As of right now, I am not currently set on a specific topic, but something I think that I might like to pursue is the effects of good and bad document design. In one of my previous courses, we discussed the importance of the CRAP principles: Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, and Proximity. I would like to delve deeper into why these principles are so important in design and how they can be beneficial to technical writers.
For my research project, I decided to discuss how document design is related to technical writing. I wanted to focus on the CRAP principles (contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity) as well as how readability, accessibility, and usability tie into it all. When researching this topic, I mostly found articles on how the CRAP principles are related to graphic design rather than writing itself. I felt that if I wanted more technical writing focused research, I had to look for google sources rather than sources from our school's data base. I think the research gap could be more focused on how design is applicable to writers as it is to designers. We've moved into a digital era where hardly anything is print based. Document design has become very important to writers, and I think that that should be reflected more in studies.
I really like the idea of using CRAP principles and accessing how effective they are when done right and how detrimental it is when done poorly. Will you hit on the ethics of the CRAP principles? Also have you thought about what methods and research you would conduct?
ReplyDeleteSamantha, I would be interested to read about the effects of good and bad design. I feel like most everyone can relate an experience with a bad design (as well as a good one). The CRAP principles are super important to a design... It would be interesting to see if you could research the effects of a design that only uses three of the principles instead of all four. Excited to see what your main focus will be!
ReplyDeleteI think your idea to explore document design and the CRAP principles will provide you with tons of research opportunity. Personally, when i'm choosing a subject really keep in mind how abundantly resources on the topic are available. I don't think you would struggle finding solid research examples for this topic.
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