Interesting Layout

Saw this layout on a design blog. Thought it was a very interesting design. I like the way the article takes on a form of it's own and the two pages are like negatives of each other. I think it works really well visually.

I'm not sure how legible this article would be though (as this was a relatively small image). Looking at it again, I think it does function like most articles. It's basically 3 columns but the middle column is shorter and in the middle. To create this shape the designer has had to use less paragraph breaks, I noticed, and this could be less encouraging for the reader as it looks like a block of text, even if it looks nice. This has given me some ideas about different ways I could set the type on my layouts.

4th topic?

After looking at some of the layouts in the guide below I realized I have a lot more freedom when it comes to choosing a topic than I thought. As I'm fairly decided on three of my topics (a car review, a game review and a guide to Tunbridge Wells) I'd like my fourth layout to be a bit more experimental or at least based on a topic that's a bit different.

I just don't know what yet..

32 Inspirational Examples of Amazing Layout and Typography

http://speckyboy.com/2008/06/15/32-inspirational-examples-of-amazing-layout-and-typography/

For some initial design inspiration I had a look at this guide from online design magazine Specky Boy which has some examples of really good layout design.

I really like the way the designer has used type in this layout. The imagery and the typography work really well together to create one interesting looking piece of design. I also like the unconventional way the title and main body are set, with the article sitting almost inside the header itself and the typeface used to create the header looks really cool. What's also interesting are the paragraphs that run down the page in red. It's an interesting way of setting type which I hadn't considered before.

Even though the article itself is quite short, the design of the spread is so eye catching and unique it makes you want to read it. This has shown me how creative you can be when designing a magazine spread, as a well designed piece does not have to follow the conventions of most magazine layouts.

I found this layout particularly inspirational because it made me realize you can create a spread on literally any topic, even a typeface. And it still looks really well done. I really like the way the designer set the type to display the characteristics of this typeface. It's simple but really effective.

Nintendo Offical Magazine

As an avid fan of video games I think i'd enjoy designing a layout for a game review. This would be a good opportunity to do some writing of my own as I could easily rent a game, play it and write a real review based on my own thoughts and opinions.

Offical Nintendo Magazine is something I used to read often. They redesigned it in 2006 and I think the style works really well. The clean design and consistent colour scheme helps make the magazine look more professional and geared towards adults not just kids. This was a problem facing the company at time and Nintendo rebranded itself with the launch of the Wii, thus the magazine followed suit. I think ONM are good at laying out their images and text in a way that is quite in-depth but doesn't seem cluttered and illegible. The magazine is also well printed and the cover always has a nice finish.

SO Tunbridge Wells

I'm interested in creating a guide to Tunbridge Wells as one of my layouts. This would give me a variety of things to talk about and photograph, and obviously it's convenient because I live here.

http://tunbridgewells.so/

I've often seen the magazine 'SO Tunbridge Wells' around. This seems to be along the lines of what I was thinking of. It features local news, guides to food and drink, health and events around the town. This might be a good magazine to use as the base of my layout as it's a nice size and looks well printed.

Car Magazine

These are some examples of spreads found in "Car" magazine that they post on their website. I really like the style of their layouts.

Their design is simple but has a lot of visual impact due to the bold imagery they use (often just one image that covers both pages). The type is also well layed out. They keep the article together in one easy to read block which is often positioned in a way that doesn't clash with the main image. I think this gives the magazine a very modern feel. Their style suggests a focus on the feel of the cars they're testing rather than facts and figures. There aren't many info boxes or captions. In fact, there aren't any from what I can tell.

Doing a spread for a car magazine is something I'm really interested in and will definately be one of my choices. I have some more existing car mags at home and will look at them for more inspiration and information on how car reviews are layed out.

If I used my own car that could give me the chance to develop my skills in photography (as the brief does say to use own imagery for some of the spreads). I also think it'd be fun to use my car (which is in no way new or glamourous like the above) as the subject and create a mock review as if it WERE knew.

Ideas for article topics

I've decided to create four spreads on seperate topics as I'm interested in trying out different styles. This will also give me a bit more creative freedom in my designs.

I thought I'd start off with a brainstorm of different magazine types i could choose for this project.

Possible topics/mag types:

-Game review
-Travel guide
-Music/Film reviews
-Car mag
-Interview
-News story?
-Consumer advice
-Kids magazine
-Design Magazine
-TV guide?
-Some kind of feature on K College (guide to new facilities?)

The Brief

University of Kent at West Kent College

HND  Graphic Design

Year 1/2, Summer Vacation

Project:  Typographic Summer

Module: Graphic Design with Typography 2 [level 2]

Preamble

Over the summer you will need to keep rehearsing your skills or you may find yourself getting stale. This project will allow you to do this while choosing topics that suit you.

Please note that the module that you are beginning is a year two module, so while it may seem similar you are expected to up the standard and level of your engagement.

The Brief

Over the summer please complete four double-page spreads about any topic(s) that you like. They can be about the same topic or different ones.

You should use some of your own imagery and wording, but can supplement this with found images and texts. Please make sure that you reference this clearly in your sketchbook or within the spreads as appropriate.

You should get your format for the page measurements from a magazine of your choice and then present the spreads as mock ups within the magazine. No A sizes will be accepted!

You should regard these spreads as portfolio pieces.

Assessment

While the module may be assessed as a portfolio towards the end of the second year, there will NOT be further opportunities to develop or improve this specific project so you should be careful to present the spreads as professionally as possible.

We expect sketchbooks with this work.

Over the summer you may submit PDFs or the spreads, or work in development to get tutor feedback. You will have ONE opportunity only to do this.

Specific Learning Outcomes

Please refer to the Module Guide on Moodle for specific learning outcomes against which you will be assessed. Please make sure that you allow yourself opportunities to present evidence of having achieved these in your sketchbooks and final pieces.

This is a module based in typography, so please make sure that you use appropriate elements in your design.

Your piece will be assessed against a module form level 2 and the grades will count towards your second year of assessment.

Submission Date: Week of September 19^th 2011 [exact date to be confirmed – it will be your first class date of the term.]

Sancha de Burca, Tim Bones, Colin Watson

25^th May 2011