Online design vs. print design

According to Robyn Penman (1998), a document’s functionality is dependent on its structure matching readers’ habits, expectations, and context of use.

Audience, purpose and contexts should also be made as priority as good document design not only attracts readers but also engage and encourage readers to be involved with the organisation itself. (Walsh 2006, p.34) In print, reading is linear and sequential reading pathway. In the online provides a non-linear reading pathway, which means that reader has freedom to choice what they want to read. (Walsh 2006, p.35)

Nielsen (2007) explain that people read 25 percent slower online and therefore, the contents presented online has to be half as short compare with print material. Therefore design is play an important role in both materials, which is online material and print.

Example:

In print material, newspaper designer use the heading to attract people stay and continue read the article. In addition, picture work with word to add interest so that reader wouldn’t feel bore. The content must be more in-depth compare with online news. Beside that, limits the amount of “white space” around the text to makes page look “overflowing” and cramped. (The library company, 2007)

( Source: The Star Newspaper)


In online, 79% of users scan the page instead of reading word-for-word. Reader read online in F-pattern. They first read in a horizontal movement across the top part of the content. So the first two paragraphs must state the important information and follow by unimportant. It also called as Inverted Pyramid. For the purpose to easy scan or read the content designer use the subheading, paragraph, and bullet point with carry out the information words. In addition, use the hyperlink to link with other webpage to make the webpage become more interesting. (Nielsen, 1997)

( Source: The star online)

References:

Walsh, M 2006, The ‘textual shift’: Examining the reading process with print, visual and multimodal texts, Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 24-37.

Nielsen, J 2007, Writing for Web, viewed 27 October 2008,< http://www.sun.com/980713/webwriting/>

Nielsen, J 2006, F-Shaped Pattern For Reading Web Content, Useit.com, viewed 27 October 2008, < http://www.useit.com/alertbox/reading_pattern.html>

Nielsen, J 1997, Be Succinct! (Writing for the Web), Useit.com, viewed 28 October2008, <http://www.useit.com/alertbox/9703b.html>

Nielsen, J 1997, How Users Read on the Web, Useit.com, viewed 28 October 2008, < http://www.useit.com/alertbox/9710a.html>

IPD readings From Course reader.