A way to quickly summarize the guiding principles associated with a design
Use this template to make sure your original design intent is clear, as well as consistent as the idea moves from conception through production and beyond. Clarity and brevity are key, so make sure your quick reference guide is easy to understand — yet thorough enough to convey the necessary information to a wide variety of people.
The Mural quick reference guide template includes space set aside for the solution and the design intent of your project, as well as highlights from your research and further background on project focus and milestones.
Quickly explain the purpose and rationale for design decisions
Create a central resource outlining the purpose and principles behind your design
Share your rationale and key principles with stakeholders
Collaboratively update your guide as your project or design evolves
To make best use of the Mural quick reference guide template, follow the below steps.
The first step is to identify a design or project that's in the early stages of development — this will help define the purpose of the project from the outset.
Assemble the team that originated the solution, as they'll have the appropriate background information and context for why the current solution is being pursued.
With the team directly involved in the design, discuss the design intent and ask them to communicate the design principles and standards in a concise manner.
Use this section to outline the research that went into the design, as well as the key insights that informed the decision-making along the way.
Finally, outline the focus of the project and include key milestones along the way, including dates, success metrics, and responsible parties.
To run a successful quick reference guide template session, you should:
Ensure that all key stakeholders from the team involved in the design are engaged, so you avoid any blind spots
Use sticky notes, tags, and color coding to capture and organize information and feedback from everyone on the team
Update your quick reference guide going forward to make sure that it reflects the current state and performance of the project or design
A quick reference guide is a condensed and simplified version of the core concepts and principles of a design. It serves as a handy tool for designers, product developers, and anyone involved in the creative process to quickly access and understand the fundamental concepts behind a design or project.
Quick reference guides are important because they help individuals and teams understand the principles and standards of a design, including the research that inspired them, which can be complex and multifaceted. By providing a clear and concise overview of the key concepts, a quick reference guide can help ensure that everyone involved in a project is on the same page and working towards the same goals.
Moreover, a quick reference guide can save time and effort by allowing people to get a quick reminder or overview of a specific design or project. They can also serve as a training resource for new team members and external stakeholders.
The process of creating a quick reference guide begins with creating a shared document to gather your inputs, and continues with the team that created the design coming together to explain the design's purpose, making a list of design rules, noting standards for color and font, and collecting a set of design patterns and templates. Once you have all the necessary information, the quick reference guide should be easy to understand and thorough enough to convey the necessary information to a wide variety of people.
Mural is the only platform that offers both a shared workspace and training on the LUMA System™, a practical way to collaborate that anyone can learn and apply.