Web Vs. Print Writing

“Web design is impoverished because too many sites strive for the wrong standards of excellence,” says Dr. Jakob Nielsen in his bi-weekly column “Alertbox”. In his article “Difference Between Print Design and Web Design” Nielsen examines the writing and design techniques “that made sense in the print world but do not make sufficient advances in interactivity.”According to Nielsen, there are many differences between the print and web worlds, and these differences create separate needs. This change in standards comes from the differences in:

• Dimensions
  o The layout for web pages aren’t as critical as they are in Newspapers because they are both one dimensional and n-dimensional. Opposite the “fixed spatial relationship between elements” in print, the ability to scroll online creates a difference in the way pages are read and what is able to be read.
  o Also the ability for computers to adjust to fit smaller screens changes a layout and the ability for each reader to view the document exactly the same.
• Navigation
  o Nielsen explains that “In print, navigation mainly consists of page turning,” but for web pages, where navigation becomes less contained, the look of the page is less important than the site’s ease of use.
• Response Time, Resolution, and Canvas Size
  o Because screens are smaller than most newspapers, take time to load, and aren’t always able to display everything as well as print can, web pages currently use less graphics and text, and are usually unable to provide equally intricate fonts and layouts.
• Multimedia, Interactivity, and Overlays
  o A benefit the print world cannot offer that the web can is the ability to provide interactive features. The use of moving images, sounds, voice-overs and even user-controllable items, are effective methods of attracting attention and enhancing understanding.

What to Remember

Nielsen warned readers that “anything that is a great print design is likely to be a lousy web design.” When creating a web page keep in mind the above differences between writing print and writing for the web. Do not use the normal methods of writing and design you would use for print, rather consider all the features of the web and how to develop the best possible page in reference to its possibilities and usability.