Production practices and their Impact

1. Production practices and their Impact D. G. Ross, PhD, Auburn University …and a bit about document design in general *Infographic images hyperlinked to web content throughout... other images might be linked as well.

2. Advertising and Consumer-ism Printing Paper making Plain Language Ink Production Practices and their Impact Typewriters Computing Thinking about Design

3. A brief history of printing Back Image not linked to source: https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indulgence#/media/File:Certificate_of_having_gone_to_confession.png

4. Back A brief history of papermaking Image not linked to source: http://thekellyfish.deviantart.com/art/Aka-Manto-439748471

5. A brief history of ink Back Image not linked to source: http://www.hendrypens.co.uk/ekmps/shops/hendrypens/images/special-edition-blue-sapphire-ballpoint-pen-88-33-p.jpg

6. Typewriters Back Image not linked to source http://mytypewriter.com/ProductImages/Royal_b64_M.jpg

7. Back A brief history of computing

8. The turn of the century (1900’s) saw an upswing in advertising and consumerism. Mass production meant that consumers no longer had to have personal relationships with those who sold them their goods. Long story short, more goods means more documents, more documents means mass chaos. So we get: • Truth in Lending Act (1968) • Fair Credit Reporting Act (1970) • Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (1974) • Fair Credit Billing Act (1974) • Magnusson-Moss Warranty-Federal trade Commission Improvement Act (1975 – warranties) • Consumer Leasing Act (1976) • Electronic Fund Transfer Act (1978) • Truth in Savings Act (1991) • And more… Recently, for example, we have the Truth in Advertising Act (2014) This act “Directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to submit a report to Congress that contains: (1) a strategy to reduce the use, in advertising and other media for the promotion of commercial products, of images that have been altered to materially change the physical characteristics of the faces and bodies of the individuals depicted; and (2) recommendations for a risk-based regulatory framework with respect to such use.” (https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/4341) Back

9. As all of the acts, policies, documents, and publications-in-general regarding the way we lend, borrow, store, and use money accumulate (along with laws, regulations, more advertising, and more, more, more everything), document designers realize that the words on the page, and the page itself, matter. So we get plain language*. • 1978: Jimmy Carter issues Executive Orders calling for cost-effective, easily understood documentation • 1981: Ronald Reagan rescinds Carter’s Orders • 1990’s: Bill Clinton calls for Plain Language in government • 2010: Barack Obama signs the Plain Language act of 2010 into being. “The purpose of this Act is to improve the effectiveness and accountability of Federal agencies to the public by promoting clear Government communication that the public can understand and use” (http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-111publ274/pdf/PLAW-111publ274.pdf) Back *This is a bit of an oversimplification.

10. The need and ability to publish widely on various subjects (for pleasure, industry, and philosophical concerns) led to an increased interest in the teaching of writing and design. Craft Tradition: Follows prescriptive models. Rules and procedures are key points—this is the “how to” model of design and writing. Romantic Tradition: In this tradition, you can either write or design, or you cannot. You can get better…but some folks just don’t have “it.” Supports intuitive design/writing. Rhetorical Tradition: Persuasive writing and/or design. Rather than rules, we use heuristics—models of thought for invention. In this model, intent—and thus knowledge of audience—is vital. Instructors (and students) argue about which model of education is best. Should you be learning rules and regulations for good writing, for good design? Do you need to know about audience? How does typography, art, and imagery fit in to all of this? And so the traditions lead to various approaches: De Stijl: “The Style” Rational design to create objective forms (Mondrian’s work, for example) Constructivism: Writing and design for the improvement of society/design within society Bauhaus: the idea that “form follows function.” A modernist approach that seeks to destroy the distinction between fine art and functional art. (New) Typography: A utilitarian approach to design/communication Back