Designing a Better LibGuide
Visual Composition Writing for the Web Composition = Visual Logic Design Considerations:
• Grab the viewers’ attention • Create a logical and useful layout • Provide consistency between guides Entry Points Jakob Nielsen’s heat map study (www.useit.com) User Needs
• Provide rest areas for eyes (text vs. white space) • Uniformity across guides • Decreases confusion/increases usability • Responds to users’ expectations Color • We have it locked down for a reason!
• Color has meaning and should not be used randomly as an aesthetic choice.
• Our standardized color scheme gives uniformity across all the MSU LibGuides Images in LibGuides
• Reminder –No ARTstor Images Allowed!!
• Always check copyright terms & conditions
• Potential sources for images: • Kresge Art Museum online collection • Creative Commons / Flickr Provide Attribution
"Lunch Break" Tyree Guyton 1994 Metal birdcage, lunch box, paint, rubber band Kresge Art Museum Michigan State University Profile Images
• Not required to add your photo • Photos help user identify “their” librarian • Can add an image such as the Library photo or logo in place of personal photo • What does your choice say about you? Writing for the Web
• Nielsen says users “have time” for 28% of the words on a given page
• German says they look at headings and subheadings first – Scan for hyperlinks, numerals, and keywords – Jump around, scroll and click Writing for the Web should be:
• Concise – Cut text in ½ ‐ then ½ again
• Objective – Leave out bias and jargon
• Scannable – Write in “sound bites” and do not explain what is readily apparent Making text C‐O‐S Concise text (58% usability Original text improvement) • Nebraska is filled with • In 1996, six of the best‐attended internationally recognized attractions in Nebraska were Fort attractions that draw large crowds of people every year, Robinson State Park, Scotts Bluff without fail. In 1996, some of the National Monument, Arbor Lodge most popular places were Fort State Historical Park & Museum, Robinson State Park (355,000 Carhenge, Stuhr Museum of the visitors), Scotts Bluff National Monument (132,166), Arbor Prairie Pioneer, and Buffalo Bill Lodge State Historical Park & Ranch State Historical Park. Museum (100,000), Carhenge (86,598), Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer (60,002), and Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park (28,446). Making Text C‐O‐S
Scannable layout (47% improvement) Objective text (27% improvement) Nebraska is filled with internationally • Nebraska has several attractions. In recognized attractions that draw large crowds of people every year, without 1996, some of the most‐visited places fail. In 1996, some of the most were Fort Robinson State Park popular places were: (355,000 visitors), Scotts Bluff • Fort Robinson State Park (355,000 National Monument (132,166), Arbor visitors) Lodge State Historical Park & • Scotts Bluff National Monument Museum (100,000), Carhenge (132,166) (86,598), Stuhr Museum of the • Arbor Lodge State Historical Park & Museum (100,000) Prairie Pioneer (60,002), and Buffalo • Carhenge (86,598) Bill Ranch State Historical Park • Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer (28,446). (60,002) • Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park (28,446). Combined C‐O‐S Text (124% improvement) In 1996, six of the most‐visited places in Nebraska were: • Fort Robinson State Park • Scotts Bluff National Monument • Arbor Lodge State Historical Park & Museum • Carhenge • Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer • Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park Additional tips for web writing
• Limit italics (titles and foreign words only) • Be cautious with bold • Underlining reads as link • Use capitals (but not ALL CAPS) • Avoid font CRAZINESS • Be mindful of width & spacing –avoid wide columns full of text Resources • Image Resources • Creative Commons (within Flickr) http://www.flickr.com/creativecommons/ • Kresge Art Museum online catalog http://collections.artmuseum.msu.edu/main.php?module=objects • World Images http://worldimages.sjsu.edu/ • Additional Readings • Graphic Design School: a Foundation Course in the Principles & Practices of Graphic Design, David Dabner. John Wiley & Sons, 2005. • UseIt.com –Jakob Nielsen’s web site http://www.useit.com • Web Style Guide (3rd ed.) –Patrick J. Lynch and Sarah Horton http://webstyleguide.com/wsg3/index.html • http://www.shayhowe.com/resource/writing‐user‐friendly‐content/