The document discusses creativity in technical communication through six colors: energy, passion, growth, innovation, mystery, and wisdom. Each color represents a section that explores different creative aspects of technical writing and documentation, such as designed print documentation, the role of technical designers, and incorporating visual elements into online help. The final sections provide examples of how creativity can be applied to both print and online technical documentation.

1. Six Colors of Creativity in
Technical Communication
Energy
Passion
Growth
Innovation
Mystery
Wisdom
11

2. SPLASH
OF RED
Setting ABLAZE the creative side of technical communication
Traditional versus Technology – Who wins the game now?
A drop of design and a bottle of creativity!
What do we need? Instructions and Entertainment!
Is our strength our
weakness too?
22

3. Six Colors of Creativity in
Technical Communication
Energy
Passion
Growth
Innovation
Mystery
Wisdom
33

4. SPLASH OF
ORANGE
CREATIVELY designed technical documentation – possible?
The determination to do things differently

An insight into possible design scenarios
Vibrant ideas to bring color into technical writing

Creativity in Print Documentation

Creativity in Online Help
Successful implementation from a visual perspective

Small things do matter!
the
gs to
elon
eart b riting,
Our h ul of w
g e?
so
chan
e to
it tim
Is
44

5. SPLASH OF
ORANGE
The creative side of a “TOC”
A “VISION” unfolds to learn and remember…
55

6. Six Colors of Creativity in
Technical Communication
Energy
Passion
Growth
Innovation
Mystery
Wisdom
66

7. SPLASH OF
GREEN
The growth of TECHNICAL DESIGNERS
As you sow so shall you reap!

Creating designers for documentation
The development of technical writers and technical designers

Collaborative mix of writing and design

Designer’s role with the writers
Is it innovation combined
with intelligence?
77

8. SPLASH OF
GREEN
The growth of Technical Designers – UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE
A new hope into the art of innovation and creativity

Advantages of having a designer in documentation

Knowledge required to be a technical designer
Overcoming the hurdles of a technical designer

Cost effectiveness and flexibility

How important will
technical designers be in our
field?
Plan the time frame and implementation
88

9. Six Colors of Creativity in
Technical Communication
Energy
Passion
Growth
Innovation
Mystery
Wisdom
99

10. SPLASH OF
YELLOW
A FRESH BEGINNING in the art of writing
Making documentation shine in the industry

Joy of reading from a visual perspective

Add value to Online Help

Introduce new techniques in documentation
Shall we start visualizing thought
provoking ideas?
10
10

11. Six Colors of Creativity in
Technical Communication
Energy
Passion
Growth
Innovation
Mystery
Wisdom
11
11

12. STRIKE OF
BLACK
The MYSTERY behind a non-design documentation
Hindrances of design in technical writing

Will design hamper the main purpose of a guide?

Too many cooks spoil the broth – is this applicable for writers and designers?

Will we have a similarity with other forms of design and learning?
Will designing technical documentation
be an oxymoron statement?
12
12

13. Six Colors of Creativity in
Technical Communication
Energy
Passion
Growth
Innovation
Mystery
Wisdom
13
13

14. STROKE OF
GOLD
Print Documentation – The creative side (Example 1)
Different approach
in the table of
contents
A narrative
Note
An illustrative
Caution
14
14

15. STROKE OF
GOLD
Print Documentation – The creative side (Example 2)
A mascot
representing the
user guide
Step by step illustrative
procedure
Graphical
representation of
note and caution
Depicting page
numbers differently
15
15

16. STROKE OF
GOLD
Online Help – The creative side (Example
1)
Audio option to hear the procedure
and content in online help.
Direct link to glossary and index
A picture frame for figures and
tables which can be enlarged
Chapter names with respective
thumbnails
16
16

17. STROKE OF
GOLD
Online Help – The creative side (Example 2)
A captivate/flash video that
displays an animation of the
procedure involved for the
chapter.
Note and caution displays a
video of the content in the form
of animation or narration.
17
17

18. STROKE OF
GOLD
ILLUMINATING the art of design in documentation
Energy
Passion
Growth
Innovation
Mystery
Wisdom
18
18

19. A FINE
EXAMPLE
ERROR 404 – What happens when you click the wrong button?
An online troubleshooting guide:
 A conversation about the problem
and why it happened
 How to overcome this problem
 An option to learn more about the
software or go back
19
19

20. P
lease shoot out your questions and have a great
evening!