As it had been agreed to keep the information sheet to two pages of A4 (or one A3-sized spread), space was at a premium and every word of text was scrutinised, revised, or re-written to make it fit within the layout.
I think we made a significant step forward when all of the text in the layout was re-written by a non-scientist. This helped us to make the break from purely technical language, even though significant revisions continued to be made to the text following that step.
As I became more familiar with the content I was able to make minor text revisions by myself, knowing that I was not affecting its scientific meaning, which helped to speed up the process. Again, thanks must be given to the scientists who were willing to drastically cut the contents of their paper to create an accessible, yet still accurate, summary. As a former scientist, I know how painful that process can be.
Compromises and knowing when to stop
As Catarina and Lisa mentioned in the previous article, with several people giving input to the project, there inevitably had to be some compromise in the design process (although not with the scientific accuracy of the information). This was especially true when the patient representatives gave their input to a ‘close to final’ version of the information sheet during our third online workshop, as we then had eight opinions to consider.
I was very impressed and pleased with how engaged the patients remained with the project, despite the relatively long wait for a final result, and their input at this stage was key to making the information sheet appear reader-friendly and accessible.
As the graphic designer in the process, it was important for me to make clear to everyone what could and could not be achieved in terms of the layout, and also to suggest calling a halt when we had reached a point where we were no longer progressing. My own feeling is that if everyone involved in a collaborative project is only a little bit unhappy with the final output, then that is probably a pretty good result.
The final output – an illustrated information sheet
Although the original intention of the project had been to create an ‘infographic’, I don’t think this is a useful term to apply in this case. An infographic implies the use of limited, or no, text in the final design and it can run the risk of appearing too simplistic.
For a subject as complex and important as this scientific research paper, the inclusion of a significant amount of text (albeit using simplified language) is essential if it is going to be understood by a lay reader.
