Document design is meant to help get specific information across without overwhelming the reader. Design is strategic and thoughtful. Design should impress and wow folks in order to attract them to the content. In essence, design is a delicate balance of information and attractiveness.
You come into contact with designed products every day, e.g., a school play program, IRS website, cat calendar, car wash brochure, restaurant menu, phone book, biology textbook, course syllabus, resume, or even this page you are reading right now. Start being aware of the items you read and see on a daily basis. Look at the overall structure, color scheme, font choices, and layout. Think about whether or not the design helps or hinders the processing of the information.
Think about and answer the following questions in a multi-paragraph, interesting response post. Use the book and lectures as well as the links below as the basis for your answers. Feel free to use your personal experience and examples!
· Explain one design concept you learned from the readings and explain how to use that concept effectively. Give a real-world example of the effective use of this concept by just describing the example or providing a picture or link to the example. (prefer picture or link!)
· Explain a time when poor document design impacted your decision-making (e.g., poorly designed webpage).
· How do you ensure your design choices will appeal to your targeted audience?
· How do you tell the difference between amateur and professional design?
· Use these links as the basis for your responses (in addition to the book, my lecture, and the Designer handouts under Helpful Documents).
