Design tips for cognitive aids
Have you ever looked at a guideline or checklist in a high pressure situation and found it difficult to understand or follow?
Taking a bit of time to improve legibility and readability through layout, language and font can go a long way to improve the use, effectiveness and safety of your team’s cognitive aids.
I thought I’d have a wee look at what information is out there about designing effective and attractive guidelines – especially for use in high pressure situations..
Layout
There’s a temptation to try to place every piece of information on to a single page. I like this approach, but it should be achieved by minimising the amount of unnecessary information, not reducing the font size, the margins and cramming everything in there.
Avoid splitting sections over two pages. Insert a page break and start a fresh page.
The readability of guidelines is improved if they are well spaced out, with wide margins and blank spaces.
Leave extra space above and below headings.
Avoid large sections of text. This is especially the case for guidance to be used when working under pressure.
Numbering or bullet points help clarify separate pieces of information or actions.
Use left alignment.
Avoid centring text.
Consider users who may be colour blind (including me). Avoid use of green, red and pink as these can be challenging for colour blind users.
If using coloured backgrounds or text boxes ensure that there is sufficient contrast between them and the font colour. Use light background colours e.g. yellow.
Fonts
Be consistent – try to use one type of font and font spacing.
Try to avoid differing font sizes if possible. Headings with font sizes 20% larger can be useful in differentiating sections.
Sans serif fonts appear less crowded when compared to serif fonts. They are more legible.
Font sizes of 12 to 14 are recommended. Aim for the document to be easily legible when held 60cm from the face.
Increase character spacing and spacing between words
“If everything is emphasised then nothing is emphasised”.
Lower case is easier to read. AVOID CAPITAL LETTERS.
Minimise underlining. This can increase crowding of letters, reducing readability.
Use bold font but don’t overdo it. Use bold for headings and subheadings to demarcate different sections.
Consider users who may be dyslexic.
Language & sentences
Short, simple sentences are easier to read. The content of short sentences is also easier to understand. They are less likely lead to error due to misinterpretation. Use a maximum of 15 words per sentence.
Use plain language. Avoid jargon and abbreviations. Do not assume that users will understand terminology the same way you do. If you do include jargon or abbreviations, provide definitions as an appendix or footnote.
Avoid double negatives.
Procedural guides
One action equals one distinct step.
Use an active voice in the present tense: “insert the needle” rather than “the needle should be inserted”
Useful resources
https://www.hse.gov.uk/humanfactors/topics/procedures-audit-tool.pdf
https://ti.arc.nasa.gov/m/profile/adegani/Flight-Deck_Documentation.pdf
https://medium.com/@pvermaer/down-the-font-legibility-rabbit-hole-481f207a6013