Error messages

We did not include error messages in the prototype for the initial research.

We were primarily interested in learning about how participants would respond to the task lists and changes such as the addition of guidance.

We also knew that participants would not enter much real data into the prototype. It was likely that they’d get error messages when entering fake data.

Further considerations

Most of the error messages will be straightforward applications of the error message component and error summary from the GOV.UK design system.

Standard content patterns are given in the design system for errors such as trying to continue:

• without selecting a radio button
• without selecting at least one checkbox
• without completing a text field
• after entering a date that is not valid
• after uploading a file which is too large, is in an unsupported format or has a virus

The error messages for some interactions will need a little more thought, such as:

• selecting the same circuit twice for the preferred circuits question
• adding more than the maximum number of courts for the preferred courts question
• clicking the green button at the end of a task list without completing all the tasks