The proper use of design elements can help the reader or user of a page find information.  As the creator of a document, your purpose is to assist the transmission of the content.  Use the medium powerfully.

Integrity
The documents you create should have integrity.  Your work should be written by yourself, or credited to the orginal author.  The facts should be accurate.  Colors, graphics and text should be used with consistency.  Every visual, aesthetic and intellectual element should serve the goals of the document.

Use the design process
Materials that are well designed meet the criteria of their creators and the needs of the audience.  By using the design process you can examine the project with an eye towards its own requirements.

Efficiency of Resources
You should make good use of materials. Do not cause the waste of screen space or printed paper.  Make web pages that only have scrollbars for good reason.  Make maximum use of every word and line.  Printed pages must use the minimum amount of print paper.  Use the smallest neccesary file size for web graphics.

Organization
As you arrange the information for the screen or page, think carefully about the way a person would read it or use it.  View the page as a draft.  If it is a web page, you should preview it in the browser.  If it is a printed document, you should print it and hold it in your hands.

Type
When you choose a type style, keep in mind the people who will use the document.  For example:  If the text is all bold, a large size and upper case letters, the user will have to do unneeded work to read the words.  Text should be big enough for to be read, but should not so large that the screen must be scrolled too often.

Contrast
The human eye favors high contrast.  In text, this means the combination of black and white, or dark and light. By using contrasting colors, the text is more visible. Low contrast is more difficult to see and tends to cause problems for the user.  Examples of low contrast are: gray on gray, gray on black, or yellow on white.

Color
Some readers or users are extremely sensitive to the use of color in design.  If the user is color blind, they may not be able to distinguish letters from background.

Text
Words must be spelled properly.  If you have an audience that is particularly casual or style concious, you may use alternate spelling, but you must do so carefully, and consistently.

Graphics
The use of graphics can enhance the experience of the user when done appropriately and/or moderately.  When used, graphics must relate to the content.