Slides from Information Design 101 workshop at TCUK12, introducing workshop attendees to some of the basic principles of making easy to understand

1. Information design 101
• TCUK12
• www.roberthempsall.co.uk/tcuk-form-content.doc (you’ll need this!)

2. What we’ll work on
• Short form Application Form to Vote by Post
Please complete in BLACK INK and BLOCK CAPITALS and return to Electoral Services, Council
Offices, 303 Sperry Way, Xpress, Xpressshire, GL10 3UB. If you need help filling in this form please
phone 01453 794999.
Address where you are registered to vote Postal vote for which elections
• A4 one page Leanne S Murtagh
Foxhole Farm
All elections you are entitled to vote at
Alderley Local elections
Xpress Town
Xpressshire Parliamentary elections
• Created in Word XL12 7RR
For how long do you want a postal vote?
Until further notice
About you
For election(s) on
First name(s) (in full)
Leanne S
Day Month Year
Surname
For election(s) until
Murtagh
Title (Mr, Mrs, Ms, Miss, Dr, Other)
Day Month Year
Address for postal ballot paper(s)
Your Date of Birth My address where I’m registered
to vote
or
The following address
Day Month Year
Declaration
Reason for sending ballot paper(s) to an
As far as I know, the details on this form are
alternative address
true and accurate. (You can be fined for
making a false statement on this form.)
Signature: Keep within the border
and use BLACK INK.
Have you had help completing this form?
Name and Address of helper
I cannot supply a signature because
For office use only
HB-7
Date:
*20010000096*
*20010000096*

3. What we’ll look at
• Getting the content right
• Using language
• Layout
• Typography
• Lines
• Finishing touches

4. Classroom rules
• Question? Shout it out
• Disagree? Shout it out

5. Let’s start with the information
www.roberthempsall.co.uk/tcuk-form-content.doc

6. Getting the content right
• What you need to do at the beginning
• What to do when you’ve finished
at the end
• Logical order for the user
• Grouping information where possible
DISCUSS

7. Getting the content right
• What you need to do at the beginning For example
Please complete in BLACK INK and BLOCK
• What to do when you’ve finished CAPITALS and return to Electoral Services, Council
Office, 303 Sprerry Way, Xpress, Xpressshire GL10
at the end 3UB. If you need help filling in this form please
phone 01453 794999
• Logical order for the user Can become
• Grouping information where possible Please complete in BLACK INK and BLOCK
CAPITALS. If you need help filling in this form please
phone 01453 794999.
Once completed, return to Electoral Services,
Council Office, 303 Sprerry Way, Xpress,
Xpressshire GL10 3UB

8. Getting the content right
• What you need to do at the beginning
• What to do when you’ve finished at the end
• Logical order for the user
• Grouping information where possible
DISCUSS

9. Getting the content right
• What you need to do at the beginning For example
• Address where you are registered to vote
• What to do when you’ve finished at the end • About you
• Your date of birth
• Logical order for the user • Declaration
• Postal vote for which elections
• For how long do you want a postal vote?
• Grouping information where possible • Address for postal ballot paper(s)
• Have you had help completing this form?
Can become
• About you
• Your date of birth
----------------------------------------------------------------------
• Address where you are registered to vote
• Address for postal ballot paper(s)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
• Postal vote for which elections
• For how long do you want a postal vote
----------------------------------------------------------------------
• Have you had help completing this form?
• Declaration

10. Getting the content right
• What you need to do at the beginning
• What to do when you’ve finished at the end
• Logical order for the user
• Grouping information where possible
DISCUSS

11. Getting the content right
• What you need to do at the beginning For example
About you
• What to do when you’ve finished at the end First name(s) in full
Leanne S
• Logical order for the user Surname
Murtagh
• Grouping information where possible Title
(Mr, Mrs, Ms, Miss, Dr, Other)
Your date of birth
[ ] / [ ] / [ ]
Can become
About you
First name(s) in full
Leanne S
Surname
Murtagh
Title
(Mr, Mrs, Ms, Miss, Dr, Other)
Your date of birth
[ ] / [ ] / [ ]

12. Using language
• Ask questions For example
– and make sure they can be answered Postal vote for which elections
• Avoid easy options can become
Which elections do you need postal votes for?

13. Using language
• Ask questions For example
– and make sure they can be answered Have you had help completing this form?
Name and address of helper
[ ]
• Avoid easy options
Can become
Have you had help completing this form?
[ ] No
[ ] es
Y
Please tell us the name and address of the
person who helped you
[ ]

14. Using language
• Ask questions For example
Which elections do you need postal votes for?
• Avoid easy options [ ] All elections you are entitled to vote at
[ ] Local elections
[ ] Parliamentary elections
Can become
Which elections do you need postal votes for?
Tick all that apply
[ ] Local elections
[ ] Parliamentary elections

15. A game
• Say what you see

16. Design genres
• A

17. Design genres
• B

18. Design genres
• C

19. Design genres
• D

20. And now the design

21. Layout
• Best use of space
• As much room as possible for answers

22. A new file
www.roberthempsall.co.uk/tcuk-form-table.doc

23. Typography
• Differentiation Light
– font weight
– two elements of difference
Regular
Medium
• Emphasis
Bold
Extra Bold

24. Typography
• Differentiation Different font
– font weight
weight isn’t always
– two elements of difference
different enough
• Emphasis
Adding another
element of difference
might be needed
Or you could even go
for three elements of
just to be certain

25. Typography
• Differentiation
– font weight
– two elements of difference
• Emphasis
TRY IT

26. Typography
• Differentiation
• Emphasis
– don’t be afraid of using large text
Application form to vote by po
• Complete in BLACK INK
• Use BLOCK CAPITALS
If you need help filling in this form please phone 01453 794999
1) About you First name(s) in full
Please provide missing Surname
information marked with a ‘’
Title
Date of birth
2) Address where you Foxhole Farm
are registered to vote Alderley
Xpress Town
Xpressshire
XL12 7RR
Can we send your postal ballot p
Yes
No – send them to the followin

27. Lines
• Different lines have different affects
(or effects, I never can remember) Solid lines break the flow,
so each line looks line a
• Create a heirarchy of lines
completely new piece
of information.
Dotted lines are less severe,
and can help to group areas
of information before the
next solid rule signals another
new group of information

28. Lines
• Different lines have different affects
(or effects, I never can remember)
• Create a heirarchy of lines
TRY IT

29. Application form t
Finishing touches • Complete in BLACK INK
• Use BLOCK CAPITALS
If you need help filling in this form please p
• Helpful aids
– numbering 1) About you First n
– navigational devices Please provide missing Surna
• Answer box details information marked with a ‘’
Title
Date o
2) Address where you Foxho
are registered to vote Alderle
Xpress
Xpress
XL12 7
Can w
Ye
No

30. Why would you like us to send your ballot papers to this address?
Finishing do
3) Which elections
touches Local elections
you need postal votes for? Parliamentary elections
Tick all that apply
• Helpful aids
4) How long do you For election(s) on D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
• Answer box details
want a postal vote for? For election(s) until D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
–Tick and provide dates for all that
contextual help
apply Until further notice
– signature boxes
5) Have you had help No
completing this form? Yes – please give the name and address of the person who helped you
6) Declaration Signature – keep within the border and use BLACK INK
As far as I know, the details on
this form are true and accurate.
Please note: You can be fined for
making a false statement on
this form.) Date D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
If you cannot supply a signature, please tell us why

31. Finished
Questions? Application form to vote by post
• Complete in BLACK INK
• Use BLOCK CAPITALS
www.roberthempsall.co.uk
If you need help filling in this form please phone 01453 794999
1) About you First name(s) in full Leanne S
Please provide missing Surname Murtagh
information marked with a ‘’
Title
@roberthempsall 2) Address where you
Date of birth
Foxhole Farm
D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
are registered to vote Alderley
Xpress Town
Xpressshire
XL12 7RR
Can we send your postal ballot papers to this address?
Yes
No – send them to the following address
Why would you like us to send your ballot papers to this address?
3) Which elections do Local elections
you need postal votes for? Parliamentary elections
Tick all that apply
4) How long do you For election(s) on D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
want a postal vote for? For election(s) until D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
Tick and provide dates for all that
apply Until further notice
5) Have you had help No
completing this form? Yes – please give the name and address of the person who helped you
6) Declaration Signature – keep within the border and use BLACK INK
As far as I know, the details on
this form are true and accurate.
Please note: You can be fined for
making a false statement on
this form.) Date D D / M M / Y Y Y Y
If you cannot supply a signature, please tell us why
Once completed, return to Electoral Services, Council Office, 303 Sprerry Way, Xpress, Xpressshire GL10 3UB