Chapter 13. Designing the Document 2004 by Bedford/St.

Martin's 1

Seven Characteristics of Technical
Communication

Addresses particular readers.
Helps readers solve problems.
Reflects an organization's goals and culture.
Is produced collaboratively.
Uses design to increase readability.
Consists of words or graphics or both.
Is produced using high-tech tools.

Chapter 13. Designing the Document 2004 by Bedford/St. Martin's 2
Goals of Document Design

To make a good impression on readers.
To help readers understand the structure and
hierarchy of the information.
To help readers find the information they need.
To help readers understand the information.
To help readers remember the information.
Chapter 13. Designing the Document 2004 by Bedford/St. Martin's 3
Four Principles of Design

Proximity group related items together. Keep text
describing a graphic next to the graphic.
Alignment create a unified whole.
Repetition use consistent format for each level of
information.
Contrast use different type to emphasize important
points.
Chapter 13. Designing the Document 2004 by Bedford/St. Martin's 4
Consider Cultural Preference in
These Design Elements:

Paper sizes different countries have different
standard paper sizes.
Typeface Pacific Rim countries prefer sans-serif
typefaces, while Western readers prefer serifs.
Color In China, red suggests happiness or
celebration, while in other countries it suggests
danger.
Text direction some cultures read left to right, others
read right to left.
Chapter 13. Designing the Document 2004 by Bedford/St. Martin's 5
Three Resources to Consider When
Planning the Whole Document

Time
Money
Equipment
Chapter 13. Designing the Document 2004 by Bedford/St. Martin's 6
Four Elements
to Consider in Designing
the Whole Document
Size
Paper
Bindings
Accessing tools
Icons Cross-reference tables
Color Headers and footers
Dividers and tabs Page numbering
Chapter 13. Designing the Document 2004 by Bedford/St. Martin's 7
Three Principles Used in
Designing Effective Pages

Chunking. People understand information best if it is
delivered to them in chunks rather than all at once.
Queuing. Queuing refers to creating visual
distinctions to indicate levels of importance.
Filtering. Filtering is the use of visual patterns to
distinguish various types of information.

Chapter 13. Designing the Document 2004 by Bedford/St. Martin's 8
Two Kinds of Space on Every Page

White space (or negative space)
Space for text and graphics
Page grids arrange elements into one or more
columns.
Chapter 13. Designing the Document 2004 by Bedford/St. Martin's 9
Three Advantages of Multicolumn
Design

Text is easier to read because the lines are shorter.
Columns allow you to fit more information on the
page, because many graphics can fit in one column
or extend across two or more columns.
Columns let you use the principle of repetition to
create a visual pattern, such as text in one column,
accompanying graphic in an adjacent column.
Chapter 13. Designing the Document 2004 by Bedford/St. Martin's 10
Four Purposes of Margins

They limit the amount of information on the page,
making it easier to read and use.
They provide space for binding and allow readers to
hold the page without covering up the text.
They provide a neat frame around the type.
They provide space for marginal glosses.
Chapter 13. Designing the Document 2004 by Bedford/St. Martin's 11
Four Aspects of Typography

Typefaces: Serif vs. Sans-serif
Type families
Arial
Arial Black
Arial Narrow
Case
Lowercase letters are easier to read THAN UPPERCASE LETTERS.
Type sizes
Chapter 13. Designing the Document 2004 by Bedford/St. Martin's 12
Five Other Design Features Used
Frequently in Technical Communication

Rules
Boxes
Screens
Marginal glosses
Pull quotes