1.5.1

Documents

Study on Seneca

Complete the interactive activities in the Seneca app to work towards your CPD certificate.

Documents

Learn how newspapers and magazines produce ordered, easy-to-read pages. And use these principles to create professional-looking documents.

Hierarchy

Hierarchy

  • Information must be ordered in terms of its hierarchy.
    • Not everything is of equal importance, or can be presented in any sort of sequence.
  • Establishing a hierarchy gives the reader a quicker sense of the meaning you are communicating.
  • Headings punctuate the text, signalling the essential message of what is to follow.
    • Help the reader traverse the page easily.
Typeface

Typeface

  • Typefaces have individual character.

    • Some typefaces are a good fit for a party invitation but, obviously, inappropriate for a funeral.

  • Don’t be tempted to introduce multiple typefaces into your document.

    • Two will do, at most.
    • One a serif and one a sans serif.
    • Discover which pairing works well together.
Images

Images

  • Don’t take screen shots from Google.
    • They will be both low resolution and, probably, illegal.
  • Consider taking your own photographs.
    • If you do, remember the old visual journalism adage: you can’t get too close.
    • But, as you can see in the image, the deliberate zoomed out (of Stravinsky) can as impressive as the close up (of Dali).
Colour

Colour

  • There is definitely a danger in being seduced into using far too many colours, perhaps in an attempt to appear more interesting.
  • Restrain your colour palette and use it with care.
  • The more you try to make everything stand out (headings, images, colour, typefaces), the less anything will stand out.
  • Be selective and your message will be more apparent.
The grid

The grid

  • All professional graphic designers, photographers and typographers work from a grid.
  • Adopt its use and your work will immediately improve.
  • Start with hand-drawn thumbnail sketches, then transfer them to whatever desktop app you use.
Jump to other topics
1

Dual Coding With Teachers

1.1

The Limitations of Working Memory

1.1.1The Limitations of Working Memory1.1.2To Try in Class
1.2

Design Guide

1.2.1Design Guide1.2.2To Try in Class
1.3

Pen Craft

1.3.1Pen Craft1.3.2To Try in Class
1.4

Slides

1.4.1Slides1.4.2To Try in Class
1.5

Documents

1.5.1Documents1.5.2To Try in Class
1.6

Displays

1.6.1Displays1.6.2To Try in Class

Practice questions on Documents

Can you answer these? Complete these activities in the Seneca app to progress towards your certificate.

  1. 1
    What does Oliver Caviglioli say about colours in documents?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    What do all professional graphic designers, photographers and typographers work with?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    What should dictate how you order things on a page?Multiple choice
Answer all questions on Documents

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium

To Try in Class

To Try in Class