Document Design More Than Just Aesthetic

Proof that document design does matter:  Theresa LePore, Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections during the recent presidential election, became the object of scorn and lawsuits because ballots she designed apparently led to confusion for voters (The Columbus Dispatch online, November 13, 2000). 

More than 19,000 ballots were later disqualified because voters selected more than one candidate, suggesting people tried to correct mistakes caused, critics say, by the poorly designed ballot.  LePore claims to have tested the document before sending it out.

Remember, good document design should save time and money, reduce legal problems, and build goodwill.  A well-designed document looks inviting, friendly, and easy to read.  When in doubt, test your document on people who are likely to use it or represent those that will. 

Ways to test documents include:

·       Watching someone as he or she uses the document to complete a task.

·       Asking a reader to “think aloud” while completing the task.

·       Testing the document with the people who are most likely to have trouble with it.

For more information on document design, see BCS Module 5.

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