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Just like producing good hardware or good software, creating a good manual is a craft. The basis is the ability to break down complex contexts so, that they can be broken down into even simpler steps and explained in an equally simple way. The supreme discipline is then to develop a visual language that reduces the need for words.

The variety of microcomputers and new technical gadgets in the 80s led to very special development in this area. And so a whole series of technical manuals of that time can indeed be seriously considered art today. 

Fabrizio Ferri-Benedetti is a self-confessed friend of this kind of art, and in his recent article goes into the finer points of some of the gems in his personal collection.

A nice article with even nicer examples of simply excellently designed manuals and ... of course the obligatory link to the bitsavers, where hundreds of these pieces can be found online for immediate download and enjoyment.

A real treasure trove for retro enthusiasts.