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UX Page vs Modal

Do you have a clear and compelling case for why this content should be presented within a type of overlay instead of a page?

Workflow

  • Is this an error or success message?
  • Do you need to grab the users attention?
  • Is the user making a selection from a small range of options?
  • Is it essential to collect a small amount of information before letting users proceed?
  • Do you need to provide some additional content or features without losing the context of the parent page?
  • Is it urgent the user acknowledge the content?

Section 2

  • Will users want to bookmark the content or share it?
  • Is your design intended to be used primarily on a mobile device?
  • Is the user leaving the current workflow and not expected to return?
  • Are there different interactions and are they somewhat complex?
  • Is the interaction complex enough to require multiple steps?
  • Are you expdcting additional actions, tasks, or content in the future?

Section 3

  • Are you trying to cram lots of elements into your design?
  • Would the height of the content exceed the height of the container in an overlay?
  • Would the content in your design require scrolling if it were in an overlay?
  • Does the design solution contain more than 2 primary actions that effect the content the user is interacting with? (buttons, selection controls, etc.)
  • Does the design solution require the user to complete more than one task?

Section 4

  • Are users frequently moving back and forth between features of the design?
  • Are users interacting minimially with the features of the design?
  • Is the content temporary?
  • Is the design a transition state?
  • Is the focus of the user to be returned to the originating page after?
  • If the user is viewing content, is the content short and simple?
  • Is the content appearing at the deepest level of the information architecture in the current user flow?

Section 5

  • Is the content urgent and do you need the user to notice it right away?
  • Will the task be easier to complete if you take the users' attention away from the current page or task?
  • Is the task you need the user to complete critical to continuing the current process?
  • Will asking the user to complete this task or provide this information significantly reduce the users' work or effort?
  • Is the information essential or related to the current workflow?
  • Is the process self-contained (a self-contained process is every action that has a clear start and end point)?

Section 7

  • Do you need to collect information from the user?
  • Are you confirming a user action?
  • Will the action have serious consequences and be difficult to reverse?
  • Is the user completing a form, or making a decision?
  • Is your content an important warning that is preventing or correcting a critical error?
  • If your content is related to an error is the error irreversible?