Our Expert will show you how clear layout and plain language can help you make your message clear in legal documents.
Our Expert will talk through two examples and will show how a few layout changes and language tweaks can make documents clearer and easier to work with. He'll also highlight common layout-problems and how to avoid them.
Examples of points he'll cover in the talk include:
• How to make messages and layout work together. Poor layout can bury your message and clear layout and 'signposts' will help readers find it.
• Use plain language and the conclusion-first structure. Step away from over-formal writing and the essay structure (conclusion at the end).
• SDS: Structure, data, signposts. Three ideas that you can use to structure all your documents and text, from contracts to newsletters and pitches.
Our Expert:
Simon Carter is a clear-writing coach and graphic designer. He is the managing director of One Three Four.
Simon helps companies produce documents that are convincing and easy to read. He designs documents and templates, works as a copywriter, and trains and coaches people how to write for the way that business-readers read. Simon worked on several investment-research projects between 1996 and 2002 and this opened his eyes to the gap between how business-people write and how they read.
One Three Four
He set up One Three Four in 2003. The name comes from his make-it-clear-quickly mantra, 'one clear message, three supporting points, and at least four ways to continue the conversation'.
Simon's clients are a mix of lawyers, investment-research analysts, insurance professionals, IT companies, and consultants. He helps them improve pitch-documents, newsletters, PowerPoint presentations, and websites.
The early years
He studied journalism briefly in the mid-80s then dropped out and worked as a graphic designer. First in magazine publishing, then in the design-and-branding industry (you can still find some of his work in Boots and Tesco). By 1996 Simon was a creative director and shareholder at Thumb, a branding and communication business (30 people, £3m annual turnover). He was a member of the management team that sold Thumb to Nettec, a digital-services business, in 1999.
Find out more at www.onethreefour.co.uk