Guidelines for creating an Office Word template design
Word templates usually consist of three essential elements
1/ Header
The header is located in the upper part of the document, is locked against editing if needed, and often includes the logo and all contact information. Starting on the second page, the design can be different and then repeat continuously.
2/ Content
The content layer is the working area where the writing is done. Here we include clickable placeholders for all required elements, which automatically implement the design that was previously defined. These can be headings, text, tables, images, or complete page layouts.
3/ Footer
The footer is located at the bottom of the document and can also be locked against editing. Here, additional contact or legal information is often included, as well as a continuous page numbering.
Things to think about before designing an Office Word template
Design à la Windows
When designing an Office Word template for letters and other documents, designers have a lot of options available to them as the program has many built-in features. It is best to use minimal images and graphics to keep the file size small. Care should be taken when choosing fonts to ensure they are available on all target systems. The color scheme should always be RGB, this applies to images and graphics as well.
Design vs. purpose of use
The purpose of the document and how it will be used can affect the design choices made when creating a Word template. For instance, if the document will primarily be printed, certain design elements that extend to the edge of the paper may not be visible in the final printout due to the limitations of office printers. On the other hand, if the document will primarily be used digitally, such as in a PDF format, these limitations may not be as significant.
Practical tips for creating an Office Word template
Use Word to create templates
When creating templates for Office Word, it is important to use Word itself and not rely on exporting from other programs. If you need assistance, we are available to offer guidance and support, even if it is behind the scenes.
Use system fonts if possible
Ideally, all fonts used in the document are embedded as fonts and not as graphics. This requires that these fonts are available on all target systems. Choosing the right font is therefore an important consideration before designing.
Use vectors instead of images
When using graphics and logos, it is recommended to use them as vector graphics in SVG format. This ensures crisp and clear printouts as well as optimal results when exporting the document to PDF format.