Word Help - Examples
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- ali
I don't usually use 'Word' for design but I'm creating a investment word doc for a client (yes I know) and was wondering if anyone had some good examples of how far I can take it (design wise) while still being modifiable for the client.
Thanks!
- akrokdesign0
i would say, don't over think it. just do something nice and clean.
- check their brand guidelines, if they have any.akrokdesign
- ali0
good call, no guidelines, no colour reference, new client.
- should really do branding first then. :-)akrokdesign
- Not possible, they need it last week. I have a logo, but it's monotone. Will probably keep the colour subtleali
- Amicus0
Having to use MS Word is surest path to design misery.
Having said that I wish you all the best of luck that medication can bring.
- maikel0
A few tips (from an over-burden corporate-related-ish designer).
Make sure you override the snapping, otherwise word will design for you.
Define text styles and erase the existing ones. It will be bastardised, but at least it will start being OK.
Make sure you include a few example page, no other way for a corporate client to understand what the fuck to do, and how to add content in a appealing rather than appalling manner.
Start your design thinking already that I will be printed most likely in-house, so keep clean margins, no bleedings, no backgrounds, no iffy halftoning, as it will look shite.
Use the header/footer options for what you would normally use master pages.
If you want something to look good on screen, do it in photoshop and bring it in. If you want it to print well use vector files and don't look at it too much, as the rendering of vector files is rather dreadful.
Don't even think about kerning.
And as amicus said, have a word with your dealer, as you will need something to carry on without falling into despair.
- ali0
Thanks maikel great comments.
Thank god you can override that snapping, it drives me nuts!Will the new text styles I create carry over in the doc when the client opens it?
- maikel0
No prob mate, I honestly feel sorry for you. Make sure you earn good money for the pain you will have to go through.
About the styles, yeah they will be carried over, but
(1) you will need to explain your client how to use them.(2) you will have to use system fonts. It's usually better designing in PC if it is for PC or Mac for Mac based clients to avoid problems.
- robulation0
Oh dear god, It would be quicker to do hand scrawl the whole thing using fresh dog shite (from the local park of course)
- ali0
Yeah, that could become an option
- Amicus0
Even if they have the same fonts (even OpenType) if you are creating on a Mac Word will not find them on a PC. Be prepared to borrow one of their laptops and modify all the text styles to relink all the fonts in them. You can include the fonts when you save (from windows) if you like. (sorry can't remember the exact location of that option in the save as dialogue.)
- monospaced0
maikel is 100% right
Default mode for Microsoft Word is "Full Retard." It is constantly treating you like an incompetent fool, assuming you want a bulleted list when you don't, capitalizing words when you purposefully didn't hit the shift key, etc. Following his instructions you can bring it from "Full Retard" to "Word Processor" but it's still a pain in the ass. Good luck to you.
- robulation0
Do it in InDesign, and then export each page as an image, put them into Word... then to edit it, all they have to do is use Tippex (or liquid paper, whatever you call it).
In all seriousness now, I think using Arial or Verdana surely can't cause that much of a problem between computers can it!?!
• I would set margins quite far in, use a separate text box or the headers and footers option for the details being carried through on each page
• and keep it very simple, maybe a 2 or 4 column layout using 9 or 10pt.
• For something like this I always think instead of using straight black text, try a 70% and then use Cyan for highlight colours.
Hope this helps, because to be fair, it's a massive challenge but a typographical challenge all the same!!!
- ali0
Why did I agree to do this?
No amount of money would bring me to torture myself like this again.