The golden path and the user flow

Start with the golden path

The golden path is the ideal journey from the entry point to a goal, for example saving a destination in a trip. Draw it first, in a straight line from left to right, with nothing else around it.

Open the appHomeDestinationAdd to tripTrip saved

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1. Pick a rectangle from the Shape tool and place it on the board.
2. Duplicate it holding ⌥ Option on Mac or Alt on Windows while you drag, or use the + handle next to the shape.
3. Write one step in each shape and link them with connectors, from the entry point to the goal.

Then the branches

Real people don't always follow the ideal path. Someone has no account yet, someone forgot the password, someone lands on a page that has no content. Add these routes below the golden path.

• Circleswhat the person does: taps, chooses, types
• Rectanglesthe screens of the app
• Labelled connectorsdouble click a line to write the choice, like yes or no

This difference between actions and screens is what makes a user flow more than a site map. A site map lists pages, a user flow shows how people move between them.

Be the user

Before you move to wireframes, ask yourself one question: do I know what content this product will show? A destination screen designed with lorem ipsum looks fine until the real text arrives. Ask for at least one real example of content, and design around that.

Try it

1. Draw the golden path of your travel app, from opening the app to a saved trip.
2. Add the branch for people who are not signed in, with Login and Sign Up.
3. Add password recovery and one error case, then label every choice on the connectors.

Remember

• Draw the golden path first, then the branches.
• Circles are actions, rectangles are screens.
• Label the connectors where there is a choice.
• Know your real content before the first wireframe.