Why marketing should make the user manuals

Pinkham, Jim Jim.Pinkham at voith.com
Fri Sep 1 06:57:08 MDT 2006


This just in from another user in B&W land....

Yes, B&W doesn't necessarily have to be uninspiring and can be done
well, perhaps even artfully. But I'd go for color were the vote up to
me. Can't cite chapter and verse right now -- perhaps others can -- but
I've read that studies show color improves reader retention in
documents. Seems intuitive. Assuming that's the case, we have a
pedagogical reason, as well as a flashy one to favor color. We seem to
be intimating a bit that we can have polish OR content. I'd like both.
Only if both aren't possible would I defer to the content side. 

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+jim.pinkham=voith.com at lists.techwr-l.com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+jim.pinkham=voith.com at lists.techwr-l.com] On
Behalf Of Bill Swallow
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2006 10:14 AM
To: Rebecca Stevenson
Cc: techwr-l at lists.techwr-l.com
Subject: Re: Why marketing should make the user manuals

It all comes down to purpose and execution. User guides are not intended
to wow anyone. They're meant to educate. And, a B&W layout is as
appealing or as dull and boring as the designer wants it to be.

--
Bill Swallow
HATT List Owner
WWP-Users List Owner
Senior Member STC, TechValley Chapter
http://techcommdood.blogspot.com
avid homebrewer and proud beer snob
"I see your OOO message and raise you a clue."
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