Practical Developments for COP

Blue highlight = research influence

Here I've been experimenting with using one column for the text, however, it doesn't work as the content is small sections of information the individuals needs to be able to find easily. 

This format would work better for text that has a linear narrative, but this isn't the case with the highway code, the audience needs to be able to dip in and out of sections. 

- Columns may be more effective (think about Galli et al, 2020, the main advantage of two-column layouts is the possibility to cram more text into a smaller page space by decreasing font size and shortening lines, with narrower margins, while keeping an adequate font size/line length ratio to make reading unimpeded.)

- Need to think about the hierarchy and navigation of the text, how will the design choices influence the way the reader understands the text? 

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Testing different format:

- Having the text placed on each page, left a lot of white space and became difficult when some pages had very little text on at the end. 

- Didn't look as visually cohesive, the breaks make it feel like a new chapter when the top of the page had chapter title on it. The hierarchy was off in this, need to reconsider. 

- Like the use of line to separate body text from title, this did help develop a hierarchy, need to thinking how to use this. 

- This instance the lines have been used within text along with subheadings to present the chapter title at the top of the page and then subsection within the text. 

- Feel this works better, more easy to navigate, could do with doing a test of this compared to previous experiment with more text. 

- The issue here is that finding the specific rules are rather difficult, the work 'Rule' is before the number for all the sub sections.
I think there could be a more simple way of displaying numbers of as the brain can recognise these quicker than works. 

^ Print and test this on peers. 

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Experimenting with page numbers at the top of the page, in the right hand corner and layout of where text starts, wanting to develop visual consistency across pages. 

Wanting to test to see where page numbers are best to be placed. When thinking back to primary observations people flicked through pages easily and the page numbers were in the bottom corner. Feel this placement helps with navigation.

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Grid with Text, developing consistency across pages:

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Testing numbers instead of words for rules:

Using black circle with number to highlight each rule

- The black really stands out against the text, seems a little visually distracting but need to see if it helps with navigation.

- Using a grey colour for the circle colour, this is less invasive but concerned it might not be as effective.

- Wanting to use these circles as navigational points for other areas eg. mentioned in previous crit on monday about highlighting points that relate to wearing high-vis, these circles could be a way to do that. 

- This example is just black outline circle, weight the same as break lines between text. 

- Feel this isn't ass instantly visible so may not improve navigation as intended. But need to do multiple pages and see how peers feel. 

Peer Comments on the tests:

- Some didn't find one easier than any of the others
- Didn't use subheadings to find numbers, only used the numbers, made it easier to navigate this way. 
- A few people found the high contrast numbers easier to read, black with white text.

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How to emphasise elements?

There are sections of text that refer to laws, some refer to other rules.
I think where it refers to a law should be altered as the information is extra and requires the audience to look it up for themselves. It isn't integral to learn it is extra.

How can these aspects be altered in the text?

- Here there is a small red square added next to the Law, the format of the text remains the same. I think this brings more attention to these points than in needed, it highlights them which is unnecessary. 

- Here text is put in italics and a lighter colour, it makes the text more discrete and showcases that it isn't key information. Feel this is more successful than previous idea. 

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NAVIGATION:

Navigating the publication is an essential part of being able to learn from it. 
The easier it is to find specific information the easier it is to learn from the publication, less cognition spent on working out how to use the publication. 
Books are more intuitive in terms of how we use them, would need to make sure I'm not creating any hurdles that impede this but rather enhance it. 

Navigational dots?
- Tested cut outs on side bar and they didn't work well, so think about continuum publication and techniques used there.

Tested having dots staggered and then another version where they're next to each other.
- Really surprised with how effective it is on the edge of the pages. Could see the colour through the whole book.
- Feel as though staggered colour works better as it has two forms of separation, makes an obvious visual jump when flicking through the book (compared to when they're next to each other). 
SHOULD ADD THIS DETAIL TO PUBLICATION.

Next:

- Need to think about which is most effective.
- Consider imagery, what type, where, why? Think to highlighting icons. 

- Research more, getting stagnant. 

Planning Time:

16 Mon	17 Tue	18 Wed	19 Thu	20 Fri
Work on pushing practical further. - Layout with imagery - Research into other publication navigation.	> YCN talk > Anyways talk Work on essay. - Add in research about cognitive load.	Tutorial w/Simon Print out publications so far. - Analyse > Life Drawing	Make alterations to publication based on printing findings.	Reflect on essay, what’s working with structure, what isn’t? Go over practical and do the same, what’s working, what’s not?