Taysigner   >   Blog

Organising Text Structure Is Core to Design

May 5, 2025

Designing with Structure

In design, organising text and information flow is a key responsibility of a graphic designer.
‍
It’s not just about picking nice fonts or making things look good it’s about making information readable, logical, and easy to navigate at a glance.

A Real-World Example from the MRT

While riding the MRT one morning, I noticed two ads placed side by side on the In-Train Advertisement Design panels. They looked nice—colourful and attention-grabbing. But something felt off.

Here’s what I saw:

Ad A:
Jurong Point • #B1-32
Paya Lebar Square • #01-05

Ad B:
• Jurong Point #B1-32
• Paya Lebar Square #01-05

Both ads were from the same brand, promoting the same thing, but with completely different ways of formatting the same address info. One used dots to separate the mall and unit number; the other used bullet points. These inconsistencies weren’t visual flaws—they were issues in information structure.

Why Structure Matters

Graphic design isn’t just about visuals—it’s also information architecture.
If text is not structured clearly:

  • Readers pause to figure it out
  • Information hierarchy becomes unclear
  • The design feels rushed, unrefined, or inconsistent

In fast-paced environments like public transport, where users have just a few seconds to absorb a message, clarity is everything.

Why These Issues Happen

Text structure issues are common in rushed ad rollouts. They often come from:

  • Multiple assets being handled by different designers without a shared formatting guide
  • Last-minute edits that shift layout structure without holistic review
  • No final cross-check between related materials placed side by side

What a Designer Should Do

Here’s how I would approach it as a graphic designer focused on clarity and consistency:

  1. Set Rules for Text Formatting Early On
    Define how locations, unit numbers, contact details, etc., are styled across assets.
  2. Organise Content Based on Information Flow
    Consider how someone reads the ad—group and align text logically, not just visually.
  3. Audit the Entire Campaign Before Final Submission
    Especially if assets will be displayed side-by-side (like MRT panels), review them as a system, not in isolation.

Final Thoughts

At Taysigner, I believe layout design is not just about where things go—it’s about why they go there. When text is structured well, users don’t notice—they just read, absorb, and move on. When it’s not, even the nicest visuals can’t save the confusion.

‍