Tone of Voice

Design Guidelines

What is Tone of Voice?

The tone of voice is a key aspect of design systems, particularly for products or companies that rely heavily on written communication with users. It refers to the style and manner in which a company or product communicates with its users, and includes elements such as word choice, sentence structure, and overall language style.

In a design system, tone of voice guidelines helps ensure that all written communication maintains a consistent tone and style, creating a cohesive and recognisable brand voice. For example, a company may choose to adopt a friendly and informal tone of voice to appeal to a younger demographic, or a professional and authoritative tone to appeal to business users.

Consistency in the tone of voice is important because it helps build trust with users, who are more likely to engage with a product or company that communicates in a way that feels familiar and trustworthy. It also helps prevent confusion or misunderstandings, as users will know what to expect from the language and style of written communication. Overall, tone of voice is an important aspect of design systems, particularly for products or companies that rely heavily on written communication as part of their user experience.