RE: Re: Single Spacing, Double Spacing, and Doing It Ones Own Way

Subject: RE: Re: Single Spacing, Double Spacing, and Doing It Ones Own Way
From: "Wright, Lynne" <lwright -at- positron911 -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Tue, 11 May 2004 15:06:27 -0400


In response to Dan Goldstein's comment: "Practical experience" is anecdotal
by definition. Usability ought to be determined by reproducible research
with statistically significant results."

We're talking design issues here, not scientific experiments. While some
design issues ... such as what combinations of point sizes, line lengths,
and line spacing provide maximum readability ... can be determined using
mathematical formulae, its absurd to discount less tangible factors that
determine what works best, in a visual sense, to deliver information.

That's why trained publication designers will produce stuff that looks and
works way better than what an amateur can create. Good design is a balancing
act between applying standard graphic and typographical concepts with a more
ephemeral visual sense that can only be developed through experience. And
each document is different, so how can you imagine that there would be one
set of rules to fit all? Its not a question of that experience being
"anecdotal". Good designers just don't make stuff up according to the urges
of their spleens.

Lynne Wright
Technical Communications
Positron Inc.
5101 Buchan St. H4P 2R9
(514) 345-2200
fax: 345-2272



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