WEB DESIGN

Okay, you've got ideas coming out of every brain cell relating to that website you want to create. However, before you design your website there are ten things to consider so you can achieve the best possible result;

 

1. Partial Page View

When someone is reading a document online, often the view will be restricted to a 'partial page view', meaning that instead of seeing the document or text in its entirity, they will only be able to see part of it. To avoid this or minimise the effect, it is important to have zooming in our out bottons so the viewer can decide on the size of the document and the amount of scrolling that will come with it.

2. Multi-Column Layouts

When you have a lot of information, a publication would usually favour a multi-column layout. However, it is important to avoid this on a website as the audience will often read the first column (scroll down whilst reading), before scrolling back to the top of the page for the next column, and so on. This amkes glancing back to previous information almost impossible and infruiating for the reader.

3. Reducing Line Length

A website should avoid filling the screen with text. A plain layout with white space on either side of the page, and between lines makes it easier for the reader to conentrate and read the text.

4. Line Spacing

Often, line-spacing is pre-determined by the website settings. Having wider space between the lines of text will make it much easier for your audience to read. Correct line-spacing is determined on the font, size of font and the line length.

5. New Paragraphs

As seen in the above image, indent spacing on the web doesn't really work. As well as an indent may be used in print publishing, having space between paragraphs makes it much easier to understand and follow.

6. Headings and Sub Headings

Using headings and sub headings on your website will divide the documents into managable and understandable sections of text. Sub headings act as a visual aid to advise the reader where they are and what they are about to read. Headings and sub headings also allow a reader to scan the text and pre-emt what they are about to read, and if they would like to take the time to do so. 

7. Typeography

On your website, type-face and size should determine the importance of information on the page through headings and subheadings. It is important to avoid very thin type-fonts as these can be hard to read online or if the reader decides to print it off. TrueType fonts in particular are an excellent choice to use as they have been optimised for onscreen use.

8. Colour

Colours should be used with restraint on a website as it makes it easier to read and follow. Often, the best way to highlight something would be to make part of the text larger or bolder, yet still in black. If you do want to use colour, it will be more effective to choose one or two colours and then use different shades of the same to highlight important parts. Using lighter and darker shades of the same colour will tie your website together and make it look cohesive. Backgrounds should be white or a simple light colour and avoid any effects, as this is easiest for the audience to read.

9. Lists

Using lists help to organise or sequence information. It is important to keep lists short and consider only using key words.

 
 

10. Display Size

Finally, it is important to be wary of display sizes. If you know that people accessing your site will mostly be using a laptop rather than monitor, use a smaller display size. In today's day and age, it could also be worth considering to have a smart phone version of your website.

Parker R.C, 2003, 'Designing documents for web distribution', in Parker R.C's (ed.), Looking good in print, 5th edition, Paraglyph Press, Arizona, USA, pp. 265-293.

Document design: the essentials

Word documents, power-points, websites and blogs, all begin with a blank page. It can be daunting at first; how are you going to design the document to look appealing, yet effectively convey your message? 

Don't worry, there is no need to fret! By following these six basic design principles, your document will soon be looking like it has been designed by the creatives at Vogue. 

1. Balance: the visual weight of something on a page
2. Proportion: size and place of text, graphics and elements on a page
3. Sequence: effective design will make use of sequence principles
   - readers start at the top left, ending at the bottom right
   - readers notice things with most visual weight first      
4. Consistency: presenting similar features in a similar style
5. White Space: areas on the page that have no text or graphics, helping readers to process the text efficiently, with ease.
6. Graphics: utilised well, aid the reader's understanding of the document or text

This is one example of the following principles being used well.

What was your eye drawn to first? The picture, then the title of the article? That's what I thought. 

The image at the top of the page uses the principle of balance, as the visual weight of the page draws our eye to the image, and then the text. Proportion between the size and placement of the graphic is 50/50 on the page, thus demonstrating the sequence principle. 

Sequence is also demonstrated through the following: 

• The picture of three men wearing gold
• The title 'the men in gold'
• Story content 

Our eye jumps from the picture, to the top left of the text, before finally reading the story about the elusive 'men in gold' and ending at the bottom right corner of the page.

The graphic alludes to the article's contents, making it is a prime example of a graphic used to aid the reader's understanding. Consistency is established through the use of a single font and a consistent layout, whilst white space has been used in the margins, providing a frame for the text to make it look clean yet interesting. 

Now, you're probably thinking "oh wow, they make sense! That document looks great!", and you're right. If you too want a document to look this damn good, just follow the principles and you'll be on your way to document design greatness. 

Reep D.C, 2006, 'Document Design', in Reep D.C's (ed.), Technical Writing, 6th edition, Pearson/Longman publishing, New York, pp. 133 - 172.

Want to write?

Are you a budding writer? If you answered yes, then you have found yourself in the right place.

Writing to communicate is easy enough, but it is in the small details we often find ourselves confused, or lacking know-how. By following our simple tips and tricks, you will soon be able to write with confidence and find those second-guessing-yourself moments disappear.

The way we write is different to how we speak, and it allows us to think about how we decide to convey ourselves and our emotions. Putnis and Petelin present a number of reasons as to why we decide to 'put pen to paper' which include: expressing ourselves, articulating or developing ideas, aiding memory, enhancing or maintaining relationships, stimulate, persuade, share, and ultimately communicate with each-other. 

We can write academically or professionally, we can write creatively or we can write to communicate a thought, event or moment in time. In turn, each circumstance dictates the way we write - whether it be formal, conversational or slang.

Writing in an academic or professional context:

Before writing in this context, there are three main things that you will need to consider:

1. Sensitivity to your purpose, your readers and your context
2. Understanding of English sentence structure and common formats in academic/professional writing
3. Ability to research, structure and sequence your information

If you stick to these three tips, your academic or professional writing will be second to none. Sensitivity to purpose, readers and context simply means you will need to identify why you are writing, who will be reading it, and what format it will be received in. The second tip can be learnt over-time, but simply explained on websites such as Academia Writers , and blogs such as Business Writing Advice for Professionals. Finally, the ability to research, structure and sequence your writing, assures your document will be legitimate, legible and understandable.

How to improve your writing:

So now you've read the tips, and are probably thinking 'how can I improve my writing?', don't worry - we've got that covered too. It has been noted that in order to learn writing skills you can:

1. Read more frequently and extensively, to improve writing composition skills
2. Plan your writing
3. Write frequently and receive feedback from peers

Reading more books, newspapers or articles across different genres will develop your 'eye' for good writing, and establish your skills without you even knowing. Pretty cool, aye?
Planning your writing is an essential stage, as it weeds out the relevant information, eliminates waffle and helps the writer recognise the repetitive nature of writing without sounding plain boring. Lastly, writing frequently is fairly obvious - but necessary! If you don't take the time to write and improve your self, how are you going to get better? Getting feedback from peers is a good way to see how you've improved, and if your writing relates to others. 

So there you have it, the tips and tricks to consider before your start writing. Now - go and grab your pen, paper, tablet or laptop, and get writing!

 

Putnis P & Petelin R, 1996, 'Writing to Communicate', in Putnis P & Petelin R's (eds.), Professional Communication: principles and applications, Prentice Hall, Sydney, Australia, pp. 223 - 263.

Technology, how did we live without it?

Today, technology plays a large part in all of our lives. If you do not identify with at-least one (or if you're like me, all) of the following circumstances, you are probably still living in the early 2000's. 

Instead of waking up early to grab the morning newspaper from the drive-way, you head to the breakfast table and switch on your I-Pad. By the time you've finished your coffee and muesli, you've checked facebook, told twitter you're #eatingbreakfast and flicked through a dozen news websites telling you there was an overnight storm in Mexico, Syria is still in conflict and Mikayla was voted off Big Brother (yeah, you don't watch it - but you find out anyway). 

 

Before heading out the door, you don't worry too much about where you are going because you can look it up on your smart phone, GPS or just ask Siri. What is a directory again? Oh yeah, that chunky book thing that sits under the passenger seat.
 

You arrive at your lunch destination, and they offer you a menu. 'Uh, no thanks' you say, before telling your friend you 'looked it up online'. Who needs a menu when you can pre-emt what you feel like eating whilst looking at their online menu from home? 


You're just about to leave lunch, and realise you don't have any cash on you. No need to worry! You've got a smart-phone app for that. $20 transferred from your savings to your debit card in one easy click and you're set.

 

Oh no! It's already 2pm, and you haven't studied like you said you would. 'Sigh', you better go and find some books ...online books that is. Why would you go to the library when you can open your laptop and find the book you're after, simply by typing in a few words to the internet?

 

After an afternoon of studying, you remember you need to purchase a dress for that party on the weekend. 30 minutes later, you've bought a dress (and shoes, and a top) from your new favourite online shopping destination, which will arrive on your doorstep in 3-5 days. 

Now, you may have seen your friends at lunch, but you better find out what they're up to. They don't know that you just bought a dress, so you have to tell them. 

Phew, that was important. Imagine if they didn't know you bought a dress! If you told them the next day, that would be old news - right? 

After a dinner of 'easy and quick quiche' made from a recipe you Google searched an hour prior, you're feeling content and full. Before bed, you check your emails and social networking platforms (even though you have been checking facebook every hour throughout the day, posting photos of your every meal on Instagram, and hash tagging #whatyou'reupto every 7.9 minutes on twitter), before texting your boyfriend 'Goodnight'.

What a busy day. Imagine how your day would be without any of these technologies. Would you survive?