Designing forms and templates that capture accurate data
Design request forms, sign-up sheets and data-capture templates so the answers come back complete, consistent and limited to what's needed: one question per field, clear labels and hints, lists instead of free text, unambiguous dates, sensible required fields, and a test before launch.
- Level
- Beginner
- Length
- About 45 minutes
- Contents
- 3 lessons · 1 video · final exam
- Status
- Published · updated 1 Oct 2026
Skills you'll practise
- Rewrite a field that asks two things at once into separate questions
- Choose a fixed list, validation rule or free text for each field
- Ask for dates in a format that can't be misread
- Remove fields the purpose doesn't need (data minimisation)
- Decide which fields are required and which optional
- Test a form with real users and check the output before launch
Course outline
- 1.Designing forms and templates that capture accurate dataVideo · 2 min
- 2.Start from the purposeLesson · 14 min
- 3.Fields that come back cleanLesson · 16 min
- 4.Test, launch and look after the formLesson · 14 min
- 5.Designing forms and templates that capture accurate data: knowledge checkKnowledge check · 18 questions
- 6.Final exam10 questions · passing it completes the course, so people who already know the material can test out
Sources it draws on
The lessons and questions are written from these references, so learners can go back to the original.
- GOV.UK Design System: Dates pattern (ask for memorable dates as separate day, month and year fields with a hint such as "For example, 27 3 2024")
- Microsoft Support: Apply data validation to cells
- UK ICO: Principle (c) Data minimisation (UK GDPR example; follow the data-protection law where you work)
- Digital.gov (U.S. GSA): Plain language guide series
- General office administration practice (records, forms, documents, facilities coordination)
See it with your own jobs and topics
Tell us about your team and we'll walk you through setup, from choosing jobs to your first skills check.