Document Design: From Process to Product in Professional Communication(SUNY series, Studies in Technical Communication)

Introduces students to the basic principles and theories of design, combining practical advice about the design process with a foundation in visual rhetoric and usability. Document Design introduces students to the basic principles and theories of design, combining practical advice about the design process with a foundation in visual rhetoric and usability. Most books on document design lean toward either theory or practice. This book offers a balanced approach-theoretically informed practice-that introduces a working vocabulary to help students become reflective practitioners, able not only to create effective designs but also to explain why and how they made their design choices. Derek G. Ross and Miles A. Kimball hope to give students the foundation they need to make design decisions in any rhetorical situation. Students will learn to negotiate between the needs of both users and clients to consider the nuances of audience, purpose, and context.

Table of Contents:
Preface UNIT 1: PRINCIPLES Chapter 1. What Is Document Design? Society of the Text Document Design as Information Design The Document in Document Design From Document to Design Document Design as a Relationship Clients Users Designers Levels of Design Design, Rhetoric, and Emotion Visual Design Exercises References and Further Reading Chapter 2. Principles of Design Design Objects and Their Characteristics Shape Orientation Texture Color Value Size Position Six Principles of Design Similarity Enclosure Alignment Contrast Order Proximity Using Design Principles Exercises References and Further Reading Chapter 3. Theories of Design Visual Perception Neurophysiology Gestalt Figure-Ground Discrimination Grouping Good Figure Gestalt and Document Design Constructivism Ecological Perception Theories of Visual Perception Influence Document Design Visual Culture Visual Language Intercultural Communication Semiotics Visual Culture and Power Visual Culture and Ethics Visual Rhetoric Visual Rhetoric as Persuasion Visual Rhetoric as User-Centered Design From Theory to Practice Exercises References and Further Reading UNIT 2: PROCESSES Chapter 4. The Whole Document Three Perspectives on the Whole Document Perception Culture Rhetoric Making Decisions about Media Conventions Human Factors Interaction with Light: Reflective or Transmissive Resolution: High to Low Transmission and Access Transformation Cost Single-Sourcing: Having It Both (or Many) Ways Making Decisions about Format Conventions in Format Formats in Print and Screen Variables in Print Formats Paper Folds Page or Panel Shape and Orientation Trims Bindings Combining the Variables One-Sheet Formats One Sheet, No Folds One Sheet, One Simple Fold One Sheet, Two or More Simple Folds One Sheet, Complex Folds Multiple-Sheet Formats Stacked Single Sheets Gathered Folios Stacked Signatures Special Features Special Trims Perforations Composite Formats Exercises References and Further Reading Chapter 5. Pages Three Perspectives on Pages Perception Culture Rhetoric Viewing Pages Creating Meaning with Page Design Connection Hierarchy Sequence Patterning Focusing Balance Using Grids for Page Design Designing Grid Systems Designing Grids for Content Assessing Content Text Size and Line Length Negative Space: Margins and Gutters Designing Grids for Format Dimensions and Measurements Breaking the Grid Exercises References and Further Reading Chapter 6. Type Three Perspectives on Type Perception Culture Rhetoric Looking at Type Letter Forms Strokes Serifs Uppercase and Lowercase Counters and Stress Baseline, X-Line, and Cap-Line Measuring Fonts Typeface Categories Serif vs. Sans Serif Typefaces Roman vs. Italic Typefaces Monospace vs. Proportional Typefaces Designing Documents with Type Choosing Type for Legibility, Readability, and Usability Typeface Design Font X-Height to Cap-Height Ratio Matching Type to Visual Rhetoric Creating a Typographic System Contrasts of Size Contrasts of Shape Contrasts of Value Contrasts of Color Setting Type Vertical Spacing (Leading) Leading for Paragraphs Leading for Headings Horizontal Spacing Line Length Kerning, Letter Spacing, and Ligatures Word Spacing, Justification, and Hyphenation Indentation and Centering Punctuation and Special Features Periods, Commas, Semicolons, and Colons Hyphens and Dashes Quotation Marks, Apostrophes, and Primes Ellipsis Marks Special Techniques Diacritical Marks Arabic Numerals Fractions Reverse Type Modifying Type for Emphasis Bold and Italic Underlining All Caps and Small Caps Using Typographic Styles Styles on Paper Paragraph Styles Character Styles Styles on Websites: CSS Digital Type PostScript and TrueType Unicode ASCII, RTF, and XML Type on the Screen Resolution Antialiasing Screen Typefaces Font Availability Font Substitution Font Embedding Font Images Exercises References and Further Reading Chapter 7. Graphics Three Perspectives on Graphics Perception Culture Rhetoric Graphics and Principles of Design Graphics and Ethics Distortion Viewpoint Copyright Why Use Graphics? Information Graphics Illustrations: Showing How Something Looks Photographs Line Art: Diagrams and Drawings Scientific Illustrations Screenshots Maps: Showing How Things Are Related in Space Process Diagrams: Showing How Actions Are Related in Time Concept Diagrams: Showing Ideas and Relationships Visually Statistical Charts: Showing Quantitative Relationships Pictograms: Showing a Common Idea with a Simple Mark Promotion Graphics Logos: Marking Identity Decorative Graphics: Establishing a Visual Tone Creating and Modifying Graphics Bitmap Graphics vs. Vector Graphics Bitmaps Vectors Working with Photographs and Other Bitmap Graphics Acquiring Bitmap Graphics Editing Bitmap Graphics Creating Drawings, Diagrams, and Maps with Vector Graphics Drawing Common Shapes Grouping Objects Arranging Objects Using Paths and Type Creating Statistical Graphics Using Office Software Using Vector Graphics Software Using Diagramming Programs Incorporating Graphics into Documents Using Proximity Using Alignment and Enclosure Using Explicit References Making Graphics Self-Supporting Exercises References and Further Reading Chapter 8. Color Three Perspectives on Color Perception Hue Saturation Brightness Other Graphical Color Models Simultaneous Contrast Color Vision Deficiency Culture Rhetoric Color Can Convey Meaning Color Can Imply Value Color Can Attract Attention Creating Color on Screens and Paper Color on Screens: Additive Color (RGB) Making RGB Colors Specifying RGB for Websites Color on Paper: Subtractive Color (CMYK) Process Color Spot Color Color Gamut Designing with Color Color Similarity and Contrast Color Schemes Monochromatic and Analogous Complementary and Split-Complementary Triadic and Tetradic Designing with Limited Colors Designing with One Color Designing with Two Colors Working with Color on Computers Using Color Pickers Matching Colors Calibrating Your Monitor Exercises References and Further Reading Chapter 9. Lists, Tables, and Forms Three Perspectives on Lists, Tables, and Forms Perception Culture Rhetoric Lists List Entries Glyphs and Ordering Lists and Alignment Managing Long Lists Tables Components of Tables Necessary Parts of Tables Optional Parts of Tables Designing Tables Fit Content to Tables, and Fit Tables to Content Choose Appropriate Typography for Tables Order Tables Consistently and Logically Use Alignment to Increase Usability Use Proximity to Build Relationships between Data Use Enclosure for Clarity and Emphasis Designing Tables for the Screen Forms Components of Forms Form Areas Data Fields Alphanumeric Entry Fields Option Fields Designing Forms Include Clearly Designed Information about the Form Group Data Fields Visually Use Alignment to Encourage Consistent and Complete Responses Design Response Spaces to Encourage Accurate Responses Test Forms Digital Forms Exercises References and Further Reading UNIT 3: PRACTICES Chapter 10. Project Management Scenario Part 1: Getting Organized Project Management Working with Design Teams Models of Project Management The Waterfall Model The Iterative Model Scenario Part 2: Meeting the Client Planned Iterations: A Mixed Approach Stage 1: Research Client Research User Research Writing the Project Analysis Report Scenario Part 3: Initial Prototyping Stage 2: Design Planning Stage 3: Iterative Prototyping Creating Prototypes Heuristic Analysis: Getting Expert Feedback on Prototypes Scenario Part 4: Prototyping Usability Testing: Getting User Feedback on Prototypes Writing Prototype Reports Stage 4: Specification Creating a Style Sheet or Template Creating an Implementation Schedule Stage 5: Implementation Scenario Part 5: Deliverables Writing the Completion Report Exercises References and Further Reading Chapter 11. Production Printing Technologies Precursors: Intaglio and Relief Printing Lithography Photolithography Offset Lithography Four-Color Process Lithography Further Refinements in Lithography: Computer-to-Plate and Direct Imaging Advantages and Disadvantages of Lithography Reprography The Reprographic Process Advantages and Disadvantages of Reprography Inkjet Printing Advantages and Disadvantages of Inkjet Printing New Printing Technologies Paper Types of Paper Characteristics of Paper Size Grain Weight Thickness Opacity Finish Brightness Color Ink Spot and Process Inks Total Ink Varnishing From Design to Document Planning for Printing: Imposition and Signatures Finishing Scoring and Perforating Folding and Gathering Trimming and Bleeds Binding Preparing Designs for the Press Communicating with Printers Getting Estimates Delivering Your Design to the Printer File Formats Linked and Embedded Objects Drafts and Mock-Ups Storage Media Responding to Proofs Making Corrections Conclusion Exercises References and Further Reading Index