When To Use Border Designs For Documents
Border designs for documents are often used a means of making a document look more official to just a passing glance. If you look at most documents prepared by governments or companies they all seem to be prepared on a document with either a border or on letter head which tends to form a de facto border around the document using a standard boilerplate header and footer. Document borders are not always needed to make an official document but they do help. There are however a few other ways that document borders may be useful.
Document borders are also useful when you want to give a document a specific feel. Much like branding you can make a document feel more appropriate to its audience by simply adding a little decorative border around it. For instance, if you are preparing a document that will be read by parents of infants, a border inspired by infants may be appropriate. Instead of a simple lined border maybe small pictures of pacifiers surrounding the page would help call out to new parents that this document is meant for them.
Signup sheets often use this technique as do sales flyers. If you are passing a bulletin board you are far more likely to notice in passing a signup sheet or sales page that is relevant to you if the border surrounding the page is pictures related to you. If you are thinking about signing your kid up for baseball and you walk past a bulletin board and notice a page lined in baseball player graphics you will be far more likely to take a look; it’s human nature to be drawn to relevant items.
Document borders then are a good way to call attention to a desired audience, create the right feel for the information you want to convey, and an excellent way to make a document appear to official and binding. Border designs for documents need not go over the top in design nor should they be overused but the power of visual stimulus on an otherwise text-filled page can be significant.
