Page Turners & Pixels: A Fusion of Design and Writing

flaxenink
3 min readOct 20, 2023

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How many books sit on your shelf waiting to be read? You may have bought a collection over the years, but the pace of life often prevents you from diving into these literary treasures. We’ve all been there, surrounded by books we’ve yearned to explore, only to see the years slip by. The intention to read them remains, but the demands of life often take precedence. I understand this all too well; I, too, have a stack of books that has awaited my attention for years. The promise to delve into them is constant, and while time may elude us, the aspiration to savor these unread pages perseveres. Here is one more book to add to your shelf.

Talk to the Elephant: Design Learning for Behavior Change (Voices That Matter)
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Talk to the Elephant: Design Learning for Behavior Change (Voices That Matter) a book cover

In the world of designing icons with Illustrator, it’s like a buffet of design tools out there. Adobe is just one dish on the menu, but who knows what the future holds? They even bought Figma — talk about making your own ingredients! Designers employ words within their designs to convey a specific tone or message. Simultaneously, writers comprehend how words shape the viewer’s understanding, mirroring the way designers use words as a fundamental element in design.

Both designers and writers emphasize the significance of content hierarchy. They employ layout and formatting techniques to direct the reader’s attention toward the most essential information. In writing, this involves using headlines, subheadings, and bullet points to ensure that key points are easily comprehensible.

Another remarkable point is that both designers and writers share a common goal: effective communication. The key is clear and impactful communication. Designers leverage visuals and text layout, while writers carefully select words and phrases to achieve this goal. Furthermore, they collaborate on evoking emotions and fostering a unique connection with the audience. Both words and visuals are harnessed to create a powerful emotional impact, strengthening the narrative’s resonance. Additionally, accessibility is shared. Designers and writers work together to ensure that content is accessible to all. This involves practices like using alt text for images, providing multimedia transcripts, and choosing legible fonts.

Any collaboration between designers and writers can be a successful fusion to understand how words and visuals can work together to communicate a compelling message that resonates with the audience. This partnership ensures that content is visually appealing, but also effective and well crafted, and should be.

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