Pictograms: clarity without words Icons and pictograms may seem like twins, but they're more like distant cousins Pictograms are visual shortcuts: simple, literal images that help users recognize actions, warnings, or equipment at a glance. Think of them as the official, often safety-related versions of icons. While icons often represent abstract functions (like “save” or “settings”), pictograms are grounded in real-world objects or behaviors, like “wear safety goggles” or “e

Screenshots in tech docs: helpful or high-maintenance? Screenshots are the potato chips of technical documentation. They’re easy to grab, but they're not always the healthiest choice. Screenshots can clarify complex interfaces, confirm user actions, and reduce ambiguity. But there are risks: huge documents, outdated images, and translation headaches. Use them sparingly, as integral parts of your content model, and only when they add value! Also, instead of pasting full-screen

At the Tekom Netherlands-Belgium 2025 cross-border event in Rotterdam tech writers from both countries (and some more) met with 3 million words living in MadCap Flare, multilingual maintenance work instructions in a CCMS, and a pledge for more video content in tutorials. All that on the 23rd floor, with an exquisite view of the sunny city of Rotterdam. But it wasn't that we had much time to enjoy that view. Instead, we took in Jori Hagevoort's (ChipSoft) step-by-step build-u

About me My academic journey began in Italy, where I studied languages with a deep curiosity about how culture shapes them and why....

Last November over 80 technical communicators, information architects, and documentation aficionados broadened their horizon at...

Last November over 80 technical communicators, information architects, and documentation aficionados broadened their horizon at...