Why your design process should start with content

Content-first design is a philosophical approach to web design that prioritizes understanding and planning content before initiating the design process. Advocated by Jeff Zeldman since 2008, this method ensures that the design aligns with the function and purpose of the content, akin to how an editorial designer or architect works. This approach emphasizes the importance of knowing the types of content needed, whether textual, visual, or multimedia, to build a coherent information architecture and optimize the design for content presentation. It can prevent excessive design iterations and facilitate a consistent user interface by supporting a structured content strategy. Utilizing tools like Webflow CMS, designers can create content models that define content types and their relationships, fostering a system-based design approach. This method not only aids in the customization of content management systems but also enhances empathy for content creators and end-users by addressing potential design challenges with real content. Furthermore, it offers the opportunity to refine the CMS setup and design output, ensuring high-quality content and user experience.