On Designing for Web vs. Print

Multimodality
Although web and print document are both multimodal texts, the former is slightly more complicated as it synchronizes text, graphics, audio and visual elements (Schriver, 1997). Hence, designing for both documents require different set of methods. Nonetheless, the systems of layout such as information value, salience and framing apply to web and print documents (Kress and van Leeuwen, 1998).

Web vs. Print
The key concept behind these designs is that form follows function.
Theorists argue that form has function because the function of the design, including its objectives, audience and cost decides how the form of the design should be (Bear, 2008). For example, since readers of print document follow a single linear path, the arrangements of these elements are very crucial in deciding how the text would be interpreted (Walsh, 2006).

Generally, pictures in print designs would take up more than half the front page to command greater salience using the Triptych form (Kress and Van Leeuwen, 1998). This is important so that readers can ‘fill in the gaps’ once they see the text to arrive at the intended meaning (Walsh, 2006). This strategy however, is not that important in web designs because readers follow a multi-linear path (Walsh, 2006). Note the difference between the front cover of Time Magazine as the home page of its website.


Time Magazine, US edition, vol.172, no.20


Time.com Homepage

The pictures featured on Time Magazine's website were distributed across the page, functioning more as a complementary guide to indicate the contents shown in the links (Shriver, 1997).Nielsen (2008) argues that usability and accessibility are more important aspects of web designs. For example, most users are reportedly irked by metaphorical links that do not work (Nielsen, 2008). In fact, browser incompatibility and non standard links are the top ten web design mistakes designers often make (Nielson, 2005).

Reference List

Bear, J.H. 2008, Form and function in design publishing, About.com, viewed 4th October 2008, http://desktoppub.about.com/od/graphicdesign/a/formfunction.htm

Kress, G. & Lueewen, T. 1998, Frontpages: Analysis of newspaper layout, in COMM 1033. (UNISA electronic library)

Nielsen, J. 2005, Top ten web design mistakes of 2005, Useit.com, viewed 10th November 2008,

Nielsen, J. 2008, Aspects of Design Quality, Useit.com, viewed 10th November 2008,


Schriver, K.A. 1997, The interplay of words and pictures, Dynamics in document design: creating texts for readers, Wiley Computer Publications, New York, Ch. 6, pp. 364-440.

Walsh, M. 2006, ‘Textual shift’: Examining the reading process with print, visual and multimodal texts, Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, vol.29, no.1, p. 24-37.