This report is describing, comparing and evaluating different standard documents from 3 organisations. The two types of document being evaluated are an information booklet and a letter. The organisations chosen are Mavala, the Village Hotel and Leisure Club and the Inland Revenue. Mavala is a hand care company that sells hand care products and offers advice on its products and services. The Village Hotel and Leisure Club offers swimming pool, gymnasium, residential services as well as a restaurant. The Inland Revenue control taxes and offer advice about tax codes etc. Mavala Booklet Firstly I’m going to write a section on Mavala.

The cover page or front cover of the booklet mainly eludes my attention. Dull colours and a dull picture are used. Looking at it there is nothing that is eye-catching about it. I am not motivated to reading it as the page colours and graphic images are poor. It is clear that the organisation is trying to address the name of the company as the name is printed in a large font size on the document. This is an effective way of advertising the organisation because the name of the organisation will be stamped in the reader’s thoughts. Throughout the booklet an asymmetrical layout is used.

This is an advantage because it allows for the more dynamic use of white space. The asymmetrical layout creates a visual interest. In this booklet in contrast the pictures dominate the type. Heavy loads of pictures are used in the document. This may be eye catching to the reader depending on the picture used. I don’t believe the pictures are interesting in this document. The levels of emphasis on pictures are too high. So the tone of this document is inadequate. Therefore there is no equal level of the weight of typefaces than that of illustrations. Bold and Italic typefaces are used though.

So there is a little contrast in weight but too little emphasis has been put into this. This leads to the document having no variety and the booklet looking dull. A contrast in shape is achieved by the introduction of graphics or illustrations. These graphics do differ from the normal proportion of the page. There is no contrast in colours to the document which downfalls the page layout rapidly. The degree of blackness hitting the eye is too large. There is no distinctive visual colour to the overall design of the document. The layout, illustrations and typography give a tasteless personality to the document.

Village Hotel Booklet The village and hotel leisure club booklets, front cover is very catching to the eye. Its use of graphic images associated with the theme of the booklet and colours grasps my attention. I am motivated to reading the booklet all from the front cover. Not too bright or dulls are used. Bright and dull colours are hard on the eye of the reader. Attentive colours are used. The blend of colours used gives variety to the booklet. This booklets front cover and back cover do not limit themselves to the narrow perspective of natural colours for example red, green, blue, and yellow.

The booklet uses colour opposites to achieve contrast and it also uses a colour that harmonises with the substrate. But as you go through the booklet there begins to be lacking of colour and the degree of blackness hitting the eye levels higher. This causes a drop in readability. The layout however is not too forceful because of the contrast in colour but there is no distinctive visual colour to the overall design. In this booklet there is a symmetrical balance. Symmetrical balances have elements of equal weight as well as tone placed on both sides of an imaginary vertical line on the page.

This gives the feeling of permanence and stability. A more static restful design is produced. This booklets balance and symmetrical balances are pleasing but highly interesting. Unlike the front and back cover the rest of the booklet is visually uninteresting. This document provides a modest but definite change in typography. This is achieved by the contrast of weight. To provide visual guides, cues, a change in thought and an item of importance various typefaces are used. These include italic, bold and extra bold. The varying of type styles has been planned carefully and a visual interest for the reader is added.

In this booklet the type has the upper hand over the picture. This document has no contrast in size. The most applicable design to the subject would be to have graphic images or illustrations throughout the booklet. There is none in this booklet so therefore there is too much emphasis on type. Also there is no contrast in shape as there is no introduction of graphics that differ from the normal proportion of the page, no large display face or no stunning border etc. Tables are used in this booklet. Tables are used to gain control over the layout of pages.

They help to create a stronger alignment and appropriate proximity of elements. This has led to an increased readability and greater comprehension. There is a margin of variety used in the booklet. So there is an addition of liveliness and vigour to the layout. This strengthens the document preventing it from looking dull. Although the document has this, the inviting design to the reader is not strong enough. There is a background image used in the booklet. This is compressed to a reasonable size; it aligns with the foreground images and tiles appropriately.

On the Inland Revenue booklet the name of the company is placed in the top left hand corner of the front cover. It does not have a large size probably, as it is a tax company but the lack of size for the name of the company logo means that it is not implanted to the reader and may be easier to forget. The words “you” and “your” on the front cover indicates that the feelings of the reader are what are taken into account. This is a benefit because it persuades the reader to carry on reading, as they feel safe and welcome by the company. There is an asymmetrical layout throughout the booklet.

This allows more dynamic use of white space. It creates visual interest. It is pleasing and interesting. There is no emphasis on pictures in this booklet. The type dominates the pictures. This means that the document may look dull and clustered. Items of importance are made clear by the use of different typefaces and bullet points and numbering. These catch attention and they are visually interesting. There is a contrast in size and shape but none in the contrast of weight as there is no equal weight between typefaces and illustrations. This booklet has simplicity and consistency, contrast, balance and repetition.

It has similarity and critical elements stand out. These things all add to a good layout. Tables are used. These help to gain control over the layout of pages. Tables help to create stronger alignment and appropriate proximity of elements, which lead to increased readability and comprehension. A content page is used unlike the other 2 documents. The contents page tell the reader what exactly will be in the booklet and if the reader wants to know a certain piece of information in the book then the page number is given. This prevents time being consumed up.