Handouts can be functional AND well-designed
I just read Michael's post at TTW linking to the handout his class created about podcasting.
It is like a breath of fresh air to see a handout like this! Great job, class!
It's not just the content that's important, but the presentation of the content.
Take a look at your handouts for your patrons... are the colors, fonts, and images dated?
My 5 favorite parts:
1. Use of whitespace. Yes, whitespace is our friend!
2. Minimal use of well-chosen relevant graphics.
They didn't have an urge to dress it up with a funky border or too many colors.
3. Use of a clean, modern font.
Do we really seem tech-savvy when only using TimesNewRoman in all of our handouts?
I know everyone is not a skilled typographer. I also know I'm probably in a very very small minority when it comes to IT people in public libraries who hold a BA in Graphic Design.
If you haven't read any books by Robin Williams (not "Mork" but a female Graphic Designer) check some out, such as The Non-Designer's Design Book or the Non-Designer's Type Book.
4. The headings, URLs and brief summaries all flow very well.
5. The handout will also work well in black & white for those of us who choose to print or photocopy! If you offer handouts for patrons to download at home, make sure they're still legible in black & white!
Bonus! 6. and it includes URLs to my library webpages! :)
Personal pet peeve... people who use the publisher brochure wizard and don't delete the funky pyramid logo it uses automatically. If it's not the library logo, it shouldn't be there! [right click on it, and delete object]
It is like a breath of fresh air to see a handout like this! Great job, class!
It's not just the content that's important, but the presentation of the content.
Take a look at your handouts for your patrons... are the colors, fonts, and images dated?
My 5 favorite parts:
1. Use of whitespace. Yes, whitespace is our friend!
2. Minimal use of well-chosen relevant graphics.
They didn't have an urge to dress it up with a funky border or too many colors.
3. Use of a clean, modern font.
Do we really seem tech-savvy when only using TimesNewRoman in all of our handouts?
I know everyone is not a skilled typographer. I also know I'm probably in a very very small minority when it comes to IT people in public libraries who hold a BA in Graphic Design.
If you haven't read any books by Robin Williams (not "Mork" but a female Graphic Designer) check some out, such as The Non-Designer's Design Book or the Non-Designer's Type Book.
4. The headings, URLs and brief summaries all flow very well.
5. The handout will also work well in black & white for those of us who choose to print or photocopy! If you offer handouts for patrons to download at home, make sure they're still legible in black & white!
Bonus! 6. and it includes URLs to my library webpages! :)
Personal pet peeve... people who use the publisher brochure wizard and don't delete the funky pyramid logo it uses automatically. If it's not the library logo, it shouldn't be there! [right click on it, and delete object]
posted by digital.brarian at
7:17 PM
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