Lecture Business and administrative communication: Chapter 6 - Kitty O. Locker, Donna S. Kienzler

Chapter 6 - Designing documents. In this chapter, we will address the following questions: What document design is important and how to incorporate it into the writing process, the four levels of document design, and how they can help you critique documents, guidelines for document design, how to design brochures, how to design infographics, how to design web pages, how to do basic usability testing on your documents.

Chapter Designing Documents Copyright © 2015 McGraw­Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw­Hill Education Chapter 6 Learning Objectives        LO 6-1 What document design is important and how to incorporate it into the writing process LO 6-2 The four levels of document design, and how they can help you critique documents LO 6-3 Guidelines for document design LO 6-4 How to design brochures LO 6-5 How to design infographics LO 6-6 How to design web pages LO 6-7 How to basic usability testing on your documents 6­2 Why Design Matters      Saves time and money Reduces legal problems Builds goodwill Looks inviting, friendly, easy to read Enhances credibility of writer 6­3 Design: Part of Writing  Think about design at each step  As you plan, think about audience       Skilled or busy? Read straight through or skip around? As you write, use lists, headings Use visuals to convey numerical data clearly Get feedback from your audience As you revise, check the design guidelines that follow 6­4 Design and Conventions Vary widely by audience, geographic area, industry, or department  Change over time  Violating is risky  Presents incorrect interpretations  Signals author is unreliable or unknowledgeable  6­5 Levels of Design Intra—individual letters and words  Inter—blocks of text  Extra—graphics that go with the text  Supra—entire document  6­6 Page Design Guidelines Use white space Use headings Limit words in all capital letters Use no more than two fonts per document Justify margins selectively Put key items at top left or bottom right Use a grid unity Use highlighting, decorative devices, and color in moderation 6­7 Designing Brochures Use this process to create effective brochures 1.Analyze your rhetorical situation 2.Draft the text 3.Select appropriate visuals 4.Create the design 5.Print the brochure 6­8 Designing Infographics Use this process to create effective infographics 1.Analyze your rhetorical situation 2.Research your topic 3.Find or create visuals 4.Draft the text 5.Put it all together 6­9 Designing Web Pages Use this process to create effective web pages Attract and maintain attention Create a usable homepage Provide easy navigation Increase accessibility Follow conventions 6­10 Usability Tests Watch someone use document to a task  Ask user to think aloud during task     Interrupt at key points to find out what user thinks Ask user to describe thought process afterwards Ask user to put + and - signs in margins to show likes and dislikes 6­11 ... LO 6- 3 Guidelines for document design LO 6- 4 How to design brochures LO 6- 5 How to design infographics LO 6- 6 How to design web pages LO 6- 7 How to basic usability testing on your documents 6? ?2.. .Chapter? ?6? ?Learning Objectives        LO 6- 1 What document design is important and how to incorporate it into the writing process LO 6- 2 The four levels of document design, and how... unreliable or unknowledgeable  6? ?5 Levels of Design Intra—individual letters and words  Inter—blocks of text  Extra—graphics that go with the text  Supra—entire document  6? ?6 Page Design Guidelines