Instructions for De-struction

When looking online for instructions in two or more languages, I fell upon an assembly for an A-Frame bookcase in both English and Spanish.  After reading through both of the instructions, I noticed some differences and similarities.  

                Both of the instruction booklets were in black and white and contained the same diagrams presented by the West Elm website (2012).  The two different instruction manuals were not presented on the same page.  They could be accessed in different languages from a main screen where the user could select from English, Spanish, and French languages.  The Spanish guide did have darker and bolder images that caught my eye from the beginning.  One would think that since these are for the same product and since it is constructed the same way no matter the language, that the diagrams would be identical in all aspects.  The headings throughout are all the same font and appear to be the same size as well.  

                I found many similarities, but there were also some differences such as the small boxed diagram where it shows the user how to insert the cam lock edge into the direction of the cam.  The image of this in the Spanish manual is a mirrored version of the English diagram.  It still explains how the two pieces are put together through one of the boards, but it is through different areas of the bookcase.  I believe it would be much easier to have simply copied the same picture into the other manual.  

                Overall, the two assembly instruction manuals were pretty much identical besides the couple different diagrams and the darkness of them.  They both still explained the same steps in the same order as well as the same disclosure at the bottom of the page explaining that the hardware may loosen over time and to wipe down the bookcase with a soft dry cloth to protect the finish.  Many people overlook and may immediately throw out any instructions in other languages, but unless one speaks the other language, there might be both subtle and obvious differences that, hopefully, wouldn’t impede the owner’s ability to construct a product. 

West Elm. (2012). Williams – Sonoma Inc.  Retrieved from: <http://www.westelm.com/resources/assembly-instructions/?cm_type=lnav>