Screen Design Vs Print Design

When it comes to designing, there are questions you need to consider - whether the layout/ writing structures is correct format and the different between screen and print design. The following will discuss the differences of document design for the screen and print documents:

Layout & Writing Structures

In this case study, The Star Newspaper in print documents has separate each topic different section. It has the headline on front page, and brief story of text below the headline. Also, an image represent the topic of the day. The advantage of print document is much easier to focus on a physical text and easy to flick through and scan. The disadvantage of print document is not easy to search and its difficult to make notes compare to online web, you just have to bookmark the tabs.

Newspaper Layout

The Star online website layout has 3 column layout and is easy to annotate. It is customisable on the website, and the navigation bar has separate each topic in general format. The advantage of screen document (website) is often access to links for further discussion and the interactive media such as videos, social media and comments. Moreover, the disadvantage of screen document (website) is not reading in isolation, it involve disturbance away from text and other on screen interruptions.

3 Column layout with navigation menu and interactive media

Typography

The Star application on iPad has an attractive typography on every single page (News). It shows the headline in different way compare to print document. The print document font is more static because screen document such as iPad, can be animated and shows interactive to the readers.

The Star iPad Application layout

Page Composition

The print document has a static design of page layouts. The printed page has the same font size, static graphics in same place, and the printed page doesn’t change the document size. However, the screen document such as website has more flexible, dynamic pages and the reader has many ways on how they view the pages. 

References:

Bear, J.H, Similarities and Differences in Print and Web Design. [online] Available at: <http://desktoppub.about.com/od/transitionprintweb/tp/Print_Design_vs_Web_Design.htm>  [Accessed 25th August 2011]

Nielsen, J. 1999. Differences Between Print Design and Web Design. [online] Available at: <http://www.useit.com/alertbox/990124.html>[Accessed 25th August 2011]