Designing a Set of Instructions:
What are your readers expectations?
Simple, inexpensive product
Expensive consumer product
What are your readers abilities?
Hearing impairments
Do you need to create more than one set of instructions for different audiences?
Electricians installing the device
Homeowners using the device
What languages should be used?
Court cases
Will readers be anxious about the information?
Intimidating information? Make design unintimidating (open pages with lots of white space and graphics)
Will the environment in which the instructions are read affect the document design?
Outdoors? Coated paper that can tolerate moisture or dirt.
Small, enclosed area? Small paper size and a binding allowing reader to fold the pages over to save space.
Lots of room?