This handout helps non-typesetters make a professional standard text design for publishing their thesis.

1. Making a Text Design / Checklist and Instructions
Before designers typeset any publication they make what is called a “text design.” This is a prototype that is used to
design the publication, check for fit, and is a document that can be handed to someone else to use for the final pro-
duction. It’s recommended you make the text design with your final text before you begin setting. Some time spent
working out how you will construct your document will make the setting smoother as you will have worked out
everything you need to account for and can focus on accurate typesetting.
List all page specs you will need to set up your pages ~
Final word count:
Max pages:
Min page margins:
Double sided or single sided:
Is the finished product print, digital, or both:
Required page margins:
Min type size and line spacing:
Footnote Style:
Page Numbers/Running heads:
List any other constraints (include all university requirements and discipline specific quirks):
Identify the following text specs and include a sample of each ~
List the sections (and numbers of each):
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Abstract
Table of Contents
Table of Figures
Sections
Chapters
Appendices
Index
References
Other
Number of heading levels (A > E heads in text):
Bulleted/Numbered lists:
Captions:
Indented text (don’t forget quotes, dialogue, excerpts):
Dialogue/interview transcripts:
Poetry:
Mathematical content and notations:
Number of images/infographics (charts):
Number of tables:
When making your text design ~
• Account for all levels of headings (and DO NOT change this afterwards)
• Use the longest/widest/shortest tables to check for fit
• Use the shortest/longest of the headings/titles/captions to check they work
• Set representative paras, and include a really short one as well as a long one
• Identify and use instances where headings will have to sit on top of one another