The pictures above are the layouts I came up with using the given information we received in class. instead of going complex i decided to keep it simple.
Torri - your stated goal of "simple designs" has been met. In fact, they are too simple, and don't show much inventive, creative work. So... leave the "simple" idea behind and spend some time developing the work into more interesting layouts. If I had to guess, I would say you aren't spending enough time studying good design techniques, or working our your design ideas. Some feedback on what I see here:
Grid A - Please spend some time developing a clever, interesting small department heading that will sit, not as a focal point, but as a small supporting element at the top of the page. This should be an interesting element because it will be used every month in the magazine, with different content below it.
I see a wildly distorted image - no can do, please be aware of how you use images. Did you not even see this? Are you looking at your own designs?
We just talked about how to make photos more successful, please consider each image a nugget of information that needs to "tell" us something that corresponds to the text. NO DISTORTION - unless it supports the content.
Consider reducing the website address a lot, more like a caption size. Rethink the relationship of the images to the text, and part of that is being aware of how the images sit in relation to the margins you have set, and the other columns to text (top and bottom).
Strangely, I see 2 folios on the page... are we on page 1, or page 2?
Grid B - Boring, sorry but this shows a serious lack of conceptual thinking. Not sure why the columns of text are staggered as if they are jumping up and down. Why? Does this make sense with the content? How would this work with the heading? I ask because I'm trying to understand why you would do this? The department title is lower right - that makes no sense.
Our job, as designers, is to help the reader navigate the content, emphasizing certain areas to help the eye travel through the design - it's called establishing visual hierarchy. I'm not sure you are thinking about this.
Grid C - Nothing here makes sense to me, as far as design decisions. Color choices don't work to support the image or content. Typography lacks a creative approach - is this the only solution you can think of? We've seen this overly simple design in all the layouts. Honestly, using 2 columns is the most basic of grids... which means the designer has to use other design techniques to add interest to the page in this case - not done here.
Please spend more time looking closely as published magazines to get inspired for your work. In fact, look at the student work shown in this blog for ideas about the many many many options you have when designing a page.
I suggest you redo the exercise, because I don't believe you have experimented enough here to move on to choosing one to work with. Design work takes time, put the time into research and come to the computer with layout ideas before you sit down. A computer cannot be creative for you. Step it up please. Let me know if you have any questions.
Torri - your stated goal of "simple designs" has been met. In fact, they are too simple, and don't show much inventive, creative work. So... leave the "simple" idea behind and spend some time developing the work into more interesting layouts. If I had to guess, I would say you aren't spending enough time studying good design techniques, or working our your design ideas. Some feedback on what I see here:
ReplyDeleteGrid A - Please spend some time developing a clever, interesting small department heading that will sit, not as a focal point, but as a small supporting element at the top of the page. This should be an interesting element because it will be used every month in the magazine, with different content below it.
I see a wildly distorted image - no can do, please be aware of how you use images. Did you not even see this? Are you looking at your own designs?
We just talked about how to make photos more successful, please consider each image a nugget of information that needs to "tell" us something that corresponds to the text. NO DISTORTION - unless it supports the content.
Consider reducing the website address a lot, more like a caption size. Rethink the relationship of the images to the text, and part of that is being aware of how the images sit in relation to the margins you have set, and the other columns to text (top and bottom).
Strangely, I see 2 folios on the page... are we on page 1, or page 2?
Grid B - Boring, sorry but this shows a serious lack of conceptual thinking. Not sure why the columns of text are staggered as if they are jumping up and down. Why? Does this make sense with the content? How would this work with the heading? I ask because I'm trying to understand why you would do this? The department title is lower right - that makes no sense.
Our job, as designers, is to help the reader navigate the content, emphasizing certain areas to help the eye travel through the design - it's called establishing visual hierarchy. I'm not sure you are thinking about this.
Grid C - Nothing here makes sense to me, as far as design decisions. Color choices don't work to support the image or content. Typography lacks a creative approach - is this the only solution you can think of? We've seen this overly simple design in all the layouts. Honestly, using 2 columns is the most basic of grids... which means the designer has to use other design techniques to add interest to the page in this case - not done here.
Please spend more time looking closely as published magazines to get inspired for your work. In fact, look at the student work shown in this blog for ideas about the many many many options you have when designing a page.
I suggest you redo the exercise, because I don't believe you have experimented enough here to move on to choosing one to work with. Design work takes time, put the time into research and come to the computer with layout ideas before you sit down. A computer cannot be creative for you. Step it up please. Let me know if you have any questions.
I agree with Coni that they may be a little too simple but I do really enjoy the pops of color on each page.
ReplyDelete