Document Design through Résumés and C.R.A.P. Teaching Demonstration By: Mike Tardiff

Agenda (assuming minute class) A quick exercise (10 minutes) -accessing already present knowledge/experience Rationale, some background (5 minutes) -transparency/heading of question: “why?” A tool called C.R.A.P. (10-15 minutes) – Heuristic rule rather than algorithmic An exercise in reading and evaluating résumé design (20-25 minutes) – Experiential moment, capacity building, putting theory into practice Looking forward (5 minutes)

An warm-up exercise Take the provided piece of paper and pen and quickly sketch a résumé; you don’t need full detail… just create a visual represenation of what a résumé LOOKS like. Take 3-5 minutes.

An warm-up exercise Let’s compare. – What are some shared features? – Why do you think a résumé looks the way it does? – How do you imagine reading a résumé? Is it different than reading regular prose?

Why résumés and document design? Résumés are: 1.) deeply rhetorical (i.e. they communicate and, ideally, make arguments) 2.) visual (i.e. their success is predicated, in part, on their design.)

Why résumés and document design? The average employer spends less than 35 seconds reviewing the typical résumé, meaning an attention to visual design is imperative. Design helps information STAND OUT.

C.R.A.P: A tool for document design C ontrast R epetition A lignment P roximity

Contrast Contrast simply means difference. Used to differentiate, order elements; If things are not the same, make them DIFFERENT; – Contrast can be achieved through typeface (size, bold-face, etc.), color, spacing,

Examples of Contrast…

Repetition Repetition simply means the reusing similar elements throughout your design. Creates predictable patterns; Develops sense of cohesiveness;

Examples of Repetition

Alignment Everything needs to be visually connected to something else; nothing should be out of place or random Connects like elements through shared invisible line

Examples of Alignment

Alignment

Proximity Related items should be grouped close together so they become one visual unit rather than several separate units. Reduces clutter; Allows for easy access of particular information;

Proximity

Let’s apply these ideas to some examples In groups of 2, do the following. – Take exactly 45 seconds (we’ll pretend the reader is being generous) to read the one of the sample résumés – Write down on a separate sheet of paper what you remember from that reading – Swap résumés. REPEAT. – Together, write a C.R.A.P. analysis of the more effective résumé; comment on each of the four elements.

For next class… Please bring a draft of your résumé; try your best to engage the C.R.A.P. principles.