Screen vs. print document design

PRINT DOCUMENT DESIGN

(Source: http://keralaviews.wordpress.com, 2009)

(Source: adansonia.as.arizona.edu, 2003)

(Source: wright.edu, 2012) 

SCREEN DOCUMENT DESIGN

group 8

group 4

group 6

Some readers, they would read only the first sentence or things that are more salient while scanning the content. This suggests the sentence or the salient item are important, as it shows the entire meaning of the context, "one idea per paragraph" (Nielsen 1997). Users want to get information quickly too, Therefore, texts in screen based is scannable and concise. Whereas, print based has a larger proportion of text that is set in high-resolution with the headlines and graphics in a pleasing over-all layout that allows the eye to move from overview to details in a fraction of a second.

Print design is two-dimensional, which focuses more to layout (Neilsen, 1999) whereas web design is one-dimensional and N-dimensional (Neilsen, 1999). On the other hand, each view of print design unit has a fixed size canvas while screen design enables a scrolling experience from up to down, side to side for the readers (Neilsen, 1999).

Simple and informal way of writing in the screen based as Some readers prefer informal, or conversational, writing better than formal writing as they understand better. This is because reading from computer screens constraint our eyes, thus, it makes our eyes tired and slower down the speed of reading compared to print based. Hence, the simpler the way of writing, the easier for the readers to absorb the informations (Webb, 2013). However, in printed based, formal language is used as it is read by professionals and students who want to get more detail information.


References

Nielsens, J 1997, Concise, Scannable, and Objective: How to Write For The Web, Nielsen Norman Group, viewed 13 April 2013 < http://www.nngroup.com/articles/concise-scannable-and-objective-how-to-write-for-the-web/ >

Nielsens, J 1999, Differences Between Print Design and Web Design, Nielsen Norman Group, viewed 13 April 2013, < http://www.nngroup.com/articles/differences-between-print-design-and-web-design/ >

Webb, P 2013, Content & Usability: Writing for the Web, Webcredible, viewed 13 April 2013, <http://www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources/web-usability/web-content.shtml>