Design principles

• Design documents to communicate visually as well as verbally. Choose a page layout that conforms to your readers’ expectations. An academic paper has a different format than a memo or a letter.
• Design documents to be open and inviting. Format your margins, line spacing, and paragraph spacing to leave plenty of white space and to show groupings of information.
• Design for usability. Use headers and footers. Choose readable fonts. When helpful, use headings to direct the reader.
• Support your writing with strong visuals—tables, charts, and images.

Characteristics of well-designed documents

• It is clear who wrote the document, when, and for what purposes.
• A clear visual organization guides readers through the document.
• The document emphasizes what is most important and downplays (or subordinates) what is less important.
• The document allows readers to skim to pick up the main points.

white space The open space on a page that is not occupied by type or visuals.