Introductory presentation on document design for Engl 317.

1. ELEMENTS OF DOCUMENT DESIGN
(with special attention to memo format)
Principle 1:
Understand the visual
conventions of a
genre.
Principle 2:
Understand how to
create visual
hierarchy.
Example: memo
formats.

2. PRINCIPLE 1: Understand the visual conventions
of a genre.

3. Much of document design is based in visual
conventions. These do rhetorical work: the
user/reader should be able to discern at a
glance what the document is (and hence,
what it’s for).

4. Website that violates visual conventions.

5. Resume that violates visual conventions.

6. PRINCIPLE 2: Understand how to create visual
hierarchy with white space, alignment,
headings, and typography.

7. Poor
visual
hierarchy.

8. Poor use of
white space
(memo).

9. Poor use of
alignment.

10. EXAMPLE: MEMO FORMATS

11. USE MEMOS…
• For information too detailed or complicated
for simple email.
• For confidential/sensitive information.

12. conventional
memo headings
block paragraph
format
clear indicator of
type of document
Conventional
visual format
of memos.

13. Memo Introductions
*State purpose FIRST:
• The purpose of this memo is…
• This memo [does X]…(provides requested information,
provides recommendations, outlines a problem, etc.)
• In response to your request, this memo [does X].
*Next paragraph summarizes conclusions/most important
information.

14. The problem with memo templates…