ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at some of the research on visual communication that has been done in the USA, the UK, and Australia, to give the readers some guidance on design decisions for specific documents. Interestingly, the findings of the researchers do not always coincide on all aspects of design. The emerging consensus on document design, however, is that ‘effective’ documents are those in which the design reinforces the desired use of the document. Until the recent exponential growth of desktop publishing, knowledge of typography and design was confined mainly to professional typographers, graphic designers, and those who briefed them. Now many professional writers circumvent the typesetter and design their own documents to take advantage of new desktop publishing technology. While this trend can dramatically reduce printing costs, it is not without its pitfalls.
