So here are my revisions for exercise 1 because I too, didn't do the department articles. So I re-did the exercise with the correct articles, and still kept the same typefaces of last time. I took it a little further based on feedback, and changed the images. Again my audience is high students, grades 11-12th (ages 16-18). The one I favor most is the last one. But would love to here from you guys for any further suggestions! Thanks!
Nadin, I actually love the middle layout the best. The color palette is very attention-grabbing and I really like the repetitive use of the "/". The large image will speak very well to your target audience and draw them in and down into the body copy. The placement and cropping of the title text is also very dynamic. As far as the third layout, I do have one suggestion: move the pull quote a little to the left so that it does no intrude on the third column of text.
ReplyDeleteThank you Brittney! The "/" was actually like a last minute thought! So I'm glad it actually works! Okay and I see what your saying about the quote as well. This helps thank you!
DeleteNadine – I am drawn to the last (#3) layout as you are, because of the unique use of lines that help draw the eye and divides up the page, expressive heading font, and thin columns that are broken by the column quote. I think column quotes work really well for this audience – it helps them “sum up” the article quickly, probably a good thing for high school students. Brittany’s choice of #2 is understandable – but in my opinion that layout appears more like a Feature with 1 large photo and huge heading (clever type placement with the bleeds). So don’t discount that layout, you might be able to revise it into a Feature eventually. Layout #1 needs to be more fun, exciting, and interesting for this audience. Larger photos – how about a ripped-paper-type collage of these photos with call outs (lines) connecting the photos to their descriptions? Intro type looks huge (which it would need to be to travel the whole way across the page)… maybe too large? I encourage you, if you choose to use this article in your mag, to think about inventive shapes on the page … have some fun with this layout, and if you do the reader will too.
ReplyDeleteBack to #3 – please write a different department title. “The change of Food” isn’t a title that could be used for other issues… and departments do appear in every issue. So maybe something like “Trends” or “Current Thinking” could work. See other department titles (in other magazines for this age) – in fact I think you’ll find that often icons are used for this audience rather than type phrases. Body copy – I wonder if you’ve thought about a slightly condensed sans serif? Your job is make this look really contemporary for this audience – and to fit more words on a line in that 4 column grid. You should probably allow hyphenation to help fill out the lines more fully (your ragged right is really ragged) and eliminate that huge space between paragraphs. Less space would be better, or no space at all and use an indent for your new paragraphs. Pay attention to your leading, sometimes smaller pt sizes and more leading is actually more readable. Lastly, I do wonder about the text wrap around your column quote box in the far right column. Hmmm… the column is pretty thin to begin with. I like that you are playing with the shapes of your columns – but this might look more awkward than clever. What else can you do with these columns to add interest to the page? What other shape can that quote sit inside? What can you do with additional photos on the left (silhouettes?) in that negative space. FUN – that’s the name of this game. Your challenge – how will you talk to YOUR audience in a way that isn’t the same as an adult. What makes them different? What do they respond to? Be bold – be inventive – think a bit crazy and it will help you produce the unique perspective that will capture their attention.
Here is a website that will help you understand this audience (and give you some great info for your design brief): www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Tweens_Teens/
This sounds great great! Thanks for the feedback Coni. I also prefer the third one as well. I will re-work this based on the feedback.
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