eva anderson - graphic design for readability
DESCRIPTION
"Graphic Design for Readability" was presented at the Center for Health Literacy Conference 2011: Plain Talk in Complex Times by Eva Anderson.Description: Learn design strategies that improve the readability and usability of print and Web materials. This workshop is for people who aren't designers but have to do their own graphic design at work and for people who hire graphic designers.TRANSCRIPT
Design that delivers!
EVA ANDERSON Center for Health Literacy
Plain Talk in Complex Times | Alexandria, VA | September 22, 2011
1. Design basics
2. Critiquing design
3. Group critique
Design basics
• Typography• White space• Imagery• Color• Branding
Typography
95% of what is commonly referred to as web design is typography.
informationarchitects.jp/100E2R
Samples of fonts for legibility
Recommended standard PC fonts
In search of the perfect line length
A maximum of 50 characters (or 7-14 words) is an optimum line length. Any longer, and you lose the reader’s ability to stay focused.
Fonts for visually impaired
A sans serif font in a medium weight is preferred for its consistent stroke widths. (Normal character spacing)
A sans serif font in a medium weight is preferred for its consistent stroke widths. (Character spacing expanded 0.3)
KISS me and I’ll read you
Choose two fonts at most, preferably a sans serif for headers and a serif for text.
Never force condense fonts
Meta Plus Bold
Meta Plus Bold condensed 70%
Helvetica Neue Bold Condensed
An illegible type, set it how you will, cannot be made readable.
But the most legible of types can be made unreadable if it is set to too wide a measure, or in too large or too small a size for a particular purpose.
Dowding 1957, p.5; in Lund, 1999
This is ten pt type on 13 pt leading (line spacing). This is ten pt type on 13 pt leading (line spacing). This is ten pt type on 13 pt leading (line spacing). This is ten pt type on 13 pt leading (line spacing). This is ten pt type on 13 pt leading (line spacing). This is ten pt type on 13 pt leading (line spacing). This is ten pt type on 13 pt leading (line spacing).
This is ten pt type on 14 pt leading (line spacing). This is ten pt type on 14 pt leading (line spacing). This is ten pt type on 14 pt leading (line spacing). This is ten pt type on 14 pt leading (line spacing). This is ten pt type on 14 pt leading (line spacing). This is ten pt type on 14 pt leading (line spacing). This is ten pt type on
This is ten pt type on 15 pt leading (line spacing). This is ten pt type on 15 pt leading (line spacing). This is ten pt type on 15 pt leading (line spacing). This is ten pt type on 15 pt leading (line spacing). This is ten pt type on 15 pt leading (line spacing). This is ten pt type on 15 pt leading (line spacing). This is ten pt type on
A good rule for leading: 140% of the font size. Minimally 130% and comfortably 150%.
130 140 150
Think white space
Whether a website or a brochure, packing your layout
with information isn’t difficult, but making it simple and easy-to-use is.
Distill! Distill! Distill! Then distill again!
• Give active white space to the layout to reduce eye stress. • White space keeps the reader engaged – it makes it easier
to focus on the content. • If used properly, white space should act like corridors,
helping the reader navigate the layout.
It's a dance between type and graphic elements.
White space is the music.
Hierarchy is the beat, defined by color and size.
Think in terms of units
CA PCIP examples
Forms need white space too!
Imagery
Tips for engaging imagery
Images should be high quality, of good contrast, not fuzzy or pixelated, and to scale, never stretched
300 ppi at 100% 100 ppi at 300%
The image should: • elicit a feeling of relating
to the subject• convey the story quickly• arouse curiosity about the
story behind the image
The right cropping helps!
The viewer should feel that they could walk into a landscape photo
Color
Reflective vs Transmissive
• Paper and ink bounce light (reflective)• Monitors emit light (transmit)
For screen design, too much contrast is not ideal. Black type on a stark white background starts to flicker and tires the eye. {R=90
G=77 B=82}
For screen design, too much contrast is not ideal. Black type on a stark white background starts to flicker and tires the eye. {Black}
For best contrast when designing for the visually impaired, choose dark colors from the bottom half of the color wheel, and lighter colors from the top half.
Lighthouse International, lighthouse.org/accessibility
Branding
• Why brand?• Tips
Why bother branding?
• A consistent image creates a strong image
• Unifies all the pieces of an organization, program or campaign
• Tells the public your entity is professional and reliable
• A good brand is distinctive, easily recognizable and increases memorability
Brand your campaign with consistent fonts, graphic elements, photo treatments and color palette. KISS!!!
Simple tips for successful branding
• Choose a simple color palette
• Choose strong, recognizable graphic elements
• Establish a photo or illustration treatment
• Leave the tricks to the experts
Remember: Novices want to play. Experts know to throw away.
When in doubt, keep it simple.
Thank you.