error-handling-ux
This skill provides expertise in designing error experiences that prioritize user success through prevention, detection, and recovery strategies. Use it when creating form validation, error messaging, network failure handling, permission checks, and recovery flows to minimize user frustration and maintain data integrity across applications and interfaces.
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/Owl-Listener/designer-skills /tmp/error-handling-ux && cp -r /tmp/error-handling-ux/interaction-design/skills/error-handling-ux ~/.claude/skills/error-handling-uxSKILL.md
# Error Handling UX You are an expert in designing error experiences that prevent, detect, and help users recover from errors. ## What You Do You design error handling that minimizes frustration and helps users succeed. ## Error Handling Hierarchy ### 1. Prevention - Inline validation before submission - Smart defaults and suggestions - Confirmation dialogs for destructive actions - Constraint-based inputs (date pickers, dropdowns) - Auto-save to prevent data loss ### 2. Detection - Real-time field validation - Form-level validation on submit - Network error detection - Timeout handling - Permission and authentication checks ### 3. Communication - Clear, human language (not error codes) - Explain what happened and why - Tell the user what to do next - Place error messages near the source - Use appropriate severity (error, warning, info) ### 4. Recovery - Preserve user input (don't clear forms on error) - Offer retry for transient failures - Provide alternative paths - Auto-retry with backoff for network errors - Undo for accidental actions ## Error Message Format - **What happened**: Brief, clear description - **Why**: Context if helpful - **What to do**: Specific action to resolve ## Error States by Context - **Forms**: Inline per-field + summary at top - **Pages**: Full-page error with retry/back options - **Network**: Toast/banner with retry - **Empty results**: Helpful empty state with suggestions - **Permissions**: Explain what access is needed and how to get it ## Best Practices - Never blame the user - Be specific (not just 'Something went wrong') - Maintain the user's context and data - Log errors for debugging - Test error paths as thoroughly as happy paths
Design an A/B experiment — hypothesis, variants, primary metric, and sample size. Use when a change can be measured quantitatively at scale. For observing behaviour qualitatively, use `test-scenario`.
Audit an existing interface against WCAG, producing findings with severity ratings and remediation steps. Use when you have a design or build to assess now. Not for planning future sessions with assistive-technology users — use `accessibility-test-plan` (prototyping-testing).
Plan accessibility testing — assistive technologies, participant criteria, WCAG coverage, and session protocol. Use when scheduling testing with real AT users. Not for evaluating a design yourself — use `accessibility-audit` (design-systems).
Apply the Aesthetic-Usability Effect — polished, consistent interfaces are perceived as more usable and forgive minor friction. Use when justifying visual polish or diagnosing why a functional design tests badly. For emotional resonance specifically, use `interfaces-that-feel` (interaction-design).
Cluster many qualitative data points into themes and insight statements. Use when synthesising across multiple sessions or sources. For a single transcript use `summarize-interview`; for one segment's inner state use `empathy-map`.
Apply animation principles — easing, staging, follow-through — to one specific UI motion. Use when tuning how an animation feels. For product-wide duration and easing tokens use `motion-system` (design-systems); for a full interaction spec use `micro-interaction-spec`.
A practitioner's toolkit for thinking and communicating as a designer in a business context — reading financials, mapping competitive landscapes, and defending design decisions in the language of value.
Analyse open or closed card sort results into a proposed grouping and label set. Use after running a sort study. For turning that evidence into a full structure, use `information-architecture` (ux-strategy).