WhatsApp Design System
Broadcast, Status & Conversion Design Standards
WhatsApp Design System
Direct Response • Personal Trust • Instant Action
1️⃣ FIRST PRINCIPLES OF WHATSAPP DESIGN
WhatsApp is:
✅ Personal
✅ Private
✅ Interrupt-driven
✅ Emotion-first
✅ Trust-sensitive
So WhatsApp design must:
• Look like a message, not an ad
• Feel human, not corporate
• Trigger instant response, not delayed action
• Reduce thinking time to near zero
Internal Law
If a creative looks like a Facebook ad → It will be ignored on WhatsApp.
2️⃣ LOCKED WHATSAPP CANVAS DIMENSIONS
| Use Case | Dimension | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Broadcast Image | ✅ 1080 × 1080 px | 1:1 |
| Status / Stories | ✅ 1080 × 1920 px | 9:16 |
| Catalog Image | ✅ 1080 × 1080 px | 1:1 |
| Profile Banner | ✅ 1080 × 360 px | 3:1 |
🚨 Rule:
❌ No odd shapes
❌ No banners reused from other platforms
3️⃣ WHATSAPP USER EYE & BRAIN BEHAVIOR
User state:
📱
Holding phone in one hand
🧠
Low attention span
⏱
1–1.5 seconds decision
Eye always scans:
Face → Big Text → Button → Sender Name
So hierarchy must be:
1. Human cue
2. Single-line hook
3. One action
4. Trust signal
4️⃣ UNIVERSAL WHATSAPP BROADCAST WIREFRAME (1:1)
CANVAS: 1080 × 1080 (1:1)
ZONE 1 — IMAGE / FACE — 40%
Human / product / real-world visual
NO text over image except:
• Small Logo (Top-left)
• Tiny tag (Top-right)
[IMAGE PLACEMENT]
ZONE 2 — HOOK — 20%
Get Your Dream Home
Big bold promise
Max 6 words
Font: 64–84 px
[TEXT BLOCK - Headline]
ZONE 3 — BENEFITS / PROOF — 25%
✓ Zero down payment options
✓ Ready to move in 30 days
✓ Bank loan pre-approved
Font: 36–42 px
[TEXT BLOCK - Bullet list]
ZONE 4 — CTA — 15%
Button height ≥ 90 px
[BUTTON/ACTION]
✅ Applies to:
- • Lead generation
- • Offer announcements
- • Webinar invites
- • Price drops
- • Limited deals
5️⃣ WHATSAPP STATUS STORY WIREFRAME (VERTICAL)
CANVAS: 1080 × 1920 (9:16)
ZONE 1 — ATTENTION IMAGE — 45%
Strong emotional visual
[IMAGE PLACEMENT]
ZONE 2 — HOOK — 20%
Save ₹50,000 This Month
One big emotional line
[TEXT BLOCK]
ZONE 3 — BENEFITS — 20%
✓ No hidden fees
✓ Instant approval
2–3 fast bullets
[TEXT BLOCK]
ZONE 4 — CTA — 15%
[BUTTON/ACTION]
✅ Each status must be readable in 1 second.
6️⃣ WHATSAPP BROADCAST TEXT + IMAGE PAIRING RULE
Image = Emotion / Trust
Text Message = Logic / Action
They must not repeat the same message.
Example:
Image:
Happy client result
Text:
"₹12,000 saved in 14 days.
Type YES to get this system."
7️⃣ WHATSAPP TEXT COPY RULES
✅ DO THIS:
- ✅ Max 3 short lines
- ✅ One emoji max
- ✅ One CTA only
- ✅ Easy reply triggers:
- • YES
- • Book
- • Info
- • Call
❌ AVOID THIS:
- ❌ No paragraphs
- ❌ No multiple links
- ❌ No emotional overload
8️⃣ WHATSAPP FONT & SIZE LOCK
| Element | Size |
|---|---|
| Hook | 52–68 px |
| Benefit | 30–36 px |
| CTA | 38–44 px |
| Disclaimer | ≤ 20 px |
✅ Only 1 font family per creative
✅ Bold only where action is required
WhatsApp Creative Color Rules
✅ Light background → dark text
✅ Dark background → light text
✅ Action color must contrast everything
✅ Only 1 highlight color allowed
🚫 No gradients
🚫 No multi-color headings
9️⃣ WHATSAPP MESSAGE PSYCHOLOGY TRIGGERS
Use only:
✅ Familiarity
✅ Safety
✅ Convenience
✅ Scarcity
✅ Personal address ("You", "Your")
Avoid:
🚫 Authority
🚫 Technical language
🚫 Industry jargon
1️⃣0️⃣ HIGH-PERFORMING WHATSAPP CREATIVE TYPES
Each broadcast must choose only ONE type:
✅ Announcement Broadcast
✅ Limited-Time Offer
✅ Testimonial Screenshot
✅ Result Reveal
✅ Appointment Reminder
✅ Stock / Slot Alert
✅ Event Reminder
✅ Price Drop Alert
✅ Re-engagement Message
✅ Dead Lead Revival
1️⃣1️⃣ WHATSAPP FAILURE PATTERNS
Common Mistakes That Kill Conversions:
❌ Facebook-style posters
❌ Multiple CTAs
❌ Paragraph text
❌ Corporate branding first
❌ Tiny fonts
❌ No human image
❌ Too many colors
❌ No emotional hook
1️⃣2️⃣ WHATSAPP APPROVAL CHECKLIST (10-POINT)
Every WhatsApp creative MUST pass at least 9 out of 10:
Pass mark: 9 / 10
1️⃣3️⃣ TEXT-BASED WHATSAPP WIREFRAME TEMPLATE
CANVAS: 1080 × 1080
[ HUMAN / PRODUCT IMAGE – 40% ]
[ HOOK – 20% ]
[ MICRO BENEFITS – 20% ]
[ CTA – 20% ]
✅ Works directly in:
• Figma
• Canva
• Photoshop
• PowerPoint
1️⃣4️⃣ WHATSAPP LANGUAGE BANK (DESIGN-INTEGRATED)
Use only these CTA styles:
✅ "Reply YES to book"
✅ "Tap to chat"
✅ "Send your location"
✅ "Confirm now"
✅ "Only today"
Avoid:
🚫 "Buy Now"
🚫 "Click Here"
🚫 "Visit Website"
1️⃣5️⃣ PLACEHOLDER FOR REAL WHATSAPP CAMPAIGN CASE STUDIES
📁 REAL WHATSAPP BROADCAST CASE STUDIES
(To be mapped later using this standard)
Real examples will be added here following all the standards above.
✅ This is an internal execution reference for ARK Design Academy