Microsoft Word

As technology has improved, so has access to design. Anybody with access to this ever-improving technology can become a designer because of the variety of programs constantly being produced and improved upon. While not considered a dedicated design software, Microsoft Word is a word processing software that provides direct observation to the final product. Microsoft Word was first released in 1983 and, over time, has become a base program that is often expected to be understood by the modern population. Unlike earlier typesetting technologies such as typewriters and printing presses, word processing programs including Microsoft Word meant that individuals could develop an entire page of type and see exactly how it would appear on the page before printing the final product. Allowing individuals to edit design aspects such as typefaces, colors, backgrounds, spacing, and margins, Word provides an avenue of creativity as simple text-based messages can be customized with WordArt, shapes, charts, and icons. 

Word itself has experienced new developments frequently to continue to maximize its efficiency and accessibility. Word’s user interface is easy to understand with tabs that separate information into like piles and icons that have been developed to best represent each function within the program. The use of a sans-serif typeface across the entire interface means content can be read and understood easily alongside small icons. The use of a simple color palette also limits confusion and creates cohesion. Today, Word allows users to utilize templates to develop their work so even those with limited design experience can create and edit visually interesting print and digital documents. Word as a technology expanded the design social system through access as a wider group of individuals, often those with limited access to more complex design programs, can grasp the role of designer as they produce type-based work and find templates that can be customized to meet their needs.