Note 06 · Actions
Explain what happened after an action
Feedback closes the gap between choosing an action and understanding its result.
Name the completed result
A message such as Draft saved is more useful than a generic Success because it says what finished. Place it where someone will notice it after the action, and avoid moving unrelated content in a way that hides the result.
Give a failure a next step
When an action fails, explain the part that needs attention and a reasonable way forward. Keep a person's useful input where possible. A vague error followed by an empty form makes the second attempt harder without explaining the first.
Distinguish waiting from completion
A progress indicator means work is still under way. A completed message should appear only after the intended result exists. Showing a reassuring message early can leave someone believing a task finished when it has only begun.