The key to successful writing is due largely to the overall design of the written piece. Anyone can agree that certain images or paragraphs or headings can either add to the success of the piece or it can be its downfall. In “Redesign” by Park, guidelines are given so that you can follow through your written piece and redesign it into a more effective one. It is stated that in some cases even discarding your preconceptions can be a liberating experience and will allow you to start on a fresh idea. Park goes on to say that if you believe the document is nearly a success then you can clean it up doing away with the “overly-formal headline font” or “a cluttered-looking corner” and pinpointing the problem elements, deleting them, restructuring them, or replacing them entirely.
In the case of a newsletter, Park gives an example from a museum newsletter that goes through a simple, yet effective redesign. In the original, the headline is quite tricky to read since it is scattered around an odd cartoon dinosaur and the overall text seems boring to read because of its long, straightforward paragraphs. In the redesign, the newsletter is drastically improved; the dinosaur is more realistic, the headline is bold and straight making it easier to read, the headlines are clearly seen in the left margin to catch the reader’s eyes. To me, this redesigned newsletter is successful because of its use of white space in the left margin as it opens the page up and provides an adequate place for the museum’s logo. White space is as important in writing as the words themselves. If you had a book or magazine or pamphlet with nothing but words filling up every inch of the paper, nobody would read it. With the appropriate use of white space, the reader’s eyes are guided through from headline to headline and paragraph to paragraph without losing track of where they are. An effective use of white space can make or break writing.
Print texts and digital texts share a few commonalities between them when it comes to “good” design principles. Both kinds of texts utilize white space and various colors for their specific kind of design they’re going for. In my opinion, digital texts use better design principles because I am more of a visual person so when I am able to see the colors, graphs, pictures, links, headlines, etc. displayed for me in an effective way I will understand the meaning better. When it comes to commonalities between accessible texts and “good” design, the use of white space as stated previously is a shared trait. White space can act as a buffer between sections of a passage or even break up large paragraphs into smaller, easier to read ones. This can improve the readability of the document and increases the accessibility. In the white space, the author’s use of headings can greatly improve the design and accessibility by catching the reader’s eye and introducing readers to new topics.
One of the most powerful tools used in design is color. When color is used in perfect harmony, it can be a pleasing effect to the document and allow the reader to visually experience the words they read. The correct use of color could make the reader see certain images, feel specific emotions, or just make the document look nicer allowing for a more accessible read. The balance of white space and color comes at the expense of the author’s doing and can be a powerful method in writing. For those with poor vision or attention span, colors may be the key to grab that attention for the reader so that they continue on and focus in on the meaning of the document.
One of the ideas mentioned in this blog post is that you can do away with clutter and problematic elements in order to make a piece of writing more appealing and readable. This idea made me think about my previous writing experiences and how it can often be difficult to pick out elements that are detracting from your writing. From personal experience, I often do not realize if something is unappealing unless it is pointed out to me. What is considered “appealing” can vary from person to person. In my high school English classes, we often read some of the most well-known pieces of literature. While these were novels and not professional writing as we are discussing in this class, I learned about some valuable design tactics while reading them. Often, a writer will use colors and images to their advantage, some in an unexpected way. The writer of this blog post states that these elements can take away from writing if they are not combined with others properly. Some pieces of writing do the opposite on purpose. Authors will often join a variety of different elements to confuse the reader or get them thinking. For instance, if you picture the cover of The Great Gatsby, a very well-known novel, the cover is abstract and makes the readers more intrigued. Other authors choose to use this same tactic. This is an example of when a writer will purposely include visuals to challenge the reader or elicit a stream of thought.
A key idea in this post that I found very important is the concept of the writing guiding the reader’s eyes and making a piece of literature more accessible through cues and different elements, such as write space, color, and bolding. This gives the writer more control and allows them to point out key features and words in their writing, but it also assumes that the writer knows what will draw people’s attention. Every reader is different so the writer may have to make some assumptions in order to predict where the reader will move to next. As opposed to the author of this blog post, I prefer print texts over digital texts. I am much more of a hands-on person and I like to be able to actively read (write on it, comment). This is an example of how two readers are different and this is something that a writer must consider while including design elements.
I really appreciate this blog author making a connection between aesthetic/marketing design principles and the writing process. I had not immediately made that connection when reading this week’s pieces. The author here has drawn parallels that delve well beneath the surface of, “Well, whatever you make has it look good if it is to be consumed.” Writing is a field that can be connected to countless other pursuits, but sometimes when people make that connection it is heavy-handed or even cheesy. No such effect is felt here as the author uses engaging but accessible language and taking a macro approach to the writing process.
I thought it was also beneficial for the author to discuss their personal opinions as they relate to color and design choices. I, too, began to think about my preferences, especially during the reading about color theory. I love combinations across a secondary color wheel such as blue and orange, red and green, but I know plenty of people find those pairs tacky. In these less formal blog posts it is interesting to get to know the personality behind the writers, and that’s happening when this author discusses being a visual learner. Still, they are able to remark on what choices and theories generate the most general pleasing pieces, some tangible advice that most any reader could utilize.