Experimental Design Back Link

[outerpress]

What

Give a brief description of the component or pattern you want to propose.

A back link with a gray arrow.

See this thread for background

Purpose

What problem does this component or pattern solve for the user?

Currently appointments use descriptive back links with the format < Back to [Heading of previous page] for our details pages. This link replaced the breadcrumb, but followed the design pattern that breadcrumbs use on mobile.

With the breadcrumb updates, the mobile breadcrumb now uses a gray arrow instead of a carat.

We'd like an option added to the link component that adds the left-pointing gray arrow so we can use this for descriptive back links. This will help keep the interaction of navigating to a previous page consistent whether the page uses a back link or the breadcrumb on mobile.

Usage

Context or task: Explain the scenario or user tasks where this component is, or could be, used.

This is a link that sends users back to a previous page.

Behavior

Describe the key interactions for this component, calling out any specific considerations for mobile.

The link includes a left-pointing gray arrow at the front, like the mobile breadcrumb. Otherwise it has all the same functions as a standard link.

Examples

Include any examples you have of this component or pattern. These can be screenshots, links to a Sketch file, or links to staging or production.

See all screen sizes of these details page designs

Accessibility

Include any accessibility considerations.

Guidance

What would you want to tell other teams about this component or pattern?

Research (optional)

Include any research you have already conducted, or plan to conduct, on this component or pattern.

Code (optional)

Include any existing code.

Next steps

You may present your work to the Design System Council at an upcoming meeting. If you do not or cannot attend the Design Council Meeting, you can opt to get an asynchronous approval.

Submit requests to join an upcoming Design System Council meeting in #platform-design-system.

During the meeting, the Design System Council Working Group will evaluate the request and make a decision.

If your request is approved, you can add your component or pattern to the system. If you have any questions on how to add your component or pattern to the system, please reach out to the Design System Team at #platform-design-system.

[outerpress]

@Cieramaddox @sterkenburgsara FYI here's the ticket for updating the link component with a gray back arrow.

[sterkenburgsara]

Is the arrow a blocker to the more important back link updates?

[outerpress]

@sterkenburgsara it sounds like design council gave the go-ahead to this addition to the DS at office hours today. It'll be up to a team to build this out/contribute the code. Is that something Cartography can take on?

(Correct me if I'm wrong on any of this @Cieramaddox @erinrwhite @allison0034 )

[erinrwhite]

Hi @outerpress our meeting yesterday was just Platform design office hours, which is separate from Design System Council. Tagging @allison0034 for suggestions on next steps.

[allison0034]

Hi @outerpress , Erin is correct, you will still need to present and get approval from DSC. Let us know if we can help.

[wesrowe]

@outerpress, I want to level-set expectations on Cartographers' involvement with this backlink change. I haven't seen anything to make me think this is a high priority for us. We have a pretty long list of work that I believe will have more impact on Veterans. If it hasn't gotten done by someone else we may have bandwidth to take this on a handful of sprints from now.

[outerpress]

@erinrwhite @allison0034 apologies! I got my design meetings crossed. I'll get this on the DSC calendar.

@wesrowe I'm not speaking to priority - the value-add here is small, and mainly about keeping the navigation UI visually consistent across health apps. I'm just trying to keep it moving forward in the hopes that we have it for when we update the breadcrumbs/back links. If we don't, we'll just create separate tickets and stick with using < Back to [Previous page] for our back links until the work is ready. I'll note at DSC that we're not sure who can/should be doing this work.

[caw310]

@outerpress This is on the agenda for the May 23 DSC meeting at 11am. I will add you to the meeting invite.