Sunday

Online vs Print: Any similarities in the design?

When designing for web or print document, there are prominent differences in terms of style, elements and principles of design. ( Stewart 2008) explains that Print design holds you in place. It keeps your eyeballs bouncing around, it doesn’t let them go. While web design pulls your eyeballs down a path. It tries to channel the raging river of your attention through a site’s little stream.

According to (Shriver 2007)Print documents usually feature pictures to complement with words as it works together to help the reader understand the main idea.
When designing document design, it is based on a 2-dimensional element. Print design is 2-dimensional, with much attention paid to layout. It is obviously possible for the reader to turn the page, but substantial interplay between different spreads is rare. Typically, each view is a design unit created for a fixed size canvas - often a big canvas when designing newspapers or posters.( Nielsen 1999)


Examples of the page design and layout of The Star newspaper (Source: The Star 2008)

While the N-dimensional element plays its part when designing for web. (Nielsen 1999) also explained that The N-dimensional aspect of web design follows from the hypertext navigation that is the essence of the Web. Moving around is what the Web is all about. When analyzing the "look-and-feel" of a website, the feel completely dominates the user experience.

The hypertext navigation will guide the eyes of the reader (Source: The Star 2008)

In document design, it is important to capture the attention of the reader and to place the important content to where the eyes of the reader can clearly see according to the style of both web and print.

Schriver, KA 1997, Dynamics in document design: creating texts for readers, Wiley Computer Publication, New York.
Stewart, I 2008, The Difference Between Print and Web Design, viewed 4 November 2008 < http://themeshaper.com/blog/difference-between-print-web-design/>
Nielsen J, 1999, Differences Between Print Design and Web Design, viewed 4 November 2008 < http://www.useit.com/alertbox/990124.html>

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