Document design

A good document design requires many different factors in order for the audience to fully comprehend what is proposed in the design itself. Good document design enables people to use the text in ways that meet their interests and needs (Shriver, 1997). There are various ways for the audience to easily understand the document. Therefore, it is crucial for the designer to apply the following factors as well as to use relevant information that the audience can easily relate to in order for them to be interested in the given document.


Reep (1997) states that in an effective document, as in an effective television scene, the words and visuals support each other. A person usually focuses more on the visual than the words as they speed read through the document. People choose to read and keep reading only when they believe there is some benefit to in doing so (Shriver, 1997).

So, it is very important for the visual presentation to compliment the words for the audience to fully understand and to keep them interested in the topic at hand. This can be improved by inserting a photo or some sort of visual aid so the graphics and text within the page are balanced (Anderson, 1987).

An effective presentation will need concise information as well as images which are interesting and that compliment the wordings given in a document. Nielsen (1997) states that readers scan the page, picking out individual words and sentences rather than reading web pages word by word.

Below are two examples :

Text only

 

Integration of text and image

The two slides are both explaining the same point although it was obvious that the audience to which my group presented to understood better when the second slide was shown. So, it is clear that the audience will be more interested in a design whereby the text and the image is simultaneously placed for the purpose of a better understanding of the topic. Use language (both visual and verbal) that connects with readers' knowledge, experience, beliefs and values (Shriver,1997).

Other than that, good writing skills is essential for effective communication. It is always important for one to use language in a proper manner in order for communication to be effective. These simple guidelines will be very helpful in effectively communicating with the audience.

 Reference List:

   1. Nielsen, 1997, Reading on the web, Alertbox, viewed 1st september 2009, <http://www.useit.com/alertbox/9710a.html>
   2. Schriver K.A 1997, Dynamics in Document Design: Creating Texts for Readers, Wiley Computer Pub., New York.
   3. Reep, DC 1997, Technical writing: principles, strategies, and readings, Allyn and Bacon, Boston.

Purpose

My sole purpose of this blog is to basically learn and to further apply a range of social, technical, rhetorical and stylistic issues and theory relating to the development of documents for print, electronic and emerging media. This study encompasses the various issues regarding publication and design as well as to further understand and apply theories that will be learned in the future. The target audience will be other tertiary students as well as working professionals in the field of communication. All comments will be much appreciated.