Print Document vs. Screen Document.

Print and screen documents require similar design considerations, yet distinct ones. Similar is to say that when it comes to designing for both documents, the genres, purposes, context, and target audience must be considered (Hilligoss 2002). I will point out three differences when designing documents for the print and screen. 


An example of a print document; 

Source: Score Hero

An example of a screen document;

Source: Crunch Base

Firstly, navigation is important for readers to be able to understand the text as they go through the documents. On a screen document, there will be links as navigators for the readers (Hilligoss 2002). As Jakob Nielsen mentions, ‘moving around is what the Web is all about’ (Nielsen 1999).  Links enable users to go from one site to another for continuous reading (Hilligoss 2002). However, print documents come with a table of contents to inform which topic/ news is on which page (Hilligoss 2002). Navigation for the print also requires page-turning and thus considered limited as compared to screen documents (Nielsen 1999).

Secondly, dimension varies for both. Print documents are 2-dimensional (Nielsen 1999). Designers can control what the readers will see as they also determine the size of a page (Hilligoss 2002). Screen designers, on the other hand, cannot control what Web users will see as they have cannot determine the size of each user’s computer monitor (Hilligoss 2002). Hence, screen documents need to readjust itself to fit into the screen of different users (Nielsen 1999). This directly goes against the nature of the designer’s work (Nielsen 1999).

Thirdly, how significant points are presented in both forms vary. For a print document, the typefaces of texts help signify certain information. This is done through using bigger letters or the bolding of certain words (Hilligoss 2002).  For a screen document, this is done through what is known as the ‘inverted L’ format (Hilligoss 2002). Significant information such as the company’ logo or name is often placed on the top left whereas information such as ‘About Us’ is placed on the left side of the screen (Hilligoss 2002).

An 'inverted L' format: 

Source:Susan Hilligoss

References:

Hilligoss, S 2002, Visual Communication: A Writer’s Guide, 2^nd edn, Pearson Education, viewed 23 August 2011, <http://www.ablongman.com/mycomplab_content/pdf/long_hilligoss.pdf>.

Nielsen, J 1999, Differences Between Print Design and Web Design, Useit.com, viewed 23 August 2011, <http://www.useit.com/alertbox/990124.html>.