New discoveries in the power of communication brought about by font selection
Founded in 2018, Agritree Co., Ltd. is a company working towards a sustainable society where as much food and energy as possible is produced locally. Not limited to Japan, the company has recently expanded its market to Vietnam and is promoting its efforts globally.
The company conducted a training session led by President Nishi to improve the skills of creating presentation materials. This training session was held in a hybrid format, combining on-site and online sessions. The on-site session was attended by President Nishi, employee Oda, new graduate Anh (from Vietnam), and intern Yaita. After the training, we asked the participants for their impressions and future plans.
Background and purpose of the training
First, we asked Nishi about the purpose of the training.
Nishi-san
"I had many opportunities to create presentation materials up until now, but I hadn't had the time to create materials that were easy to understand visually. When I started working in the Vietnamese market, I realized the importance of creating materials that could be understood across national and cultural differences. I thought there was a lot I could learn from taking the training, especially regarding font selection and readability."
From creating materials that communicate to changing awareness of information dissemination
Nishi-san
I have received training on slide creation before, but this was the first time I had experienced such a logical progression. The visual techniques, such as font selection and weight adjustment, were particularly refreshing and I learned a lot. After learning about UD fonts and recreating my materials, I felt I could communicate information more simply yet effectively than before.
Anne
I had many opportunities to create slides during my student days, but this was my first time participating in a training session like this. I also learned about UD fonts for the first time, which gave me a new perspective on creating materials. I realized that I had been creating materials without considering how easy they would be to understand, and I would like to incorporate more visual ingenuity into my work from now on.
Oda-san
I had never really thought much about font selection before, but this training made me realize how important it is. In fact, during the training, I changed all of the font settings on my computer to UD fonts (laughs). After the training, I immediately put what I learned into practice!
Yaita-san
I had the opportunity to learn how to create slides in my university classes, but this training was more practical. In particular, I learned the importance of being aware of the overall balance of the material and the visual elements. When I actually remade the slides, the instructor pointed out that the figures were too small, so I was surprised that after I corrected them, they were easier to read at a glance.
A program for creating business documents that communicate effectively
~Presentation Creation~
[Part 1 Lecture]
We will introduce specific techniques that are essential for creating materials that "communicate" well, such as balancing text, colors, and shapes, and how to choose fonts with high visibility.
[Part 2: Work]
The assignment was to remake the company introduction presentation materials.
You will be able to put into practice the editing skills you learned in class. You will also receive advice from the instructor, so you can aim to acquire the skills without leaving things "not working out" as they are.
Participant's remake data (Before and After)
Creating materials that communicate effectively using UD fonts
One thing that drew attention during the training was the use of "UD fonts (Universal Design Fonts)." Nishi, who said he had not given much thought to font selection up until now, said, "I hadn't paid much attention to fonts and had just been using fonts that I thought were easy to read, but in the training I learned how to use weights (thickness) and the criteria for font selection, and I realized that it made a big difference in the readability of documents. Also, after learning about the background to the development of UD fonts, I felt that they were a suitable tool for modern companies that are conscious of SDGs and CSR. I would like to continue using them as a company in the future." He said he felt that he had sensed new possibilities.
Future initiatives and goals
Finally, participants talked about their specific future plans for how they plan to use the knowledge they gained through the training in their work.
Nishi-san
I would like to standardize fonts across the company to UD fonts and clarify the rules for headings, font size, and weight. I will remake the presentation materials at the end of the month and use what I learned in the training.
Oda-san
I have some presentation materials that are due soon, so I'm going to remake them using UD fonts right away. I want to improve the quality of the materials by focusing on readability and consistency.
Anne
I would like to pay particular attention to the use of graphs and figures, and strive to create materials that are easy to read and understand. I will share what I learned in this training with the entire team and work to create even better deliverables.
Yaita-san
I would like to actively share what I learned this time with my colleagues. I also want to be mindful of the overall balance and readability of the materials I create.
AgriTree is a company that creates a sustainable future for local communities and the global market. The skills and knowledge gained through this training have helped each employee hone their ability to communicate information effectively. We hope that this learning will be utilized to further the company's growth.
Please take a look at our page for more details about the document creation training (costs, process, participant feedback, etc.).
If you are interested in the document creation training session or the UD fonts used in the training session, or if you are considering introducing or utilizing them, please feel free to ask us any questions below.
● If you want to use UD fonts as an organization, we recommend the "MORISAWA BIZ+ UD Font Plan for Public Organizations." For details of the plan,Here