Screen vs Print Design

     As technology develops even further, so does the method of receiving and reading news, nowadays, instead of reading regular print publications like newspaper, magazines and such, people can now read news on their phones, computers, tablets and other smart electronic devices. Although the development of this is here, people still rely on regular print press; this is caused by many factors. In accordance to (Nielsen, 2006) people do not really read web pages, they scan through them, picking out words and if the website is not easy to use, they leave. This is why people need to design print and screen documents in a way that attracts readers. The main three considerations in designing print and screen documents are content, appearance and audience. In terms of content, it is the text of the document, its layout and its length to ensure the reader does not get bored. In terms appearance, the graphics must not overpower the text but attractive enough to peak the reader’s interest. Audience are the readers, designers need to take into consideration about who this document is for.

     As you can see, for print documents like the magazine page above, the consideration for content, appearance and audience is that they highlight the interesting words and make them bigger to peak reader’s interest. They show pictures for an attractive appearance and they follow the F-design for the smaller text to make it easy for the reader to follow. When all the elements are combined, they deepen reader interest, applies to Gestalt’s theory that perception of form depends not only on seeing individual parts but on the organization of the whole.

     For websites, they follow the same elements of content, appearance and audience in which they keep the text simple and short. They use the best images of their product they have to offer and they also use the F-design.

     In my opinion, they are still many differences print and screen documents have to offer and that both has advantages and disadvantages, though it may seem websites have the upper hand, until screen documents become as reliable as print documents, there will still be two types of documents.

References:

·         Schriver, K.A. 1997, “Dynamics in document design”, John Wiley & Sons, New York, USA,

• Hilligoss, S & Howard, T 2002, “Visual Communication: A Writer’s Guide”, Longman, viewed 15^th April 2012, http://www.ablongman.com/mycomplab_content/pdf/long_hilligoss.pdf
• Nielsen, J & Morkes, J 1997, “Concise, SCANNABLE, and Objective:
  How to Write for the Web”, viewed 15^th April 2012, http://www.useit.com/papers/webwriting/writing.html
• Nielsen, J 1999, “Differences Between Print Design and Web Design”, viewed 15^th April 2012, http://www.useit.com/alertbox/990124.html