Urgent
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Lecture.pptxRWS 290 Business Writing and Rhetoric Six Characteristics of Effective Information Design
Balanced White Space
Headings that “Signpost”
Chunked Information
Bullets and Numbering
Appropriate Fonts
Integrated Visuals
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In most settings, your readers . . .
Expect information in a different form.
Rarely approach your document with undivided attention.
Often are not getting paid to read your work.
Deal with an avalanche of messages.
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Characteristics of Information Design - White Space (Ineffective)
(-) Page consists of undifferentiated text
(-) Margins are tight; text block is wide; lines are justified
(-) Reader’s initial reaction = dread
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Characteristics of Information Design - White Space (Effective)
(+) Lines are “ragged right”
(+) Margins are wider
Reader can begin to “manage” the page
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Characteristics of Information Design - Headings (Ineffective)
(-) Page is “text dense”
with no sections
divided
(-) Audience must read carefully rather than skim to get information
(-) No information “roadmaps”
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Characteristics of Information Design - Headings (Effective)
(+) Descriptive headings divide the page
(+) Headings set off with line space above
and below
(+) Reader can enter
and exit text at will
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Characteristics of Information Design - “Chunked” Information (Ineffective)
(-) Page consists of longer paragraphs
(-) Ideas are grouped around single paragraphs
(-) Even with headings, audience must still read the paragraphs to get information
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Characteristics of Information Design - “Chunked” Information (Effective)
(+) Page further divided by short paragraphs
(+) Divisions are made by number of sentences and ideas
(+) Text is digestible and easy on the eye
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Characteristics of Information Design - Bullets and Lists
(+) Design varied
further by adding bullets and lists
(+) Bullets used for list
of < 5 items
(+) Numbers used to show sequenced steps
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Characteristics of Information Design - Fonts and Letterform Highlighting
Understand the two font families
Legibility (sans serif) vs. readability (serif)
Use appropriate font highlighting
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The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes. Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown.
The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes. Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown.
The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes. Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown.
Typefaces Convey Impressions
Which Plastic Surgeon would you choose?
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Characteristics of Information Design - Narrow Column Text
Be very careful of thin text columns.
Text refers to the image; images are dramatic and emphasize the report’s argument.
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Characteristics of Information Design - Integrated Visuals: Ineffective
Spacing between text and image.
Spacing between image and image.
Good caption size and placement..
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Takeaways: Information Design
To create a visually effective document:
Seek a visually appealing balance between white space and text.
Use headings that guide the reader throughout the document.
“Chunk” information beneath headings into shorter paragraphs of varied length.
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Takeaways: Information Design (cont.)
To create a visually effective document:
Use bulleted and numbered lists to break up long paragraphs.
Select the best font for the message.
Introduce, explain or interpret a visual, and place it for maximum effect.
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Design Charrette Assignment
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