Usability Matters

We were engaged by the client to provide document templates that would help them achieve brand consistency across their office, and yet provide the content flexibility they needed. The new look of the documents worked with some of the existing visual elements as seen on their website, but extended the identity further. The result is a playful, yet organized visual style that has the rules to maintain consistency and the flexibility to be applied to any type of report, be it a usability evaluation to a competitive review.

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Working remotely with the client (they are based in Toronto), we learnt about their current workflow and challenges around document creation. The templates had to be easy enough for all staff to use, and yet have an array of style rules so there was less room for 'hacks' to the design in specific situations. We created a series of playful sketches to break up the document into logical sections. As well, we created various type rules that abided by rules of good typography and layout, while keeping the constraints of the application (Microsoft Word) in mind.

The document template offers the document write with an array of style rules to choose from. The template comes with sample text to show the correct usage of the styles which are automated where possible, to minimize user error. The design brings the accessible, warm and friendly 'vibe' of the firm to the document, while keeping the reader's attention directed at the content.