From: Michael Brady <bradydesign-AT-embarqmail.com>
Date: 15 Sep 2009 07:17:13 UTC   (10:17:13 AM in author's locale)
To: The Graphics List <graphics-AT-lists.graphicslist.org>

Are there any studies on how effective or ineffective the use of
ornamental effects in layout are?

I'm interested specifically in whether adding color to a black and
white page of text improves the readability of the text and the
reader's comprehension.

Frequently clients (mostly from university departments, but some in
other walks of life and lay folks, too) want to add color, photos, and
illustrations to "engage the reader" or to "make it more
accessible" (not referring to accessibility for readers who are
visually impaired).

My instinct is that such claims are mostly spurious. They reflect the
client's aspirations and they echo a supposed conventional wisdom (or
meme, as everyone now says) that everyone buys into and then plays out
as a self-fulfilling prophecy.

FWIW, my touchstone for this is to compare standard Montessori
preschool classroom materials with "fun learning toys" with Barney, or
Sponge Bob, or a unicorn character that accompanies the implement.

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Michael Brady
michaelb-AT-michaelbradydesign.com
considerthepreposition.blogspot.com/

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