New Documentation Concept in Just Four Steps

Technical Writing and Visualisation Know-How for Sita Bauelemente GmbH.

Use graphics to improve compreh­ens­ib­ility and reduce translation effort

High compreh­ens­ib­ility, low translation effort and an improved user experience:
Low-language instruct­ions with professionally-created graphics offer many advantages. We were able to provide Sita Bauelemente GmbH with the necessary meth­od­ol­og­ical tools in a workshop, lasting several days.
Overview

How the challenge was overcome

Analyse current situation and requir­em­ents

Joint assessment of the existing mounting instruct­ions and regulatory requir­em­ents as the basis for the revision.

Develop text concept for introd­uction and safety chapter

Develop a stand­ard­ised introd­uctory chapter containing general instruct­ions and safety regulations, including a workshop-based review and reform­ul­ation to facilitate later translation into multiple languages.

Define master layout and visual­is­ation concept

New layout in line with corporate design as well as language-neutral install­ation chapter with high-quality graphics, supported by a guide to style, colours, perspect­ives and assets.

Corel Designer training

Hands-on training using a live project, enabling the team to create graphics indep­end­ently and cons­ist­ently in future.

Close-up of trainers at a starting line on a running track, with the legs of other runners blurred in the background.
Initial situation

Incons­istent mounting instruct­ions and only one language version

Sita has been a leading manuf­act­urer of system solutions for the drainage and ventilation of flat roofs (for industrial and commercial buildings) for over 40 years. In 2021, Sita was faced with the task of completely revising the install­ation instruct­ions for its various products.
The challenge: The documents, which had grown over time, existed in different graphic layouts and were exclusively in German.
Key requirements

Enable mult­il­ingual content. Embed the visual­is­ation concept.

kothes was appointed as an external partner and specialist service provider to develop the new docum­ent­ation and visual­is­ation concept.Part­ic­ul­arly important: We were not only tasked with developing the individual improvement measures theor­et­ic­ally, but also comm­un­ic­ating them practically to Sita employees.

Enable multilingual content,

to be better equipped for intern­at­ional target markets.

Standardise and optimise the design implementation,

to future-proof the docum­ent­ation.

Several runners in motion; in the foreground, legs and blue running shoes; the background is blurred.
Approach

From a current-state assessment to simplified-language instruct­ions – all from a single source

In a four-day workshop at Sita headq­uarters, kothes coach Dirk Meissner guided the team through the development of a new concept for mounting instruct­ions. Documents and requir­em­ents were analysed, and new introd­uctory texts with notes and safety instruct­ions were drawn up. On this basis, a master layout aligned with Sita corporate design was created, along with a visual­is­ation concept for a language-neutral install­ation chapter. A guideline specified the graphic style, colours, perspect­ives and symbols. The team received practical training in implem­enting the concept using a live project in Corel Designer.

Red finish line tape with the words "FINISH" written on it above a running track; the finish line is blurred in the background.
Benefits

New concept implemented in four days, with expertise embedded within the team

Sita now has a consistent foundation for modern mounting instruct­ions. The revised introd­uctory chapter is easier to translate and supports consistent docum­ent­ation across multiple languages. The new master layout enhances the brand image. In the language-neutral install­ation chapter, graphics convey the steps to be taken in an easy-to-understand way, without any additional text. Clear spec­if­ic­at­ions ensure a consistent visual language. Thanks to the training, the Sita team will be able to further develop the instruct­ions indep­end­ently in the future and apply their editorial and graphic know-how.

Sita logo in white on a transparent background.

"We as Sita are very satisfied with the workshop. The strong practical relevance and the high degree of flexibility in solving the various tasks were particularly positive surprises for us. Another bonus point: Thanks to rapid support, we were able to lean heavily on kothes' expertise at any time and without complications, even after the workshop."

Christian Behr

Product Manager

Sita

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