¶ … along with the guidelines for page and visual design discussed in chapter 8. Looking Back

In order to properly evaluate the sample pages provided, it is important to look back at chapter 8. Chapter 8 explains the four levels of design. The four levels of design are demonstrated through analysis by visual communications expert Charles Kostelnick.

In the chapter he analyzes four levels of design that offer a way to categorize and organize design choices. Organization is key in properly developing and implementing concepts. Without cohesion and congruent thinking, an idea will not have sufficient clarity.

As described in chapter 8: design levels offer an organized approach in which to plan and contemplate over design decisions. Design decisions are often formulated when making documents, visuals, and presentations. They're also useful in analyzing documents encountered in a business setting/professional setting.

A great way as mentioned by Kienzler (2010), to acquire new concepts and ideas for documents is to analyze the design elements in successful documents. Utilizing others' successful structure and methods provides good direction for one's own approaches.

The four levels of design as described by Kostelnick's four levels:

Intra-Design choices for individual letters and words

Inter-Design choices for blocks of text. Inter-level...

Extra-level design
Supra -- Design choices for entire documents (Locker & Kienzler, 2010, p.220-221).

Guidelines

Guidelines for page and visual design first include white space. White space is the empty space on the page. Allowing white space in between text makes material easier to read by enabling the reader to focus on the material that it separates.

A second guideline is use of headings. Headings consist of words, short phrases, sentences that bring together points as well as separate documents into sections. Since the human brain can only process 5-9 bits of information at any given time for short-term memory, headings allow better absorption of data by making large amounts of data easier to remember.

The other guidelines include limiting the use of words set in all capital letters, justification of margins, placement of important elements, unification of graphic elements, use of decorative devices such as highlighters, and using no more than two fonts. These guidelines allow for a visually streamlined representation. It also provides readers with easier access to the information, making it faster to assimilate (VanHuss, Forde, & Woo, 2004, p. 38)

Evaluation

In "A Special Report: Living Healthy," there is use of color at the…