Document design now

Why documents? Because we need artifacts of understanding, proof and memory. Why design? Because documents do not naturally come that handy.

They can be confusing, incomplete, ignored. So what document design is about? Document design is about understanding and its goals. What are the tools of document design? Semantics, forensics structure.

Document design shares the prominence of concept and intent with the other fields of design. Document design is connected with history, office management, law, graphic design, but also cognitive sciences. The goal of document design is understanding. Therefore, document design also deals with content. If a document is too complex, we rewrite it.

If a medium is unsuited, we choose another one. If the context is misleading, we explain it. Information, seduction, consent, selling are different goals and different contexts. Document design is not about aesthetics. It must fit the purpose without any mystery or whimsical posture.

Document design must be amenable and can be enjoyable. Does document design know boundaries? Yes. Document design is about understanding. Beyond understanding, we are probably past document design.

Originally written in April 2019