The aesthetics of technical documentation
My recent presentation at Université Paris Cité International Conference on Technical Communication discussed technical documentation as an aesthetic.
Aesthetics is most often associated with cultural phenomena such as art, music, fashion, and film. However, we can consider the term more broadly.
Technical writers and communicators are creating artefacts that reflect sophisticated products and technologies. These artefacts are often the result of collective efforts of many talented people. A challenge is designing documentation that reflects this sophistication while keeping it accessible for end users.