A good struggle

Source: FILE magazine

Through the whole procedure of finding information and writing an academic web log on Issues in Publication and Design, I must admit that it definitely has been a learning process for me. In addition to gaining a better understanding of how document design works, I have also managed to implement the different concepts and theories into IPD & Me and also my other blogs.

I have learnt how to balance prose and graphics; to use the concept of redundancy and design them in such a way that the pictures and words convey the message to readers and help them understand the main idea behind the topic. According to Schriver (1997), "Multiple representations may have important benefits, helping people build stronger and more elaborate connections about the subject matter in memory".

As a blogger, I have also learnt to be aware of sensitive issues such as culture and politics when I post or comment online. Plaisance (2008) maintains that "Ethics is about our thinking process", therefore it is important to step back and think what I am writing about before I offend somebody out there on the Internet. I am also more aware of blogging ethically; it is important to respect other people's viewpoints and how they may interpret your document content. Learning how people read and understand text and images has definitely proven to be a valuable tool for me as a serious blogger.

References:

• Plaisance, PL 2008, Media Ethics, 1st edn, viewed 16 June 2009, http://books.google.com/books?id=LUJ6s31o_NMC
  
• Schriver, K.A 1997, Dynamics in Document Design: Creating Texts for Readers, Wiley Computer Pub., New York.