Print Design vs. Online Design

Nielson (2007) says that print designers have a huge canvas to play with. It is still possible for readers to read the small text even if it is intricate and packed with words and images. It is all up to the layout of the whole design to determine readability.

On the other hand, web design has limitations such as audience readability and scannability (Reep 2006).

The differences are shown clearer in the examples below:

[Source: Etoday]

Schriver (1997) states that the editor of Hendrick Hertzberg, editor of New Yorker said "before I even look at other newspapers, I pay attention to the front page of the New York Times. Not only do I look at what is on that page, but the relative position of one story to another. After all, the structure of the front page is the ontology of what newsmakers think is important."

This quote clearly shows that element layout of a print design is important for readers readability and navigation of the page.

Print design allows the eyes walk over the information, looking at information objects selectively and using spatial juxtaposition so that page elements enhance and explain each other. (Nielson 2007)

However, Nielson (2007) says "Anything that is a great print design is likely to be a lousy web design." Therefore, print design as vastly different from online designs.

[Source: Elle.com]

Nielson (2007) explains that web designs function based on allowing the hands move the information (by scrolling or clicking); information relationships are expressed temporally as part of an interaction and user movement.

In the examples shown, the print design used elements like white space, balance, typography and colour. Whereas in the web design, elements like framing, white space, borders and colour were used.

References

Nielsen, J 1999, Differences Between Print Design and Web Design, Jakob Nielsen’s Alertbox, Useit.com, viewed 9 November 2008, <http://www.useit.com/alertbox/990124.html>.

Reep, DC 2006, Technical Writing,6^th edn, Pearson/Longman, New York.

Schriver, KA 1997, Dynamics in document design: creating texts for readers, Wiley Computer Publication, New York.