Document Design: A Guide for Technical Communicators

by Miles A. Kimball, Ann R. Hawkins

The technological revolution of the last ten years has radically changed document designers' materials, processes, and tools of the trade. In short, choices about everything from typography and color to planning and production have changed -- even multiplied. The first new text for the college market in ten years, Kimball and Hawkins' Document Design assumes from the start that students are working online to produce a fuller range of print and online documents, designed and delivered differently in a digital world. Through practical, accessible advice and examples, Kimball and Hawkins lay out the array of elements and choices that document designers need to consider, all in the context of a rhetorical framework that allows students to see the effects of those choices. The only text to integrate a range of theoretical perspectives, visual perception, visual culture, and visual rhetoric, Document Design teaches students to think more critically about their own design decisions and to keep usability in mind every step of the way. True to its message, this artfully designed text practices the principles it teaches and is sure to become a reference that students will keep.

Genres: Nonfiction, Textbooks, Design, Reference

440 pages, Paperback

First published December 12, 2007

Reviews

[Brooklyn Mumford · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the most boring textbooks I’ve read. Confusing as well.

[Kendra Richards Ohmann · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a little outdated, but otherwise sets out what it's supposed to. A good resource for a variety of academic courses.

[David Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview of the entire document design process, including important vocabulary, processes and points to be careful about when interacting with clients.

[Jules · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean, it was a textbook. Not much to say about it, but it was interesting if you like document design, which I do.

[Carolyn Dehn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though this work is not necessarily entertaining, and there are those who accuse the authors of taking the life out of design by discussing it to death, I would disagree. Surely, this is not a fun book filled with cool pictures and amazing effects. The focus of this book is clear communication and business like professional design, not creative graphic arts. It is a text book aimed at teaching terms, principles and theories. These academic underpinnings create a solid foundation for the designer and perhaps some do not appreciate a foundational approach finding it quite restrictive. Again, I must point out that this is a business document design book. The first chapter addresses the practical reality that users and the clients have crucial considerations as well as financial clout. The relationship between user, client and designer requires a good deal of maturity to navigate.

No room for a prima dona artist in the world of document design. The field of technical communications requires a professional approach to work as part of a creative team. Creative teams need to have rules to play by or it can get ugly fast. The structure of this book careful provides those guidelines. A basis from which to have an intelligent conversation with co workers is possible after reviewing the principles discussed in the book.

Also, I found the body of the text provided well defined phrases that would make communicating with the client much easier. Awareness of principles can help weather many a storm. And it is a jungle out there. Clients will be luke warm to your ideas, users will be less than responsive to your designs. You will look at your own work a few years down the road and perhaps consider suicide or the possibility of changing your name.

Suicide may be a less likely options if you can track your growth and one way to do that is to re read this book, deepen your understanding and continue to create, revise and recreate. The bread and butter of any graphic business, depends upon consistent high quality service to the business community. This book provides an overview of artistic, scientific, business and psychological principles in great detail, with plain clear language. Dry yes, unless you get really excited about having concepts you can communicate about, tedious perhaps if you have only a desire to express yourself your way. Worthwhile for the potential professional in my opinion – definitely and well worth the cost.

[Juan Pablo · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm a student not a professional trying to help other professionals for my own wishful gains. This book is awful. If your professor makes you buy this overpriced book she is awful too. It is literally the most useless book I have ever read and I've read Green Eggs and Ham before. There is literally a chapter teaching you about folding documents. It's incredible such a book can be published and sold for such a large sum of money. This is evil. The authors are evil and the editors are evil for STEALING college students money. Everything in the book is common sense, you seriously have to have an IQ of 87 to learn anything USEFUL from this book. Oh hey, lines and bold letters usually grab people's attention!?! Oh gosh I didn't know that! Now I'm smart! I'm burning this book after my semester is over.

[Xilks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had to read this for a class. It was very informative but as most technical books are, this was very dry. I don't have much to say about this book really. It was a nice supplemental reading to the class I was talking but there is no way I'd willingly pick this up on my own.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been insightful. I never really thought about the design of...well anything really prior to this book.

I would recommend this if you're designing anything digital or print. Otherwise...eh. Do as you please I suppose.

[Lee Stoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

All things layout, typography and such.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. Very helpful as far as the basics of document design.