2. #1 rule of document design:
UNDERSTAND YOUR READERS
• They’re busy.
• They don’t care about you or your ideas
(or even if they do, they won’t
necessarily take the time to read
something that looks difficult.
• They will skim.
AND DESIGN ACCORDINGLY
3. GENERAL STRATEGIES
• Create a clear visual hierarchy.
• Chunk into bite-size pieces – use white
space.
• Use meaningful headings.
• Use clear topic sentences to facilitate
skimming.
• Be as concise as possible while still being
persuasive.
19. ACCESS
Help readers easily find and understand important info.
• Might use bullets and dashes, depending on the document
(typically not white papers).
• Use graphics (like tables and charts) where appropriate.
20. TYPOGRAPHY
Rule of thumb: no more than two typefaces in a single
document.
serif = body text
sans-serif = headings
Arial, Calibri, Gill Sans, Avenir, Helvetica, Futura,
Impact
Times New Roman, Garamond, Century Schoolbook,
Baskerville