Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Izzy Bains_Exercise 2
So for this project my approach was to use the same ideas and put down different layouts. I wanted to stick with the theme of the American Flag and a plate showcasing America since the article highlights the hunger issues on the homefront. I also want to know what everyone thinks of the opacity on the plate, in the second option, after looking at it now, it seems a light but i'm not sure. I also want to know what style do you guys like better. The first 2 column options is more professional almost more like a informative issue, the second one is something more fun but i used a TIME magazine as inspiration and something bold with an entire page as an image and a lot of negative space. The third one which was our choice I used a 6 column grid and wanted minimal text so it was more of an intro than a lot of context. Thanks everyone looking forward to your feedback!
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Izzy - on first glance all these have great possibility, and seem well thought out. And the opacity of the plate looks fine to me. You appear to have a wide ranging 25 – 70 well-educated audience, much like Time magazine (which you mentioned was your inspiration). Some thoughts:
ReplyDeleteLayout #1 – do all of your photos makes sense with this article? Make sure they help expand our understanding of the subject matter. It’s important. Your layout is lovely and easily readable, please track up the widow I can see or push some words down to help fill out the line. Is that column quote from the text? The punctuation seems odd. Should you add leading to the smaller words so that the lines move down and close the gap above the word STARVE (and the block of type becomes more unified). I’m not sure you need to emphasize the word EAT at all, do you? No need for the “continued on” line – it is only needed when there is a jump, and the very next spread will hold the rest of the article in your mag.
Layout #2 – It is interesting to see you combine the flag (torn and tattered) and an empty plate. It’s a strong visual message and compliments the article. I wonder if you can continue to play on that same approach by placing another plate, large and bleeding off left-hand page and sitting behind the text block. I feel like a bit more is needed on the first page, and that solution would create a bit more interest, but not too much (because white plate on white page would be very subtle). Just a thought – see what you come up with for that left-hand page… it’s just not completely done quite yet I think.
Layout #3 – I desperately want to see that flag appear as if it is painted on the plate. You can do that in Photoshop, right? The words above it say “We can’t starve”. But… some families ARE starving, right? That’s what we learn in the article. What else can this clever line of type say? Maybe it should ask a question… like “Are We Starving?” I encourage you to make it even more subtle, placing it into the wood and maybe even a bit under the plate. This could be a good example of what you can do in Photoshop, for your portfolio eventually!
I’ll be curious to see which one you continue with.
Hi Izzy,
ReplyDeleteYour First layout reminds me of a previous layout from ex.1 with its use of typography in the title treatment, I quite like it, however being a feature article, I wonder if it should be bigger? The imagery for this layout makes it clear that people are quite unhappy, but for 2 of them I get "I'm hungry" and for the other 2 I get "divorce." I think you may be able to get away with using just 2 photos in this spread, the two closest to the spine. Overall the layout is well balanced.
Your second layout catches the eye, but upon first glance I couldn't tell what the white circle was about for the flag until I looked closer to see the plate. Maybe a patterned plate would be more obvious, even with the opacity change it still blends with the background a bit too much for me. The body copy is justified and creates a nice strong shape and the title is well designed. I really like the "cover story" flag up top too!
This is my favorite spread, the third. I love the imagery, the USA silhouette on the plate I think works great and the quote from the article on the table grain is awesome, though maybe add quotation marks since it isn't the title and does appear to be. Still really enjoy the typography in this title treatment, though I wish you had used all the space to create a solid box of stacked type instead of the stepping shape, all the different point sizes is a bit odd for me. And I think you could get away with not having the "continued on page 7" and just reflowing the body copy to fit nicer in that area of the page.
Dan
DESIGN 1 - Love the effort shown here in the typefaces. These variations really grab my attention and engage me. The imagery though seems a bit sporadic and would possible consider image found in a series with matching colors.
ReplyDeleteDESIGN 2 - I have to say my favorite layout/design would be that of your second presentation. The imagery depicts that of the battle flag, showing maybe how we have fought for our Country, and now perhaps how their is a new battle occurring here in our Country, that of hunger. As represented by the empty plate.
DESIGN 3 - Great use of bold typeface and bold color. The colors and imagery hits "home" (Patriotic).
Design 1 - I really like what you did with your first design, the uneven columns create visual interest and is extremely attractive. The only thing i'm having an issue with is the text frames vs the photo sizes on the top do not align, I'm not sure if this was intentional but it seems to be bothering me a bit.
ReplyDeleteDesign 2 - In your original post you asked about the opacity of the plate, so I'll be focusing on that. The concept makes sense to me and I believe the plate should stay but I think the opacity should be put up to 100%.
Design 3 - This is my favorite of the 3, I love the use of color, absolutely fantastic. The layout is creative and different and i believe this one stands out the most out of the 3, good work!