In the forum, leogalFDX writes, "My company uses Word for large documents going to customers. We're investigating a move to DTP software. I'm looking for a way to quantify value of advanced page design in customer-facing documents. Ideas on where to find this kind of information?"
My first thought - it's not the software that determines the page design. That doesn't mean the choice of software -- especially a choice between word processing software and dedicated desktop publishing -- isn't important. It's just that as far the customer is concerned, the page design is independent of the software used. -->
Depending on the document complexity, the value of moving from a word processing program such as Microsoft Word to a dedicated desktop publishing program is primarily time savings and ease of use for the document designer rather than any specific value to the customer (recipient of the printed document). Yes, there is value in good design but much of that can be accomplished with today's word processing software: alignment, balance, white space, font choices, use of color, etc. However, it might be accomplished faster, more easily, and with greater precision with or in conjunction with a page layout program such as InDesign or QuarkXPress. And how you have the document printed also plays a role as well - desktop publishing software has an edge with most commercial printers and printing processes for technical reasons not necessarily related to the design and layout of the page.
This Xerox article makes some interesting observations about the value of design, even though it isn't talking specifically about desktop publishing:
Scientist Finds Meaning in How Documents are Presented: Researcher develops ways to measure intent and eye-appeal of documents in collaboration with RIT scientists
It's the careful and intelligent application of the elements and principles of design that give a document eye appeal. For most customers, the differences between a well-designed piece done in a word processor vs. the same piece in a page layout program are negligible provided the designer knows what he/she is doing. However, the ease with which the document is produced can vary greatly depending on the software.
Do you agree or disagree? Can you provide sources that have studied the aesthetic differences in "word processed" vs. "desktop published" documents? Share your thoughts.
My first thought - it's not the software that determines the page design. That doesn't mean the choice of software -- especially a choice between word processing software and dedicated desktop publishing -- isn't important. It's just that as far the customer is concerned, the page design is independent of the software used. -->
Depending on the document complexity, the value of moving from a word processing program such as Microsoft Word to a dedicated desktop publishing program is primarily time savings and ease of use for the document designer rather than any specific value to the customer (recipient of the printed document). Yes, there is value in good design but much of that can be accomplished with today's word processing software: alignment, balance, white space, font choices, use of color, etc. However, it might be accomplished faster, more easily, and with greater precision with or in conjunction with a page layout program such as InDesign or QuarkXPress. And how you have the document printed also plays a role as well - desktop publishing software has an edge with most commercial printers and printing processes for technical reasons not necessarily related to the design and layout of the page.
This Xerox article makes some interesting observations about the value of design, even though it isn't talking specifically about desktop publishing:
Scientist Finds Meaning in How Documents are Presented: Researcher develops ways to measure intent and eye-appeal of documents in collaboration with RIT scientists
"Among the quantifiable factors they found that could produce aesthetically pleasing layouts were alignment, regularity, uniform separation, balance, proportion of white space, height to width proportion, uniformity and "page security" - the positioning of small objects so they don't appear to be falling off a page. "
It's the careful and intelligent application of the elements and principles of design that give a document eye appeal. For most customers, the differences between a well-designed piece done in a word processor vs. the same piece in a page layout program are negligible provided the designer knows what he/she is doing. However, the ease with which the document is produced can vary greatly depending on the software.
Do you agree or disagree? Can you provide sources that have studied the aesthetic differences in "word processed" vs. "desktop published" documents? Share your thoughts.
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