Seven Characteristics of Technical Communication Addresses particular readers

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

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

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

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

Three Resources to Consider When Planning the Whole Document • Time • Money • Equipment Chapter 13. Designing the Document © 2004 by Bedford/St. Martin's

Four Elements to Consider in Designing the Whole Document • Size • Paper • Bindings • Accessing tools Icons Color Dividers and tabs Cross-reference tables Headers and footers Page numbering Chapter 13. Designing the Document © 2004 by Bedford/St. Martin's

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 refers to creating visual distinctions to indicate levels of importance. • Filtering is the use of visual patterns to distinguish various types of information. Chapter 13. Designing the Document © 2004 by Bedford/St. Martin's

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

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

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

Four Aspects of Typography • Typefaces: Serif vs. Sans-serif • Type families 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

Five Other Design Features Used Frequently in Technical Communication • Rules • Boxes • Screens • Marginal glosses • Pull quotes Chapter 13. Designing the Document © 2004 by Bedford/St. Martin's