Page 31 - graphic standards Demo

Region of Waterloo GRAPHIC STANDARDS and CORPORATE STYLE GUIDE 29 Designing Communications Materials With the Needs of People with Disabilities in Mind
Generally, if a design works well for a person with a disability, it will probably work well for everybody.
The following are suggestions and considerations that will assist you when designing communications pieces for those with disabilities. It is an approach to design that not only addresses specific physical disabilities, but also takes into account a wide array of physical, cognitive, and various abilities of people over an entire life span.
The following are suggestions for creating publications and materials that meet the needs of people of all ages and abilities.
Whether it’s a brochure, PowerPoint presentation, report to Council or road sign you are creating, an important consideration in your design should be that the largest possible percentage of the population is able to understand the message. This is the concept of universal design and it’s an important part of creating effective communication. Signage, for example, must address people’s diverse abilities by including easy-to-recognize graphics, large print, raised or Braille lettering, and colour combinations that people can see.
Graphic designers often collaborate with disability experts, creating designs that are both functional and aesthetically appealing. The following are ways we at the Region can use universal design principles in print and web-based communications.
Focus on These Elements of Design
The following are some concepts of universal design to keep in mind when creating printed materials or materials that will be accessed on the Web. Doing so will help create effective communications for the largest number of people.
Font
Choose a font that is not overly stylized and does not vary too much from what people are used to seeing. People often have strong opinions about font. Some prefer serif fonts. These are fonts in which the letters have little "feet" or "wings." An example might be Times New Roman, which is a common font in most word processing programs. Others favour sans serif fonts. These are fonts that use block letters, such as the ones on this page. While there is no clear-cut choice for which is best for printed materials, sans serif fonts work better for web-based and Power Point presentations. In fact, there are new fonts that are being designed specifically for use on the Web because they seem easier to read. One of these is Verdana which is available to us through Microsoft Word.
Type size
It would be ideal if we could always use a type size between 12 and 16 points, but because of size restrictions, we may be forced to use a smaller font. Keep in mind that type sizes smaller than 12-point can be hard for many people to see. Also, type size that is larger than 16-point can result in creating too many pages to be read comfortably.
Line length
People with low vision may have difficulty when there are too many words on a line, and people with cognitive impairments may have difficulty when there are too few words per line. In general, most people find it comfortable to read seven to 12 words in a line of continuous, or running, text. Newspaper-type columns can work well, as long as they are sufficiently wide enough to accommodate larger-sized print. In addition to being aware of the number of words on a line, you should make sure you justify (line up evenly) the text on the left margin, and keep the right margin ragged (uneven). Doing so makes it easier for your reader to move through the page.
Pictures
Choose pictures that have sufficient contrast between foreground and background. Crop the pictures so that they have a clear border around a central image. When you include pictures on your website, provide descriptive text alongside graphic images. Some people find it easier to get information from text than from pictures.
Glossy paper has a glare that can be difficult to see by people with impaired vision. To increase legibility, you may wish to use matte paper for all your printed materials.