Designing Documents - Cal Poly CoLA
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Document Design Designing Documents
Transcript of Designing Documents - Cal Poly CoLA
Document Design
Designing Documents
Document Design
Which would you rather read?
or
• Guide your readers
• Make your document more attractive
Use document design to
Document Design
Start with the basics:• Paper • Margins • Line length • Justification • Kerning • Font size
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Document Design
Pay attention to line leading:
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Watch out for the 1.5 spacing default in Word!
Line leading is the amount of space between lines of text.
The more complicated the content, the larger the leading should be.
Line leading is the amount of space between lines of text. The fancier the font, the more leading should go between the lines.
Line leading is the amount of space between lines of text. The fancier the font, the more leading should go between the lines.
Document Design
Know your typeface choices.
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Serif (Times New Roman)
Sans Serif
(Arial)
vs.
Document Design
Pay attention to legibility.
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How does this look? How would you like to read an entire letter set in this font?
How about this one? It's the same font size as the one above.
Be kind: use legible typeface. Sans serif works best for presentations and other electronic messages.
Serif is recommended for body text in paper docs.
How about this one? It’s the same font size as the one above. And it’s orange!
Document Design
Use white space appropriately.• Add extra space
for a paragraph break at least every half page.
• Two inches is a good maximum.
• Don’t just indent.
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Document Design
Use lists.• Create white
space • Make
information easier to locate
• Emphasize important information
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Document Design
Give your reader guides.
• Add page numbers.
• Add headers and/or footers indicating page contents.
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header
Footer + page numberrule line = decoration
Document Design
Headings help with scanning.• Font size
indicates level of generality.
• Match headings visually and grammatically.
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Use more space above headings than below.
Document Design
Add interest with highlights:• Boxes • Screens • Bold • CAPS • Color
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Document Design
Print out your document early and avoid:
• Split tables • Strange italics • Widows and orphans • Floaters
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Document Design
Visuals enhance communication.• Charts • Drawings • Photos • Tables
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Smithsonian, 1993
Document Design
Quick: How many people voted for Helen Hunt?
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Our study shows that Julia Roberts won 172 votes, Catherine Zeta-Jones gathered 137 votes, and Miss Chi Chi Rodriquez made a showing with 21 votes. Drew Barrymore and Helen Hunt came in with a close vote count of 134 and 133 respectively. The clear winner, however, was the glamorous and talented Lassie with a huge total of 303 votes.
Document Design
Quick: How many voted for Julia Roberts?
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Table 3.5 Academy Votes for Best Actress 2021 Men’s
VotesWomen’s
VotesCanine
VotesTotal
VotesDrew Barrymore 65 62 7 134
Chi Chi Rodriguez 5 6 10 21
Helen Hunt 56 72 5 133
Lassie 8 30 265 303
Julia Roberts 60 105 7 172
Catherine Zeta Jones
106 25 6 137
Source: Forte Enterprise Vote Counter 2021
Document Design
Visuals can display abstract information in concrete form.
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Drew BarrymoreChi ChiHelen HuntLassieJulia RobertsCatherine
Quick: Who won?
Document Design
Visuals employ a universal language.
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Document Design
Prefer illustrations
18Itmakessenseblog.com, 2013samizdata.net, 2013
over decorations.
Document Design
Keep visuals simple and focused.
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Junkcharts.typepad.com, 2013Exceluser.com, 2013Ed-informatics.org
Warning: Use photos appropriately!
Watch out for chart junk!
Document Design
Use visuals responsibly.• Cite sources. • Get permission
for commercial applications.
• Provide effective captions.
20Figure 1: Buried in their work , city workers repair the electrical system.
Document Design
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Which would you rather read? or
Consider the reader’s point of view.
