Seven layout mistakes to avoid

Over the years, I have noticed common layout mistakes in documents, web pages and PowerPoint slides. Avoid these mistakes and you'll produce more professional documents.

1. Don’t just fill up space

Just like you need darkness to appreciate light, you need white space to make your documents more legible.

You don’t have to fill up every square centimetre with text or images: less IS more. Increasing the margins of your typical A4 document by 2cm will often improve the layout greatly.

Being aware of white space takes practice. The next time you come across a nice layout, make a point to notice just how much whitebspace is used.

2. Beware of stuff overload

Volume does not equal quality. So edit ferociously to keep your content tight.

Refrain from gratuitous decorations. As a general rule, use at most two typefaces and no more than three different heading sizes. Avoid colours and images unless they are pertinent to your material.

Remember, your intention is not to show off the weirdest typefaces you have, or the vastness of your clipart collection.

3. Don’t overuse symmetry

Using centring and symmetrically arranged elements tends to create boring layouts. If you have a column of text and a column of images, make their widths obviously different.

Left-justified headings are neater and easier to read than centred headings. On some web pages, centred headings can become disconnected from their body copy.

Unless you are working in a right-to-left language, don’t right-justify any body copy. On web pages, right-justified text can be invisible on smaller screens.

4. Pay attention to detail

Many documents are marred by unintended changes in typeface or type sizes. Use document styles, instead of manual spot formatting, to reduce the likelihood of this.

Other layout mistakes to watch are: heading sizes, margins and “orphans and widows” (single lines of text at the top or bottom of a new page).

Also, use your spell checker!

5. Avoid unclear hierarchy

Documents are generally consumed in a linear fashion, so set up a clear hierarchy of reading. Put the most important information first. Use different heading sizes to differentiate between sections and subsections.

Not everything is equally important. Many ineffective websites are filled edge to edge with minimally prioritised material.

Do not put your logo on every page or every slide. Your logo should not be a space filler. If your message is useful or interesting, people will remember you.

6. A word processor is not a typewriter

Unless you work in a monospaced typewriter font like Courier, hitting space twice after punctuation creates ugly gaps in your paragraphs. It also screws up the Full Justification algorithm.

Use Paragraph Styles to specify the gap between your paragraphs, instead of hitting Enter twice. Each stroke of the Enter key adds an unnecessary Paragraph Mark to your document.

Don’t use spaces to line up bits of text that should be in a table. A space is used to separate words and nothing else.

7. Multimedia is annoying!

Just because you can, does not mean you should. When used inappropriately, animations, videos and sound all scream “Amateur”. And they are usually poor quality, to boot.

Common examples are websites that unexpectedly play sound, PowerPoint presentations with a spinning logo on every page and Word documents that use those blinking fairy-sprinkles Text Effects.

Keep it simple. When in doubt, don’t format anything! The styles in the various default MS Office templates do tend to produce good results.

The result will be documents that are easier to read, transfer between computers, share, upload to information systems and integrate into workflows.

Do you have any other pet layout mistakes?

Zern Liew is a thinking designer who uses his creative problem solving skills to help clients build beautiful businesses.

15 comments | Add your own 1 2 3 | Next» View all»

Absolutely - when people use their weird and wonderful fonts, chances are you don't even have them on your PC. So when you launch the document/web page, the formatting goes right out the window!
I also find paragraphs which go on for miles very difficult to read and scan, not to mention frustrating. Amanda Jephtha from Sydney
As a web developer I agree with all these point, particularly #1 - don't be afraid of a little white space. Another important process is to show other people. Your document needs to be attractive and easily understood by others - run it by someone else, they'll appreciate you asking them their opinion.
Oh, and one last thing, please don't use crappy 1990's clip art, it's so.... well, 1990's. Luke Moulton from Melbourne
These problems arise from a need to talk about me, when the entire document needs to be about YOU! Grant Hyman from Sydney | Read my articles
I'll have to get some of my clients to read your article. They don't always take my word for it when I advise them of similar - if they see others think the same way, they might take notice. Kathie M. Thomas from Melbourne, Australia | Read my articles
I totally agree... moreover clients think 'flashly' objects are great. They often lose sight of the function and purpose of the website. One thing we aim to do is get people thinking of what the website is for and getting it to work for them. Part of that process is 'free consultation' and 'website evaluations'. Peter Atkins from Newcastle, NSW
If you feel the need to use clipart, you are probably feeling the need to fill up some space. Neither are good reasons to do so. Zern Liew from Sydney | Read my articles

15 comments | Add your own 1 2 3 | Next» View all»

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