- Accessibility and usability
- Design of health information
- Education and training
- Establishing and running information services
- Evaluating the quality of health information
- Health literacy
- Medicines information
- Patient and public involvement
- Producing/ disseminating health information
- Sourcing health information
- Using electronic media
Design of health information
Introduction
"Content comes first ... yet excellent design can catch people's eyes and impress the content on their memory." Hideki Nakajima
The influence of the graphical design of health information, regardless of the medium, is as important as the role of the content in producing something accessible, usable and meaningful for patients and the public. Good design can also help you to:
- Present your audience with a consistent message about who you are and what you are all about
- Inspire confidence and trust in you and your organisation
- Give the same message in a number of different ways to help you reach different audiences
- Take the patient on a journey through a subject where the content flows and has meaning and which ends with understanding
The foundation of successful design lies in the brief that you develop for your designers to work from. This needs to be clear in identifying your audiences, your key messages and the purpose of the information itself. Other aspects to consider may be the use of colour and typeface, the kinds of images you use and how you structure the material.
The aim of this theme is to help you understand the principles of effective design and to use them to develop information of a high standard. If you have contributions for, or comments on, this section please email Andrew Dineley, the lead for this theme.
Page last edited: 07 March 2008
