Document Design: Guidelines for Effective Information Layout

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Document DesignGuidelines for Effective
Information Layout

• Dr. Shelley Thomas

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Rhetorical Situation

• Audience
• Purpose
• Context

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Levels of Design

• Intra
• Inter
• Extra
• Supra

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Levels of Design

• Intra
• Controls local variation of the text
• Type size, font, expanded or condensed text,
  punctuation marks

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Levels of Design

• Inter
• Helps readers understand the text within a given
  field
• Hierarchy shown by type size (heading levels)
• Text divided into units (columns) hierarchy
  shown by placement (centering)
• Separates information (bullets in lists, lines
  between columns)

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Levels of Design

• Extra
• Operates outside the main text as autonomous
  entities with their own visual vocabulary and
  conventional forms
• Includes pictures, data displays, icons, symbols

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Levels of Design

• Supra
• Includes top-down design elements that visually
  define, structure and unify the entire document
• Consistent chapter pages
• Page orientation
• Page bleeds, color, unifying logos

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Functions of Design

• Provides access to information
• Aids comprehension
• Enhances recall
• Motivates readers
• Meets readers expectations
• Facilitates ongoing use

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Visual/Verbal Cognates

• Arrangement and Emphasis
• Visual structure and organization
• Clarity and Conciseness
• Functional matters of style readability
• Tone and Ethos
• Users subjective responses to the visual signals

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Visual/Verbal Cognates Arrangement

• Arrangement shows structure of information
• Through numbering
• Through lay out

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Visual/Verbal CognatesEmphasis

• Emphasis
• controls what stands out

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Visual/Verbal CognatesClarity

• Clarityhelps readers to access information
  quickly
• Encompasses many design elements
• Typefaces
• Easy to read?
• Appropriate for audience?
• Demonstrates professionalism?
• Easy-to-read all caps?

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Visual/Verbal CognatesClarity (cont)

• Charts
• Illustrations

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Visual/Verbal CognatesConciseness

• Concisenessdesigns that are appropriately
  succinct

Charts are too concise to communicate effectively
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Visual/Verbal CognatesConciseness

• Information consolidated

Be careful of those stray fish.
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Visual/Verbal CognatesTone and Ethos

• Tonereveals the designers attitude toward the
  audience
• Ethoscultivates a sense of credibility with the
  audience

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Rhetorical Impact of Visual Language

• Interdependence of cognate strategies
• Closely related to each other, a tight-knit
  family
• Elements work in concert, not in isolation,
  balancing and complementing one another
• One strategy impacts other strategies and must be
  constantly monitored

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Document Design Decisions

• Do I use text or a visual representation?
• Where do I place text, visuals?
• How many columns should I use?
• How do I group common elements?
• What type styles and sizes should I use?
• How do I accommodate different types of readers?

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Advantages of Effective Document Design

• Accommodates different types of reading
• Points readers to most important material
• Promotes comprehension
• Enhances recall
• GOAL Instant and lasting communication