Working with Google Docs

Google Docs is the umbrella name for the web-based Google Software that includes Google Slides, Google Docs and Google Sheets. The free nature of these software makes is very tempting to use in a corporate environment, but it has to be understood that they are not as capable, or functional, as desktop software like Microsoft Office. Collaboration is the key here, and they allow for multiple people editing the same document simultaneously. Designing for them can come up against the main limitations in type management, charts and tables.

If you need to talk to someone about a project you have, or whether the software below can do it, just call, on 020 3251 0251, or email on info@operandi.co.uk

Word icon Google Slides

Google Slides is a great presentation tool that allows multiple people to collaborate and work on a file together. Although clearly based on an earlier version of PowerPoint, it has some very hard limitations that Google seem slow to fix. This results in users having to manually format text in almost every case. Layout and slide layers are the same as PowerPoint, but not in quite the same way. Designing for Slides is not dissimilar to PPT, but some options are missing.

Things to know before you start:

  • You can only use Google fonts
  • It uses the same type level structure as PowerPoint, but doesn’t actually work properly
  • Some layer issues exist between Master/Layout/Slides
  • Charts must be produced in Google Sheets or created using shapes, or just imported graphics.
OVO Title slide

Word icon Google Docs

Google Docs has a number of limitations that make it difficult to design with. Page layout is quite simple, which hinders the ability to divider the page vertically. Type styles can only use the supplied set, which you can update, but not create new ones for a specific purpose. We use some tricks to make headers and footers work better, but positioning logos and text is quite limited. Any user needs to appreciate that their report or general document is going to have to stay simple and functional.

Things to know before you start:

  • You can only use Google fonts
  • Very limited type style or formatting options
  • Very limited overlap or floating object options
  • Charts must be produced in Google Sheets or created using shapes, or just imported graphics.
Google Docs newsletter

Word icon Google Sheets

Google Sheets is the web-based spreadsheet equivalent of Excel. It’s more than capable of setting out relatively complex calculations on a sheet, and generating charts from the data. Any chart used in Docs or Slides are produce in Sheets. Google have chosen some very specific styling for charts, so the design and look may not readily fit your corporate identity or any brand rules.

Things to know before you start:

  • You can only use Google fonts
  • Some calculation operations are limited
  • Does not have the data analysis tools you will find in Excel
  • Sheets can not hold as much data as Excel
  • Limited data visualisation tools
  • Good collaborative tools
Google Sheets charts

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