Design principles

At VTT, we want to create a distinctive user experience in everything we do. We want to offer our customers the things they value: ease of use and personalised service. Smooth customer journeys, understandable content and a fresh look ensure that our customers are satisfied and find what they are looking for.

Layout principles

VTT look and feel is bold and fresh. Aim for simplified layout with few elements – always make sure that you have enough contrast and leave enough empty space around the content to make it more clear and easily understandable. Always consider the flow of the content. Use short paragraphs and columns, and avoid long walls of text whenever possible. Use images or illustrations that help to clarify the message.

VTT logo should always be visible at least once in every design or application.

Use our brand components systematically, but be selective and don't overuse all possible elements in one view or design. White is the dominating colour of our web and document presence. In other digital applications, such as online ads, event graphics and social media posts, patterns and colours can be used as main design elements.

Good digital design is accessible by nature

At VTT we want to take accessibility seriously. It is an integral part of every design and solution we do, and goes hand in hand with the rest of the process.

Qualities of accessible digital design and content

  • Responsive – The service scales to all devices and provides the same user experience to all regardless of device
  • Perceivable – Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive.
  • Operable – User interface components and navigation must be operable by using various inputs like the keyboard.
  • Understandable – Information and the operation of the user interface must be understandable to all.
  • Robust – Content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.
Read more about accessibility

Good digital design requires planning

Creating good digital content doesn't have to be difficult, but it does require work. When creating content, focus on the purpose: Base your content on your strategy and understanding of the target groups. Define clear themes that link all communications together, and define a common goal for all content creators. Working together towards a clear, shared target helps you in identifying and measuring outcomes and success. Structuring your and your team's work around a content plan and measurable targets also allows you to develop your way of working, and find meaning and inspiration in everyday work.
 

General rules of thumb for good digital communication

  • Structure and prioritise things from the most important to the least important  
  • Make it easy to glance through – highlight the main points  
  • Make it short and simple, leave space to breathe  
  • Use visual guidance – create breaks or direct the attention to important elements

How to create good digital content

  • Plan ahead in simple ways – it saves you time and helps to clarify the future.

  • Define targets and ask yourself why – why are we planning this? What do we want to achieve?

  • Become the user – why do users come to see this content? What do they want to achieve? In what kind of situations are they? What do they want to solve?

  • Clean your closets – make a content inventory, what content do we already have? What do we need to create?

  • Zoom in and out – plan your content structure and user journeys, content flows, page flow – look at the big picture from afar and come close to focus on the details.