In reading Dan Cohen & Roy Rosensweig’s Digital History, it has become apparent that web design becomes an element in the historical information that historians are attempting to convey. This is something that the profession has not had to consider in writing their dissertations. Up to now, the concern was over what pictures can go into the book and do I have the proper copyright information. Not to mention that all the primary sources are quoted correctly. Cohen and Rosensweig provide great advice to their digitally challenged colleagues
1. Emphasize the importance of contrast on the page “as elements are set off against each other in a pattern that allows the eye to explore different features, draw conclusions or simply appreciate the pattern itself (Digital History p. 120).
2. Using proximity to illustrate connections will allow the user to make a connection (inferred or otherwise) to a photographic image or a passage.
3. Feeling the Order/Disorder. This rule appears to be an extension of the previous rule. Basically to ensure that your presentation on the internet appears to be aligned with other elements.
4. Unity, this is not what they call it but I thought a word would be better here. Ensure the like elements are UNIFIED through similar texts, font size, and color. Hence, ensure you repeat or use the same font size/text/color to make a point.
While these rules appear basic, I do think that it can make a difference between a good website that can covey the information and a confusing one. At the same time, this could also be used as guidelines for publishing articles online. Fancy fonts are ok, but if they are not being used to convey a point, or being used badly to convey a point, then what is the point??? I think the authors are trying to reign in many of us who like the neat colors and fonts warning us not to get carried away. It is worth while to consider this.
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