DESIGNING DOCUMENTS And page layout What is document design? Refers to page layout, that is, where the visuals and information are placed on.
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Transcript DESIGNING DOCUMENTS And page layout What is document design? Refers to page layout, that is, where the visuals and information are placed on.
DESIGNING DOCUMENTS
And page layout
What is document design?
Refers to page layout, that is, where the visuals and
information are placed on a page and the visual
relationships established between these elements on
the page (or between these elements and those on
other pages in a multi-page document)
An effective layout can help users of technical
communication
Poor layout can hinder users
What are the elements of document
design?
Typefaces and fonts
White space
Layout
Boxes
Lines
Illustrations
Icons
Lists, bullets, numbers
Arrows
Typefaces and fonts
Choose typefaces that are easy to read
Use serif type for body text and sans serif type for
titles and headings
Above all, match the typeface to the needs of
users/readers
Easy-to-read vs. what does it say?
White space
Area on the page that has no text or graphic
White space is the background on the page
Gestalt theory explains how users distinguish text on
a page as geometric shapes
Formatting, such as bold headings, separate
sections of the page
Should margins be justified or ragged?
Ragged right is easiest to read.
Why?
Preserves
the normal spacing between letters
Can add the visually unexpected
Ragged borders can be used to attach captions to
photos
Capitals or lower case?
All caps call attention to a point
But they are difficult to read
Mixed upper and lower case define word shape,
which we use to distinguish one word from another
When to use all capitals?
Seldom, only when you really must
In small amounts, restricted to a few words
To startle or grab attention
To simulate screen shots
In-Class Exercise 5.1 (1 of 2)
Examine the page layout of
each of your sample
technical documents and
compare how the
information is presented.
Typefaces
Headings
Paragraph length
Number of paragraphs
Type, location, and function
of visuals
Labelling of figures or
tables
Format and presentation of
instructions
Format of notes, cautions,
warnings
Additional design choices
In-Class Exercise 5.1 (2 of 2)
Use these questions to help you analyse the quality of
design in your sample documents:
Which layout is more attractive? Easier to follow?
What relationship is there between the layout’s appearance and
its ease of use?
Are sections out of order?
Which documents have the most logical presentation of
information?
If it has illustrations, are they appropriate? Should the document
have more or other illustrations? What kinds of visuals would be
best?
How easy is it to locate section headings?
How easy is it to see how one section relates to another?
Four design principles
Proximity
Alignment
Repetition
Contrast
Proximity
Refers to visual groupings of related items
Grouped items imply some relationship
Separate items imply lack of relation
Create proximity through grouping related items on
a page
Aim for 3 to 5 items per page
What to avoid with proximity
Putting too many separate elements on a page
Putting items in the centre and corners of the page
Using equal white space between unrelated items
Grouping unrelated items together to imply a
relationship
Alignment
Refers to lining up elements on a page
Helps you avoid arbitrary placement of elements on
a page
Helps you create visual connections on a page
Choose from
Left
alignment
Right alignment
Centre alignment
Effective use of alignment
Choose one alignment and use it throughout your
document
Left alignment doesn’t meant everything lined up
along the left-hand margin, but everything lined
towards the left on the page (rather than centred or
right-aligned)
Centring creates a traditional look: it can be boring
Right alignment can add drama
Strategies to create alignment
Make conscious choices about where you place items
on the page
Find something else on the page to align an element
with
Use alignment to
Organize the page and unify the items
Create an artistic impression for your document
Avoid
Using more than one alignment on the page (for example,
centred title, left-aligned headings)
Repetition
Consists of taking some aspect of the design and
incorporating it consciously throughout the document
Choose typefaces, lines, bullets, or design elements
(symbols, images, etc.) to repeat
Use repetition to
Unify
the page
Add visual interest
Increase the likelihood the pages will be read
Strategies for effective repetition
Take elements of design and use them consciously
Turn some elements of the document into conscious
parts of the design
Add elements expressly to create repetition and
design
Avoid
Repetition
to the point it becomes irritating
Contrast
Make two items exactly the same or make them
very different
Use contrast to
Make
clear the purpose and organization of the
document
To create visual interest on the page
Sources of contrast
Size (of font or graphic, for example)
Typefaces
Lines
Colours
Textures
Horizontal and vertical design of text strings
Main source of problems with contrast
Come from not making items different enough
For example, are these lines different or the same?
In fact, the first is a 1 pt. and the second a ¼ pt.
line, but they don’t look that different, do they?
Lab Assignment 5.1: What changes would you make
to improve the overall design of this telephone book ad?
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