A blog for Summer 2015 NEiA Publication Design class with instructor, Coni Porter. The purpose is to offer faculty and peer feedback in a timely manner, allowing and encouraging the students to progress in a focused and productive way. As the semester ends, this class has produced 117 posts, 263 comments, and been viewed by over 5,000 internet readers. See the last group of postings below to view final student work: sample pages for the (fictional) Habitat Magazine: The Future of Food.
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Chris Cefole_Cover Redesign_Again
I have redone my cover to fit my target audience. It is straight forward, thought provoking and uses the imagery to emphasize the text. Feedback is always welcome!
Chris, I'm wondering if the imagery is too dark? But my bigger issue is understanding the cutlines. They aren't left justified, they are not right justified, and they are not centered. Not that any of those three would be a requirement, but feeling the alignment and placement of the text isn't sitting right with me. Lastly, the vertical alignment of the masthead and subhead. The subhead looks like it is sitting a bit low compared to the masthead. Wondering if they should be aligned so that the distance vertically is the same on both sides of the white vertical line.
Chris – Wow, this is just as thought provoking at the last cover, but it presents an image that clearly ties into the issue’s theme. Nice. A few things to think about:
Image: Desaturating this is a great idea… but realize that this will for sure print darker and flatter (less detail than you see on screen) then you see here. Maybe you’ve gone a tad too far?
The masthead might get lost up in that dark corner. Contrast needed to make sure it doesn’t. Check alignment issues, as is mentioned above.
Cut lines at bottom: no periods are needed. Is this best position for them – sort of centered in the middle of the page? You aren’t using symmetry anywhere else in the composition, so I question this placement. Can they seem to “wrap” around the steer’s body somehow? Are they a bit too small?
Chris good work! I think this is a major improvement from your last ones! I believe that this works a lot better for your audience.
I really like the masthead. It seems subtle but eye catching. I like the placement here.
However, I do agree with Coni and Michael. The cutlines feel a bit odd. I would play around with the placement more and size. Maybe moving them to the right side of the image next to the animal. Also why is just the "Green" green? I think if your going to use all three features or just two, make another word green too, just to keep everything unified and interesting, because right now "The next green revolution" look more important than the other too.
I love the masthead-title connection, but I agree with Michael that the positioning is just a bit off. Also, the image is very striking, but I wish it was a bit brighter so I could really look more into the details of it; it is a bit too subtle right now. I see why you added the period at the end of the cutlines: secondary element? I see that you keep it consistent with the period in the masthead and title so that inclusion does not bother me; in fact it unites the type choices throughout the design. Lastly, I agree with everyone above that the cutlines are a bit odd. A suggestion would be to maybe counter balance the large cow by having the cutlines jut in from the right side and maybe have them on solid blocks of color. They could form a step ladder shape where a downward diagonal is formed by the title blocks. There is definitely a chance to play more with these. Major improvement from the first and second drafts!
I enjoy your image choice in this cover the most of what has been presented thus far from you. The masthead does seem off, but effective for your target audience. The cut lines aren't all over the place which also works for that audience but they almost read as one paragraph, was this intentional? I quite enjoy the mast head now, it is more successful, I don't necessarily mind the positioning.
Chris, I'm wondering if the imagery is too dark? But my bigger issue is understanding the cutlines. They aren't left justified, they are not right justified, and they are not centered. Not that any of those three would be a requirement, but feeling the alignment and placement of the text isn't sitting right with me. Lastly, the vertical alignment of the masthead and subhead. The subhead looks like it is sitting a bit low compared to the masthead. Wondering if they should be aligned so that the distance vertically is the same on both sides of the white vertical line.
ReplyDeleteChris – Wow, this is just as thought provoking at the last cover, but it presents an image that clearly ties into the issue’s theme. Nice. A few things to think about:
ReplyDeleteImage: Desaturating this is a great idea… but realize that this will for sure print darker and flatter (less detail than you see on screen) then you see here. Maybe you’ve gone a tad too far?
The masthead might get lost up in that dark corner. Contrast needed to make sure it doesn’t. Check alignment issues, as is mentioned above.
Cut lines at bottom: no periods are needed. Is this best position for them – sort of centered in the middle of the page? You aren’t using symmetry anywhere else in the composition, so I question this placement. Can they seem to “wrap” around the steer’s body somehow? Are they a bit too small?
Chris good work! I think this is a major improvement from your last ones! I believe that this works a lot better for your audience.
ReplyDeleteI really like the masthead. It seems subtle but eye catching. I like the placement here.
However, I do agree with Coni and Michael. The cutlines feel a bit odd. I would play around with the placement more and size. Maybe moving them to the right side of the image next to the animal. Also why is just the "Green" green? I think if your going to use all three features or just two, make another word green too, just to keep everything unified and interesting, because right now "The next green revolution" look more important than the other too.
But overall, great progress! Keep it up!
I love the masthead-title connection, but I agree with Michael that the positioning is just a bit off. Also, the image is very striking, but I wish it was a bit brighter so I could really look more into the details of it; it is a bit too subtle right now. I see why you added the period at the end of the cutlines: secondary element? I see that you keep it consistent with the period in the masthead and title so that inclusion does not bother me; in fact it unites the type choices throughout the design. Lastly, I agree with everyone above that the cutlines are a bit odd. A suggestion would be to maybe counter balance the large cow by having the cutlines jut in from the right side and maybe have them on solid blocks of color. They could form a step ladder shape where a downward diagonal is formed by the title blocks. There is definitely a chance to play more with these. Major improvement from the first and second drafts!
ReplyDeleteHey Chris -
ReplyDeleteI enjoy your image choice in this cover the most of what has been presented thus far from you. The masthead does seem off, but effective for your target audience. The cut lines aren't all over the place which also works for that audience but they almost read as one paragraph, was this intentional? I quite enjoy the mast head now, it is more successful, I don't necessarily mind the positioning.
Dan