highest pay speaks last

!Research theatre: decision card or cancel the fieldwork

!Late a11y: WCAG into critique and Done this Sprint

!System ignored: default to patterns; log exceptions with evidence

!Findings ignored: end playback with PO-owned backlog edits

!Assessment scramble: index research and a11y evidence this week

REF-01

Field reference

Both

One-minute checklist when the experience is on fire:

Name the user need and exclusion risk
Discovery, decision rights, a11y, system or backstage?
Decision that unlocks most learning, who owns it
Brief PO / SRO before distorted versions
Protect research and critique time while you sort it

Craft: Double Diamond, JTBD, blueprint, critique

Inclusion: WCAG, Design System

Public: GDS, Service Standard, DDaT

Govern: DoR, DoD, HiPPO, SRO