Visible planning on paper and on screen: The impact of working medium on decision-making by novice graphic designers

Abstract

The paper describes the working method typically used by graphic designers when they plan documents. It considers how the interfaces of current desktop publishing systems often limit designers' working method; interfaces often fail to support the preparation and management of multiple drafts in a way that gives designers the visible feedback they need. Two questionnaire studies of novice designers planning documents on paper and on screen confirm that interface constraints can lead to less satisfactory design solutions on screen than on paper. User education and software developments are recommended in order to promote an interaction between machine and user that is congenial to visible planning.