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Info
Target Audience: Product Users
Date: December 2021
Tools: Canva
Services: Instruction Design
User Guide Length: 5 pages
User Guide - Redesign
Instruction Redesign - Canva
Problem
The original user guide suffered from a number of issues, including
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Content clarity: The language was often complex and technical, making it difficult for readers to understand the instructions.
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Organization: The information was not organized in a logical or user-friendly way.
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Layout: The layout was cluttered and uninviting, and confusing for the reader.
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Graphics: The guide lacked visuals, such as diagrams and illustrations, which could have helped to clarify the instructions and make them easier to follow.
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Writing style: The writing style was not appropriate for a user guide, and there were a number of grammatical errors.
Solution
The redesigned user guide provides readers with the information they need to use the product safely and effectively. It was was developed in alignment with Lannon and Gurak (2015) and Markel (2015) best practice guidelines for instruction writing, and incorporates the following features:
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Clear and concise language: The language is simple and easy to understand.
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User-friendly organization: The information is organized in a logical sequence, with clear headings and subheadings.
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Uncluttered layout: The layout is clean and uncluttered, with ample white space.
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Graphics: Diagrams and illustrations are used throughout the guide to clarify the instructions.
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Writing style: The writing style is concise and grammatically accurate.
Overview
This project was developed in December 2021 as part of a module on the MA E-Learning and Technical Communication programme at the University of Limerick, Ireland. The project brief requested the redesign of a product user guide taking into account various design features that influence user comprehension such as content, organisation, layout, writing style and graphics.
Original User Guide
Redesigned User Guide