Heyo all, this week my objective was to format the feature article in such a way that it caught the attention of my target audience as they were flipping through the magazine. Utilizing hero images in all three spreads to reinforce the story of the article, I wanted the audience to be stopped and then move into reading the article. I primarily stuck with thinner typefaces to also reinforce the idea of hunger, as if the typeface is starving.
Dan
Dan – I think your decisions concerning imagery and “thin” typeface makes a lot of sense, and shows you are a “thinking” designer. Good. The monochromatic approach works well for this because of the “bleakness” of the story line (starving children is a serious problem). I suggest you consider moving forward with either Layout 1 or 2, because they are simply more successful, engaging, and well considered than Layout 3. Some thoughts:
ReplyDeleteLayout #1 – The type is sitting within the photo, which means you have to really pay attention to the readability of your body copy. Contrast is important – if the font is too small, or light, the reader will not even start reading. To help them engage initially – I wonder if you’d consider adding color to the word Hunger in the title. Being the only color added to the page – it becomes the focal point, which it isn’t at the moment. In fact, strangely, your folio might be the focal point – being the whitest and boldest little element on the pages. Also – because the page is grey gray gray gray – a little color goes a long way and shows us you understand the power of subtle color use. (which I do see in the other layouts, but not here).
Layout #2 – Photo is editorially strong, really strong and counterbalanced by the unique typography of the column quote. Nice. Heading structure seems not to take into account the word “OF” – it’s cramped in its space. Pull it out and think about where else it could sit. I think the body copy could benefit from being “sunk” on the page – it does not need to start at the top, and probably shouldn’t. Initial drop cap could be enlarged so that we aren’t distracted by the column quote before we begin the story.
Layout #3 – Least successful, so unless you are in love with this I’m going to leave it for now and just say it has a number of issues.
I actually love parts of layout #3 that I think could enhance the first two layouts. I love how dark the image is in #3 in contrast to the starkness of the white on the following page. Maybe the second layout could incorporate that black-white cast on the image. Also, I LOVE the red "Cover Story." It immediately grabs my attention and lets me know that this article is a MUST READ. As far as the use of grid, I think layout #1 is the most successful, but I would either lighten the image and make the text black or darken the image and leave the text white. Great choice of images!
ReplyDeleteDan- I love the first layout. I love the line around the title as it pairs well with the bars of the empty fridge.. Overall I really love it but I have 2 suggestions. First, I would suggest making the page number much smaller and less bold. WIth that type it makes it seem like the number 27 is more important that the fact the article is a cover story because it is the boldest thing on the page.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, I would try to move the image to the right so that the boy's face is in the center of the right page and this may also help take the white text off the bars. I think the overlap interferes with reability a little. also if you could slightly blur the top bars so it matches the blur at the bottom of the page, I think that would also look cool. over all I really like this though!
Layout 2- This one is my least favorite (sorry I hate saying that to you) but I think the grey background and the thin typeface of the title leave me unfilfilled. also the bracket seems out of place. Unless it is to direct the viewer to the sad face of the child. If that is the intention, I would suggest trying to find a way to make it point to his eyes. Again I would make the same suggestion with the page number size. I also don't understand the period and less than symbol. My brain wants to read is as bills going unpaid is worse that food winning out, when the article is really saying that bills going unpaid is better than having children starve. I do like theDrop cap and the body copy. I would extend the grey bar further down on the top where it says cover story and make it smaller where the page number is.
Layout 3. I really like this layout. I agree with Britt (shocking I know), and I love the red of the cover story, I like the body copy typeface and I really like the quote. I only have a few minor suggestions, justify the text to the left of the call out which would make a nice rectangle around it, rather than the ragged edges on the left. Also, bring everything down a little so the page number and magazine title are lower (maybe to where that small rule under 27 is. Lastly, I would pick the type and size of the right hand folio, but I like the place and line of the left.
Dan, I really enjoyed your approach to this. I was impacted by the imagery and knew your intent before reading your introduction to the pieces. The use of thin typefaces is extremely smart, and your use of lines in the first and second spread is impactful and fun. I love the pull quote in the third spread, really grabs your attention without pulling that much attention from the actual layout. The first is my favorite of the 3, I think this could be stretched a little more and really perfected with a few tiny tweaks, maybe a tiny color to create hierarchy. Great work Dan.
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