Transcript Chapter 8

Chapter Eight
Designing and Formatting
Documents
Basics of Document Design





Know what decisions are yours to make.
Choose a design that fits your situation.
Plan your design from the beginning.
Reveal your design to your readers.
Keep your design consistent.
Designing Effective Pages and Screens
1.
Use blank space to frame and group
information:


2.
3.
4.
Passive space: margins
Active space: headings, lists (numbered or bulleted),
space between paragraphs.
Set the spacing for easy reading.
Use a medium line length.
Use a ragged right margin.
Guidelines for Readable Type
1.
2.
3.
4.
Choose a legible type size.
Choose a typeface (font) that is appropriate.
Use special typefaces sparingly.
Use highlighting effectively:



Don’t use too many different techniques.
Don’t use any one technique too often.
Be consistent in the way you use each technique.
Guidelines for Readable Type
5.
6.
Use a mixture of cases, not all capitals.
Use color carefully.
Helping Readers Locate Information
1.
Write descriptive headings:





Use concrete language.
Use questions, verb phrases, and sentences instead
of nouns alone.
Use standard keywords if readers expect them.
Make the headings at a given level parallel.
Make sure the headings match the table of contents.
Helping Readers Locate Information
2.
Design distinctive headings:







3.
Limit the number of heading levels.
Create a pattern for the headings and stick to it.
Match the size to the importance.
Put more space before a heading than after it.
Keep each heading with the section it covers.
Use headings frequently.
Consider using numbers with your headings.
Use page numbers and headers and footers.
Creating a Web Site





Explore and experiment.
Strive for a consistent design throughout the
site.
Make the site inviting but simple.
Focus your efforts on the home page.
Give users opportunities to interact with the
pages.
Creating a Web Site


Be sensitive to the cultural differences of an
international audience.
Make the site accessible to users with
disabilities.
Designing the Pages of a Web Site
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Include a complete menu of links at the top
and bottom of each page.
Avoid excessive links in the running text.
Include identifying information on each page.
Choose a light, solid color for the background.
Adjust the length of the pages to the
information.
Designing the Pages of a Web Site
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Keep illustrations small.
Restrict animation to video or audio-video clips
that the user specifically clicks to view.
Use only two levels of headings.
Minimize your use of italics.
Use bold type selectively and consistently.
Designing the Pages of a Web Site
11.
12.
Edit and proofread carefully.
Check the design of the site using a variety of
computers and monitors.