Writing

Design

Benfits and Barriers to Walking Poster

This poster was created in a Designing Technical Documents class during my master's program. We were tasked with creating an abbreviated version of a research report about the perceived benefits and barriers of walking. For the assignment, we were told we worked for a company that wanted to start a low-budget and accessible social marketing campaign. The piece needed to bring in not only employees but members of the community as well. I opted to use Canva to create an infographic for this assignment. In “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words,” Katja Martin (2020), writes that “infographics are effective visuals to capture attention, enhance comprehension, and increase information recall,” which can be valuable for social marketing campaigns (p. 28). I chose to simplify the report into a format that is both readable and comprehensive, using bullet points to highlight the most important information: the significance of the topic, benefits of walking, the barriers of walking, and strategies social marketing companies can use to create more effective campaigns and walking programs. In terms of design, I used a natural beige color for the background, reminiscent of the color of sidewalks. I also used blue and green because they are cool, calm colors associated with nature and the outdoors. Moreover, I incorporated Gestalt principles like symmetry and proximity, centering the elements placed at the top and bottom of the poster, while making the text left-aligned (“The Gestalt Principles”). This not only highlights the distinction between design elements but also creates cohesion with the written content. By using visuals, data, and concise content, the information is more readable and accessible for audiences than a long research report. Since completing the infographic, I have learned how to condense information down in an approachable and simplified way for audiences without sacrificing key points. If I were to revise anything, I might incorporate more visuals of data. While the original report included little statistical data, integrating additional charts or graphs might enhance the credibility of the infographic and better engage audiences. References Interaction Design Foundation. (n.d.). The Gestalt principles. https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/gestalt-principles#11._symmetry_and_order-13 Martin, K. (2020). A picture is worth a thousand words. Medical Writing, 29(1), 28-35. https://journal.emwa.org/visual-communications/a-picture-is-worth-a-thousand-words/

Back in Time Comics & Toys eBay Training Manual

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I completed this client project during my master's program where I worked with Back in Time Comics and Toys, a vintage comic and toy store based in Kansas City. I created a training manual for employees on how to list items on eBay, a platform the business frequently uses to sell merchandise. I used Canva to create an engaging and easy-to-understand manual. The client noted they wanted the manual to be visually appealing, so I opted to incorporate design elements into the document. I used yellow, blue, green, and red—traditional comic book colors—as borders in the manual. My goal was to also make the manual user-friendly. In Writing and Designing Manuals and Warnings, Patricia Robinson (2020) notes that writers must “anticipate the user’s need for information and organize the information for easy retrieval. If the information is too difficult to locate, users are apt to become frustrated and give up looking for it” (p. 6). For this reason, I made sure the document was easy to retrieve and navigate. In Document Design: A Guide for Technical Communicators, Kimball and Hawkins (2008) discuss the importance of discerning a document’s potential for transformation—whether a document is best suited to be static or dynamic. They note that electronic documents are beneficial because they “can be updated quickly and inexpensively” (80). Knowing that the client was familiar with Canva, I shared the document with them through this platform, which allowed them to update the document as needed. Moreover, I created a PDF version of the manual, which included a hyperlinked table of contents for easy navigation. This ensured that the document was accessible both for online and physical use if the business chose to print copies. I structured the content in a clear and straightforward manner by organizing steps into sections and using bullet points to list specific instructions. I made sure the instructions were thorough by including essential information, such as an overview of eBay, steps for logging in, instructions on determining shipping costs, and additional resources for help. Looking back on my work, I'd like to incorporate more visuals into the manual, specifically screenshots of eBay’s site to give users a visual reference for each step. I originally attempted to include this, but I had difficulty organizing the images and ultimately ran out of time. Including visual aids would enhance the document, making it more accessible and user-friendly. References Kimball, M. A., & Hawkins, A. R. (2008). The whole document. In Document design: A guide for technical communicators (71-113). Bedford/St. Martin’s. Robinson, P. A. (2020). The changing landscape. In Writing and designing manuals and warnings (5th ed., pp. 3-22). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9780429025372

Every Vote Counts:The Effects of Ballot Design on New and Irregular Voters

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I created this research poster in a research methods course during my master's program. For our final project, we were tasked with creating an electronic poster summarizing the research paper we had been working on throughout the semester. I chose to write about usability challenges related to ballot design because of its profound impact on civic engagement. Herrnson et al. (2008) note that ballot design “cannot be overstated” because it affects how much assistance voters need while voting and how satisfied they feel after leaving the polls (p. 66). Moreover, Marcia Lausen (2007) in Design for Democracy: Ballot and Election Design argues that “nowhere in the realm of government communication is the impact of design greater than in the election process” (p. 4). Ballot design has tremendous implications for voters’ experiences at the polls—whether they have an easy experience or a difficult one. While I did not end up completing a formal study for this project, I wrote a literature review, as well as developed a methodology and discussion section for my paper. In my poster, I condensed the information in a way that made the research easily digestible without leaving out vital information. This project gave me an important introduction to conducting research in technical communication. In addition, it taught me about the benefits of research posters in increasing understanding about a topic. Rowe & Ilic (2009) note that e-posters “provide an opportunity to deliver a genuine depth of information” and increase “active learning” in professional, academic, and commercial contexts (6). I originally felt uncertain about how to approach research, but this project has made me more confident about conducting research effectively on my own. I’d love to continue expanding upon this topic because I believe it’s important and necessary. As a frequent voter, I know how frustrating the process can be. This project made me realize that users should not blame themselves for not understanding something; often, it's a matter of flawed design. My research made me appreciate the critical role of design in ensuring documents are accessible and user-friendly. In the future, I’d like to make my poster more interactive. While I added clickable icons that take users to relevant sources, I’d like to add labels to the icons to make the poster’s interactive features clearer. Additionally, incorporating data visualizations could also make my poster more visually appealing and engaging. References Rowe, N, & Ilic, D. (2009). What impact do posters have on academic knowledge transfer? A pilot survey on author attitudes and experiences. BMC Medical Education, 9(71), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6920-9-71 Herrnson, P., Niemi, R., Hanmer, M., Bederson, B., Conrad, F., Traugott, M. (2008). Voting technology: The not-so-simple act of casting a ballot. Brookings Institution Press. Marcia Lausen. (2007). Design for democracy: Ballot and election design. University of Chicago Press Ballots.