Online vs. Print

Designing for print and web are two completely different things. Before we start designing, it is important for us to first understand the types of media that we will be dealing with. What looks good on print does not necessarily looks good on the web.

In printed media, words dominate the whole document. Kress and van Leeuwen (2006, p204) states that pages that are densely printed are to be read the way they are designed. That means, from left to right, word by word and line to line. This method of reading is called reading in a linear way. Reading on printed pages can be a tiring experience.

Nielsen (2006) discovered that web contents are read in an F-shaped pattern. Web contents are not read thoroughly.

Source: www.4.bp.blogspot.com

In the printed newspaper above, we can see the domination of text. According to Nielsen (1999), reading information on print design is based on the eye movement. Images on print are limited as they are likely sponsored by advertisers, therefore print design cannot afford to waste their space.

Source: www.unplug.com

Nielsen (1999) stated that hands move information in web design by scrolling the mouse. Web pages have the advantages when it comes to pictures. We cannot compare which in better in both print and web as both designs will work well if the right theory and design principles are applied.

List of References:

Kress, G & van Leeuwen, T 2006, Reading images: the grammar of visual design, Routledge, New York.

Nielsen, J 1999, Differences between print design and web design, viewed 18 November 2009,
<http://www.useit.com/alertbox/990124.html>.

Nielsen, J 2006, F-shaped pattern for reading web content, useit.com, viewed 18 November 2009,
<http://www.useit.com/alertbox/reading_pattern.html >.