Design Idea File 4:
Choose a page or diagram from a user manual you believe to be well-executed, and analyze it according to the readings on manuals: choose a segment of the reading and form it into a question for the purpose of analysis as I did with DD Ch. 1 above. How does the user manual chosen use headings and numbered sections to clearly guide the user and increase usability?
The user manual below is for the chain grocery store LIDL, a German based international discount store, and is describing how to book video conferences for virtual meetings (particularly necessary in the current era). The top bar, clearly set apart and its own section based on the colors and positions, serves as the introduction: a crucial part to any user manual as it sets up the users’ expectations and ensures that the user knows what they are receiving instruction and information on. This is also crucial in ensuring that the user is not frustrated by not finding what they thought might be included, or seeking what may not be found in the user manual. The color blocking helps to differentiate the different sections, each section with either crucial information or helpful visuals. These colors found in the top introduction bar can also be found repeated throughout the page to create coherence, as well as to signify more headings. The numbered points alert the user where to turn after the heading, eyes moving to the see what the next header is and what information that section is signifying. These numbers further continue on into the steps, creating a natural progression that leads from color to colored-number to number, creating coherence but also differentiation that sets apart the different crucial sections.
While this manual is brief and succinct, without detailed notes or extensive writing, it does cover man of the basic points that Chapter 20 from the Markel reading denotes as important, such as introduction, special notices, instructions, and illustrations. It also appears professional and appears to be accessible and good in clarity and honesty, although it is difficult for me to personally test this particular user manual. Overall it is pretty and well organized.