Design Principles: outlined refreshment

Here are some key considerations for document design, outlined, that we will continue to emphasize with all documents (page 257):

1) To help readers understand the structure and hierarchy of information.

2) To help readers understand information.

3) To help readers remember the information.


Below is an outline of design principles. Along with the reiteration of our textbook, I have connected the three goals above to those design principles below. Your job is to take apply these goals and principles into the design of your documents.


Understanding Design Principles


Proximity - providing enough space between headers and text, between sections and sections. The human eye and mind need text broken up into related ideas, so you will want to make sure you give proper spacing between each of your three main parts of BTS 1.

- Consider the distance between each section, even when use use section headings.

- Consider the distance between a section heading and the text within that section.

- Related material should always be closer together, but still readable.


Alignment - use indention, columns, etc. to help also clarify #1, showing the different levels of importance of information. Section headings, headings, graphics, and the text itself; how do you structure so that the reader can understand?


Repetition - Your purpose is much clearer in your documents if there is some repetition in the specific content within each section. For example, instead of inventing and using different examples to clarify each part you look at one example in different ways in each section (as you were to do with BTS 1's example ethical dilemma!).


Contrast - bold, italics, COLOR, because using an appropriate amount of COLOR can really help your readers remember specific content.