IT'S OVER

I  can't believe I made it through this class. I knew absolutely nothing about design before taking graphics. I had no clue how intricate graphic designing would be and how much work it would take to complete one assignment.  By far, I put the most effort and time into this class out of all my Newhouse and Whitman classes this semester. Although the projects were tedious, I am so proud of all my final designs and can't wait to go home and show my family. 

Learning how to use the Adobe programs was also not an easy task. However, I am confident enough to say I know the basics, which will be beneficial in the future. I learned so much in this class and have an entirely new perspective on design and typography. I am so much more attentive and appreciative towards designs and type. I actually will look at a design and say, that design is or is not communicating the brand's message. 

I am very glad I took this class. Although it was a roller-coaster ride, I am happy to have made it through.  I know I wouldn't of  survived, along with my peers, If Greg hadn't dedicated so much time to help us. So thanks Greg on behalf of everyone! 

Wrap up post

I must say that when I first began this class,I was extremely nervous about it. I always considered myself not artistic nor creative, so the idea of a graphics class was a bit intimidating. I remember Hedges saying the first day of class, "I love when students say they are not creative, because I want to show them they are!" I honestly did not really believe it. Well, now having finished the class, I can say that he definitely had some truth to this statement. I am really impressed with the types of projects we were able to create in my first ever graphics class. I also really enjoyed every part of this class. The work we had to do was unlike anything else I have ever done before with programs I had never even heard of. It is so crazy to me to see some of the things I have created in this class. Yes, it was a lot of work and involved a lot of effort and time, but in the end, it was an exciting accomplishment to see what I have done in this class.
I have also never realized how graphics is incorporated into everything around us. Designs, typefaces, colors, sizes, logos are everywhere. Now when I see all of this things around me, I can think about how much thought and planning went into them to make sure they portray the correct message to the viewer. I never really thought something like a typeface would matter, but now I see that they are each specifically designed. I really think that I have learned some great skills and new programs that will be able to help me in my future courses and hopefully in my public relations work some day.

Final Post

In the last 15 weeks I learned how intricate details of a matter of picas can turn a sloppy design or use of type into a professional looking layout. The course, for better or worse, has made me extra sensitive to logos, designs, and typefaces in everyday life.

My favorite project was the logo project because it required designing something that was symbolic of myself. I got the idea of a thinker statue just from flipping through an art history book. It was really interesting to turn something abstract into something that represented me by adding color and tweaking the design.

I also really liked working with the interface project because it was for WAER.org, a website I spend a lot of time on because I work there. Every time I'm on the real website I get annoyed by something that was poorly laid out. It was both a stress reliever and a fun project, when I was able to rearrange the site so that it looked more professional and was more user friendly.

Finally, at WAER my boss gives me a lot of odd jobs. One of them was to design press tags for a Jazz concert they were hosting. If I hadn't learned the programs along with all the knowledge about good design and typeface layout, I wouldn't have been able to do this assignment. It was amazing to see how three months ago I wouldn't have even been able to do the project, while now I could take full advantage of the Adobe programs to make Press tags consistent with the ticket design. My boss loved it and it was really gratifying to see the things I learned in Graphics help me in the real world almost immediately.

IT'S OVER

I loved this class, and I love designing things. I’m so glad Newhouse requires so many people to take this class because after taking a graphics class, you see things in completely new and different ways. Each lecture taught us something different, yet necessary about design, from color to hierarchy to perception. I really liked that there were always opportunities to get help when we were stuck or needed advice. Even though my labs were early in the morning, they definitely helped and I know we all learned a lot from them. The projects were stressful but definitely encouraged me to brainstorm and think in different ways that made me stretch my imagination in ways I didn’t know possible. By the way, I tried to make this post in Helvetica. It didn't work.

The Final Post

This class far exceeded my expectations. I can say with absolute confidence that I learnt more in this course than in any other course I've taken thus far. Also all the lessons I learned are ones that can be applied to SO  many different courses, subjects, and careers. Taking this course really does make you look at everything in a new light. Whether it be advertisements, billboards, magazine covers, movie posters, suddenly I see everything differently. You feel like you know a little bit more about why certain things are placed in certain spots or why a type face was used. Although I'm FAR FAR from a graphic genius I feel I have a MUCH better understanding of the logic behind designs. Professor Hedges and Danya were both extremely helpful with all of the assignment. You never had to think twice about approaching either of them for help. I have never had a Professor or TA who were as committed to the students as they were -so to have them both be for the same course made it that much better. 

There really was no such thing as a pointless assignment in this course. All of the projects taught us something new. I came into the class having never opening InDesign or Illustrator and now feel very comfortable using both. I do think I'm still pretty shaky on Photoshop, but I improved a lot over the last couple of weeks. I think the greatest part about this course is that the skills we learn are ones we can carry with us always. We now realize we all have the potential to make a really cool poster or an impressive looking resume. I think everyone impressed themselves as the course went on with the ability to think of creative ideas to present material. Personally, I also noticed that as the course went on my way of presenting the ideas became simpler and simpler. I realized how you don't need to overdue it with special typefaces or really complex pictures. Instead a simple message should be conveyed with a clean and simple design. I think that my work definitely improved over the semester since Danya and Professor Hedges made themselves so available for guidance. 

My only criticism of the course is the labs. I think they should be optional rather than mandatory, because I really did not learn very much in them. Although all the of GRA 217 students had the same projects, different teachers had slightly different requirements and criteria so it was hard to have an instructor teach to all of those people at once. It did however, make you pace you work on projects so you weren't overwhelmed toward the end ( or at least not OVERLY overwhelmed.) 

I really enjoyed this class and have highly recommended it to many of my friends. I think it benefits you regardless of your major! 

GRA 217 Wrap Up

This course changed both my perspective on graphic art and how I view myself as a designer. I never thought I’d be able to create anything I was proud of, let alone figure out how to use the design programs. I didn’t think I was creative enough, and in all honesty I was a little intimidated by the course.

Having survived the stress and frustration, I feel truly accomplished and can appreciate the work put into the designs I see in everyday life. The projects taught me that design is not just about making things looks pretty, but about functionality and communicating a message to an audience.

It was a pleasure working with Greg and Danya to realize my visions as a designer. I definitely learned more from lecture and office hours than I did in lab, and I’m sure I will be able to use what I learned in my future career in PR.

Thank you all for a great class. I enjoyed looking at your designs on this blog. You guys have so much talent!

P.S. Does this remind anyone of a certain professor?



Just kidding, Greg!

Wrap Up post

This class was really useful because it taught students a lot about the world of graphic design. It explained how to properly use the necessary programs (InDeisgn, Illustrator, and Photoshop). Also, although some things used in graphic design are common sense, this class is the first I’ve ever had that explained things such as grids, color, image sizes, and variation in typefaces to emphasize hierarchy, draw attention, and keep your audience interested.

The continuous project after project was exhausting at times, but it was good because it kept you in constant motion, just like a real job would. Also, the fact that it was so hands-on meant you were applying, and the applications were ones that will be useful in real life (we’ll need to create a resume to find a job, perhaps a logo for our business card, et cetera).

It really makes you aware of little things on posters you see hanging around or the layouts of magazines you read. The class was very interesting and I know it will come in handy, so I’m glad it was a requirement for my major.

wrap it upppp

I came into this class thinking I knew a lot about design, but I had no idea. This class has opened me up to a whole new world of creating messages, telling stories, and selling something. I’m really happy this was a requirement; it has been by far my favorite class so far at SU. I am actually seriously debating whether or not to switch my major to graphics because of what I’ve learned this semester.

The world of graphic design is so much more involved than I ever imagined it would be. The people we learned about (and that ridiculous Helvetica video we watched) are so involved and interested in design—simply put, I never knew someone could be in love with typefaces. Graphic design has always been something that was always there, I didn’t have to think about why things looked the way they did—websites, magazines, ads, etc. seemed to work for my purposes and that is all I really cared about. Now, I can analyze everything and I understand why items are placed where they are and what specific purpose they serve (because there always is one).

I am really happy that I was able to learn Photoshop and Illustrator, although I feel like we just skimmed the surface of the programs in labs. Office hours and instruction in the beginning of class was much more helpful and everything was explained clearer. I came in with knowledge of InDesign, and I got much better at that as well. Overall, I feel that these skills are important to have because you don’t need to rely on anyone else to help you make an awesome project for a different class and you are even more marketable when it comes to the real world. I felt like labs were a waste of time, though, because they didn’t explain things very well. I realize the TAs are grad students and not professors, but it was just a hard environment to learn in.

Professor Hedges’ office hours, however, were SO SO SO helpful. I really liked office hours because although I paid attention in class, it was hard to apply concepts learned to my work. Hedges pointed out where I had already done that without noticing, and gave such good feedback about what didn’t work and why.

Overall, I really enjoyed this class this semester. The projects did take up some time, but I didn’t really notice because I enjoyed doing them so much. I wish that I could continue with this stuff because it’s really fun! Thanks for a great semester!

Final Post

This class has seriously changed how I look at design. I've realized how much effort goes into even the simpliest designs. I am constantly analyzing the things I see in my everyday surroundings. I notice every typeface, graphic or photo that used and analyze the way the designer used it. I have become very interested in graphic design.

I have also realized how important design is in conveying a message. Even a typeface can send a certain message or tone to an audience. It's not always about what you say or write, its about the way it is presented and the message that it sends visually.

I am so glad that I took this class, and I truly enjoyed working on the projects and using the software. I want to take more graphic design classes in the future and think that I will use the skills I have learned in my future career in PR. Hedges taught me so much, and it was really cool to see an alumni who has been so successful.

Final Post

I can honestly say this is the best class I have taken at Syracuse. I was dreading to take this class and I thought it would be a horrible experience. I never saw myself as a graphic designer and did not think I could handle the workload. I'm not exactly the most technology savvy person and I thought it would be annoying to go to the labs all the time. I enjoyed my experience, however, and I think because of this class I have acquired skills that will help me in the future and my career. The projects were fun and challenged me in a different way than any other class.

I especially enjoyed the logo system and magazine projects and I think they were my best work. The magazine project took a lot of time but overall looking at the end product all the effort I put into it was worth it. 

I did not find any flaws in the class but I do think the labs were too long and I learned more in office hours than I did in lab. Lab was always boring and the instructor rushed through everything so I did not have a strong comprehension of the material after each session.

I'm going to miss this class a lot and I must admit I'm a little sad it had to end. I will never look at graphics the same and I hope to continue working more with Indesign and Photoshop. It's been a great semester in the class!

End of Semester Wrap Up

I can honestly say this is one of the most beneficial classes I have ever taken here at Syracuse. I can use the skills gained in this course for personal, professional and academic use. For example, I used skills I learned in InDesign to design a poster for my sorority's philanthropy softball tournament. This benefited my house, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and myself. Another example is that I learned how to use Photoshop to edit photographs for a history project. I was able to scan, crop and edit photographs for the project, which I never would have been able to do before this class.

Prior to this course, I thought I was pretty familiar with Adobe Photoshop. Now that I have completed this course, I realize I was not familiar at all. I learned how to properly complete the tasks that I thought I knew how to do before this course. I used to use Photoshop improperly and would get frustrated, but in learning how to do things the right way, I found it easier to edit images. Its funny, I didn't even know what Adobe Illustrator and InDesign were before this class, but now I actually feel more comfortable with those programs than AdobePhotoshop.

My one criticism for this course would be that I think we spent so much time using Adobe Illustrator and InDesign, but not enough time on Photoshop. I feel more than comfortable using Illustrator and InDesign for any project, but I think there are still several things I could learn about Photoshop. 

This class has been one of my favorite courses I have ever taken, not only because it is so practical and beneficial, but because it was fun and interesting as well. I actually think that if I were a freshman, I would be interested in possibly switching my major. I recommended this class to several of my friends who are Newhouse majors and other majors because of how intriguing and valuable it is. 

The Final Post

I am truly grateful to have taken GRA 217 this past semester. Coming into the course I wasn't sure how I was going to perform or how difficult the assignments were going to be.  I didn't think that graphic design was an art form in the beginning, I really didn't know what it was.  After this class however I realize that it is an art form and a science all rolled into one.  Knowing your audience and how they are going to react and what is going to draw them in or away is such a key component of the business, and I never really realized that aspect of graphic design before.  In finishing the class I feel more confident in my artistic abilities and feel like I have a greater understanding of the principles and rules behind graphical design.

In reference to the five projects I found the resume, logo system, and website the most enjoyable and beneficial. Not only did these projects help me get off to a great start as a professional, but also helped me explore my personality and the career fields I am trying to pursue.  While I didn't enjoy the poster or magazine projects as much I still thought they were helpful lessons that I needed to learn in going into communications.

 I believe that graphic design is an essential course for anyone looking to get into the communications business, and one of the most beneficial courses I have ever taken.  Prof. Hedges and Danya were excellent guides into the graphical world and I hope that they can continue bringing people in.  My only gripe with the course was the time spent in lecture and the mandatory labs.  I feel that only one lecture a week, that was two hours would be more effective than two one and half hour classes.  The labs I thought were pointless, my instructor was not very helpful and seemed more obsessed with her own personal issues rather than teaching the class.  I think labs should be optional rather than mandatory.

Farewell to Graphics

Well, another semester has come and gone in the blink of an eye. I am legitimately sad that our time in Graphics 217 is over. I really enjoyed this class and know that I will take all that I learned with me. I am a creative advertising major, so these skills and concepts are crucial to my understanding and success in my industry. If I were to go for an interview and be asked to critique an ad (as they so often do), I will be able to impress them with my knowledge of concepts like Gestalt principles, hierarchy, continuity, perception, etc.

Let me just say that we take for granted how much practical experience we were able to get. Sure we moaned every time Danya handed out those project assignment sheets, but in the end, we were truly lucky to be able to create what we did. When selecting colleges I had finally decided on NYU over Syracuse. I visited the city campus and spoke to professors and students, and the one thing they wish that their program had was more opportunity to actually create, use the programs, craft executions instead of just the ideas behind them. I thought to myself, what is the good in that?

Even with all the stress, the loooonnnngggg office hour lines, and unnecessary lab classes (YES I AM SAYING THAT THOSE LABS SHOULD DEFINITELY NOT BE MANDATORY!!!!!!!) Professor Hedges made the class truly enjoyable and worthwhile. He has a great eye and a clear passion for what he does. All in all, I will never forget my time in this class and the valuable information and skills I have amassed.

Magazine identity and readership:
My magazine is intended to reach a young female audience around the ages of 18-25. It is the type of magazine to compete with Allure, Cosmo, and Glamour. It focuses on fashion, dating tips, healthy living advice, and some celebrity gossip, but it is not a tabloid magazine like People or OK.

Magazine Visual Identity:
My magazine it intended to be colorful and fun. The bright colors of the cover and funny teasers are meant to draw the audiences’ attention and leave them wanting more. The colors and pictures used in the feature are also meant to intrigue the reader and keep hold of their interest.

Article Visual Identity:
The article was meant to follow the fun feminine theme created by the magazine cover. The pictures were chosen because of their bright colors and visual appeal. The feature spread, with the car, was chosen because it gave me the country hometown theme found in Taylor Swift’s music. The title and type used for the title are joined by the “h” and “s” which forms them as a unit brings the two words together even though they are written in different fonts.

Article Design Strategy:
My design fits with the theme established by my magazine because it is colorful and fun, but still presents the article in a classic easily read format. The first spread uses a serif and script font playing against each other in the title. The yellow coloring of the type was brought from the dress Taylor is wearing in the image. The body text in the second spread was chosen because of its feminine feel, which fits in with the magazine theme. The serif font used in the title spread is also pulled through to the sidebar and drop cap. The yellow color, and an orange color from the dress Taylor is wearing unify the two spreads. The brown color from the rust on the car also is pulled through onto the second spread the sidebar story. The unification of type and color on the two spreads creates a cohesive feel that brings them together as one unit. The musical note used to dot the “i” in the title also pulls in the music theme that runs throughout the article.

Style Sheet:
Opening Spread Headline: Bulmer MT Std, 181.565/217.878, metrics, tracking 0
Opening spread headline( therapy): Caflisch Script Pro, 126.133/151.359, metrics, tracking 0
Opening spread text: Bulmer MT Std., 24/28.8, metrics, tracking 0
Jump Spread drop cap: Bulmer MT Std., 94.05/112.86, metrics, tracking 0
Photo captions: ITC Berkeley Oldstyle Std., 9/20.518, metrics, tracking 0
Pull Quote: Caflisch Script Pro 24/20.518, metrics, tracking 0
Photo Credits: ITC Berkeley Oldstyle Std., 5/6, metrics, tracking 0
Body Text: ITC Berkeley Oldstyle Std., 9.5/11.4, metrics, tracking 0
Sidebar Title: Bulmer MT Std., 30/36, metrics, tracking 0
Year titles in sidebar: Myriad Pro, 18/21.6, metrics tracking 0
Sidebar text: Myriad Pro, 12/14.4, metrics, tracking 0
Folios: ITC Berkeley Oldstyle Std., 18/21.6, metrics, tracking 0
Cover title: Cochin 165.17/198.21, metrics, tracking 0
Teaser 1: Stone Sans ITC TT Bold, 36/43.2, metrics, tracking 0
Teaser 1 subtext: Stone Sans ITC TT Bold, 14/16.8, metrics, tracking 0
Teaser 3: Stone Sans ITC TT Bold, 18/18, metrics, tracking 0
Teaser 4: Stone Sans ITC TT Bold, 18.18, metrics, tracking 0
Teaser 6: Stone Sans ITC TT Bold, 21.52/16.14, metrics, tracking 0
Teaser 2: Bodoni Svty Two ITC TT, 18/18, metrics, tracking 0
Teaser 5: Bodoni Svty Two ITC TT, 18/18, metrics, tracking 0
Month/Year: Bodoni Svty Two ITC TT, 10/18, metrics, tracking 0

Document Grid:
I used a margin 4p0 from the top and 5p0 from the bottom to make up for the gravity switch the eye makes. I kept the left and right margins at the standard 3p0 because I wanted to have new margins to create a new look but didn’t want to sacrifice being able to fit the article on the pages. I chose to have three columns per page because I thought it worked well with the size of the images and layout of the text. It wasn’t too many columns that would make the eye move back and forth too quickly but it was broken up so the pages didn’t look like they were filled with text.

Sources:
Jump-spread picture #2: http://www.celebrity-pictures.ca/Celebrities/Taylor-Swift/Taylor-Swift-1156701.jpg
Jump-spread picture #1: http://www.deshow.net/d/file/celebrity/2009-03/10a408170e2a4b238d886836d6da12d0.jpg
Opening spread picture: http://www3.allaroundphilly.com/blogs/delcotimes/ryanl/uploaded_images/taylorswift-774450.jpg
Cover image: http://www.entertainmentedge.com.au/images/TaylorSwiftPromo0012008.jpg
Guitar image: http://www.graphicshunt.com/tags/1/guitars.htm
Music note image: http://www.freewebs.com/toetoex/joe-Musical_Note-small.jpg
Bar code: http://www.ptsoft.com/ennouncements/2005/September/barcode.jpg

Extras: The colors used throughout the two spreads was taken from the main image used on the opening spread. The colors pull the two spreads together and make the pages one cohesive unit that works together to tell a story.

Magazine Project

Magazine identity and readership
The name of my magazine is Scene. It applies to movie terminology as well as the social circles in which movie fanatics travel. My publication is geared toward a younger, hipper audience, aged probably 16-25. These individuals are passionate about film in regards to current events, modern cinematic techniques, and projects that are in the works. In essence, Scene is a movie buff’s equivalent of Cosmopolitan.

Magazine visual identity
What I want to convey visually through my magazine design is both accessibility and innovation; I want to challenge the eye with interesting visuals but not fight them for readability. The main cover graphic is a photo-mosaic of the Twilight movie poster, which I think correlates well with magazine’s image. It promotes a cool, new approach toward the film magazine niche.

Article visual identity
I chose the feature spread graphic because I think it evoked a hip, chill vibe. The visual path leads one from the title, to the main actors’ faces, to the deck-head, and then to the remaining cast members and image. This effectively communicates what the tone of the feature is and what the article is about. I used bright colors complimented by black for my type in order to match the picture’s aesthetic too.

Article design strategy
My article continues to exhibit the same tone as my feature spread and cover. The first drop cap is the same as the first part of the title, and the other drop caps are the same type as the second half of the title, thus tying the elements together and giving readers’ eyes reference points. The images are tilted to invoke the angles of the wood in the feature spread and also make the article feel less formal and structured. The combination of brighter colors and black are used in the jump spread once again too. My choice of Adobe Caslon pro, a serif font, for the body copy was to ensure comfortable readability, and my choice of sans serif for the sidebar was to add contrast from the body text. I added a full-page image to give the reader a break from all of the text on the first two pages, and an additional image and pull quote on the 4th for more visual interest and another break.

Style sheet
Cover headline: Fashion Victim, 165/198, optical kerning
Cover date: Gill sans regular, 8/9.6, metrics kerning
Cover teasers: Futura condensed medium, condensed extra bold, medium,
medium italic 14.183/17.02 – 32.164/38.597, metrics kerning


Opening spread headline:
YOUNG: Little Lord of Frontery, 187.577/225.093, individual text boxes
BLOODS: Gill Sans bold, 146.85/176.22, metrics kerning, tracking-130
Deckhead: Adobe Caslon Pro Bold Italic, 22/26.4, 27/32.4, metrics kerning
Photography and Author: Adobe Caslon Pro Bold Italic, 17.897/21.476, metrics kerning
Jump spread pull quote: Adobe Caslon Pro Semibold Italic, 25.295, 20.696, 29.894/25.295, metrics kerning

Feature text: Adobe Caslon Pro regular 9.65/12 optical kerning

Folio: Gill Sans regular, 12/14.4, Gill Sans bold, 8/9.6, Gill Sans regular, 8/9.6, metrics kerning

Quiz: Gill sans bold: 53.672/37.611, 27.096/24, metrics kerning
Gill Sans light, 6.746/7.338 metrics kerning tracking 25

Drop caps in article: Gill Sans Bold, 12/12, metrics kerning­­

Image captions: Gill Sans regular, 9/10.8, metrics kerning

Document grid
I chose to make my bottom margin a tad larger to accommodate for the folio and add some white space. The top margin is also a little larger than the default, but smaller than the bottom. My choice to use two columns for my body text had to do with the way my images fit. I think it looks balanced yet dynamic due to the angles and color choices. Also, my magazine will be saddle-stitched so images will not be distorted in the gutter region.

Magazine Post

Magazine Identity and Readership:

My original magazine article was found in Elle, I planned for my fictional magazine, Ever to have a similar identity and readership. The majority of the audience would be women who are about 18-30 and are interested in politics as much as they are purses. They would probably be more educated and professional and would have either already graduated from college or be pursuing their degree. I also think it would probably be targeted to a more urban audience. I would see our stereotypical reader as a women who graduated college within the last 4 years and currently lives in the major city working at establishing a successful career while enjoying her youth, she is a confident juggler and determined to “have it all.”

 Magazine Visual Identity :

Ever magazine would have feature articles about celebrities, but it would not at all be a gossipy “who is she dating now” type of article. We want to show the deeper side of the celebrities so that our young females readers can connect with them and feel they are really getting to know them. The pictures are pretty simple and show the celebrity in a more approachable way. 

Article Visual Identity:

I wanted the article layout to be clean, simple, and inviting. I wanted a two column layout for Ever because to me personally I think it’s easier to read. Especially since I am using big images I though two columns was best. I wanted to keep it simple. With only the pale pink being used to accent the article. This article is about getting to know Reese Witherspoon, not getting to know how many fancy fonts and colors we are able to afford as an established magazine.

Article Design Strategy:

I think I the photos I use perfectly tell the story of the article. I was really fortunate to find several great quality black-and-white photographs of Reese. In the article she talks a lot about accepting that things in life are complicating and rarely black-or-white simple issues. Instead she explained how her divorce, children, and career have taught her that she lives in a rather grey world. Also, some of the photos have her happy and joking, white others are very serious, like on the jump spread in the black dress. Also, the first photograph of her holding the doll like a little girl would seemed to perfect compliment my deck head that says she “redefined what it means to be “young Hollywood.” I like how she seems approachable in every photo though- she has her tongue out or is wearing a simple zip-up hoodie. I hope the reader would feel the pictures make Reese seem more “real.” I kept my type very simple, because I think the visuals really do a great job of summarizing the article even without the body-copy being present. I didn’t want to use too many font and wanted them all to very simple and familiar to the readers. The only real “type-risk” I took was in the sidebar when I used the font that appears to be handwritten. I just though it was appropriate and again very approachable and not intimidating.

Style Sheet: 

COVER HEADLINE “THE GAME”: Perpetua Titling MT LIGHT, 68/81.6,

COVER HEADLINE “CHANGER”: Perpetua Titling MT LIGHT, 90/108

DECK HEAD: PERPETUA REGULAR, 18.4/22

DECK HEAD EMPHASIZED WORDS: PERPETUA ITALIC, 22/27.08

LAST LINE OF DECK HEAD: Perpetua Titling MT LIGHT, 24.6/29.5

BY LINE: Helvetica Neue LIGHT, 12/16

FOLIO “EVER AND WWW.EVER.COM”: HELEVETICA NEUE ULTRALIGHT 12/14.4

PAGE NUMBERS: HOBO STD MEDIUM, 12/14.4

JUMP SPREAD FIRST PARAGRAPH: GARAMOUND REGULAR, 14/16.8

BODY COPY: GARAMOUND REGULAR, 10/14

CAPTION: HELVETICA NEUE LIGHT, 8/9.6

SIDE BAR TITLE: Handwriting – Dakota, 26/31.2

SIDE BAR SMALLER TITLES: Handwriting – Dakota, 11/13.2

SIDE BAR CAPTIONS: Helvetica Neue LIGHT, 7/8.4

PULL QUOTES: GARAMOUND REGULAR, 22/26.4

 

Document Grid:

I increased me margins in my spreads, because I thought it looked better. The article is as much about the visuals as it is about the body copy so I didn’t want to body copy to be over-whelming and discourage a reader from reading the article. I Also thought that a 2 column grid was more appropriate. I actually tried a 3 column grid originally and it did not look good given the large size of the images I am using. Also the original article in Elle used 2 columns so I figured I’d do the same.

Sources

http://reesewitherspoon.celebscentral.net/

http://theplace.ru/photos/photo.php?id=92988

 

 

Magazine Project

The magazine I envisioned was one that was funded in a similar way to NPR or PBS. The magazine, entitled the Freed Press is meant to offer a balanced response to world events, without being influenced by advertiser demands. The magazine is meant to provide socially conscious, cosmopolitan citizens with a reliable news source. The magazine is also targeted to a younger crowd because I assumed that older readers are used to reading papers like the Wall Street Journal or the New York Time. Thus this magazine is meant to drawn in the next generation of news consumers.

The objective of this magazine is to provide clear balanced journalism. So, the graphic design of the magazine means to be consistent with the content, by being clear not misleading or sensational. Also, in trying to serve a younger audience, the articles are shorter and laid out to focus on readability, meaning use of white space to increase this readability. The magazine’s primary purpose is to be educational and informative, so all images are meant to have an informational or conceptual purpose.

My feature page has a clear conceptual meaning, that Muslim women are breaking a business stereotype through the use of color and dominant imagery. The text compliments the image by through a large and organic typeface. The deck head also uses a rounded typeface to maintain consistency. The front page is also conceptual by breaking the border into the organic F in the Freed Press. This employs the metaphor of being ‘inside the box.’ Even the title eludes the quality and reliability of the magazine’s content. The image on the cover is consistent with the image used on the feature spread. The jump spread is airy in order to increase readability, and the images provide hard evidence of Muslim businesswomen that the content of the article lacks to some extent. The pull quotes are meant to draw the reader in with provocative but uncontrived statements directly relating to the state of female business in the Middle East.

The Mag

Magazine Identity & Readership:

            The magazine I designed is meant to be a forerunner in cinematic news and general entertainment interest.  It focuses on movie premieres, actors of all genres, and information regarding directors and film processes.  I intended for it to be rather well-known, hence the reason the title of the magazine can be hidden behind Anthony Hopkin’s head and still be recognized.

Magazine Visual Identity:

            The cover and spreads are supposed to convey a sense of modernism with a hint of “virtual” appeal, meaning that it would be read by people who know the technical terms of film distribution and the like.  It’s not concerned with actors covered in the tabloids; visually I portray this with large images featuring  older celebrities and Oscar-winners.

Article Visual Identity:

            I added in images I created with Illustrator because it gave the article a sense of individualism.  It’s not just a collection of screencaps, it is an analysis of a number of movies and the commonalities they share.  Creating the images myself also gives it a modernist feel.  The dominant image in the feature spread is a combination of two images, one of Bruce and one of Alan, that I [attempted to] manipulate to seem like one large picture.  I don't know if that worked or not.

Article Design Strategy:

            The feature spread is meant to look professional.  The actors I included would be recognized by any film buff, so I highlighted their celebrity status by having them be the only visual on the second page.  The feature spread is permeated by a constant use of cyan tones, which makes it feel less “in your face” and more informational, of sorts.  I used the same text throughout the magazine, Helvetica Neue, because it is bold, professional, and one of the easiest fonts to read, and it also manages to hold to my modernist theme.  Lastly, I included small greenish boxes to highlight important text as a way of adding a bit of spice to an otherwise totalitarian-looking spread.  This method of highlighting keeps with the geometrical feel of the magazine.

 

Style Sheet:

            Cover Headline: Helvetica Neue, 160/192, metric kerning, tracking -55

            Cover Teaser: Helvetica Neue, 72/86.4, tracking 0

Opening Spread Headline: Helvetica Neue, 140/168, optical kerning, tracking -50

Helvetica Neue, 90/108, tracking -50

Jump Spread Pull Quote: Helvetica Neue, 13.5/16.2, tracking 0

Magazine Spread

Magazine Identity & Readership

Amp is a music magazine much like Spin and Rolling Stone, but it’s targeted specifically to the college demographic. It features the latest news on a wide variety of genres including rock, hip- hop, country, folk, world music and jazz, paying special attention to indie and underground music. Readers are young, hip and looking for the next big thing before it hits mainstream.

Magazine Visual Identity

Amp’s editorial mix incorporates a fresh, eclectic aesthetic geared toward musicians and music fans alike. There is no template for how the articles should look; rather, each article brings something new and unique to the table and varies issue to issue. The magazine has an almost haphazard, disestablishmentarian style, but is still cleanly executed with a perfect/adhesive binding.

Article Visual Identity

Since each article is its own entity within the magazine, every article has its own theme. For this particular article, the theme is folk and humor, which ties into the genre of Flight of the Conchords. The combination of font and images should convey the same eccentric tone that makes Bret and Jermaine appealing to the college crowd. The article isn’t text heavy and should appear to be an easy read for an impatient skimmer.

Article Design Strategy

The design of the feature spread makes a kooky impression on the audience. The title is in Zebrawood Std, a circus style font that mirrors the humor in the photo of Bret and Jermaine sitting on a toy train. It is justified to the left, balancing out the dominant figures on the far right of the spread. For the text of the article, I used Chaparral Pro because it reminded me of the font used in Rolling Stone, and because its slab serif is distinct and easy to read. The silliness of the feature spread carries over to the jump spread with an equally strange image to catch the reader’s eye. The pull quote is set in the same font as the title to make it stand out from the body text and to incorporate an amusing tone. The sidebar includes an illustration of train tracks ghosted in the background to tie in with the train from the feature image as well as to play on the word “tracks”. It talks about the tracks of FOTC’s album, which is also mentioned in the article and would appeal to their fans. The title of the sidebar is in Futura Std Bold Oblique and the song titles are made larger than the descriptions in order create a hierarchy. The design of both spreads is unusual and folk-arty just like the Conchords and some readers of Amp.

Style Sheet

Feature Spread Headline 1: Zebrawood Std Fill, 104/124.8, optical kerning
Feature Spread Headline 2: Zebrawood Std Regular, 96/115.2, tracking -20
Deck: Chaparral Pro Regular, 14/16.8
Byline: Chaparral Pro Regular, 10/12
Body Copy: Chaparral Pro Regular, 10/12
Folio: Bauhaus Std Demi, 11/13.2
Jump Spread Pull Quote: Zebrawood Std Fill, 14/16.8
Image Caption: Futura Std Book, 9/10.8
Sidebar Headline: Futura Std Bold Oblique, 18/21.6
Sidebar Caption: Futura Std Book, 10/12
Sidebar Song Titles: Futura Std Medium, 14/12
Sidebar Song Description: Futura Std Medium, 10/12
Margins: 3p10

Document Grid

I chose to break the text into three columns because I wanted a grid that was inviting to readers instead of scaring them away with large blocks of text. I brought the margins in a little for the same reason. I didn't want to create the illusion that the entire page was filled with text. This is also why I chose to have a small chunk of text on the feature spread, allowing for a large image on the jump spread. By dividing the article up into small parts, I hope to make it more interesting to look at as well as easier to read.

Sources

Feature Photo
http://www.whatthefolk.net/02images/subpop_large2.jpg
Jump Photo
http://www.whatthefolk.net/02images/subpop_large2.jpg
Sidebar Graphic
http://eatenbymonsters.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/fotccover.jpg

Extras

The colors I used were directly pulled from the feature image. The pale yellow background is lighthearted and opens up the page. I used the deep gold to call attention to the Conchords, and a faded navy blue to match their overalls. The muted palette emphasizes the folksy/artsy tone of the spread.

Sex & The City Rationale

Magazine Identitiy & Readership

The article I chose to recreate was from New York Magazine. New York Magazine is a trendy magazine that comes out weekly. The magazine regularly features articles dealing with current events but also entertainment news as well. It’s intended readership is for New Yorkers who are interested in New York City life and pop culture. Readers could be any age who fit this criteria.

Magazine Visual Identity

Because the magazine covers so many various topics in it, I wanted to make sure to convey a sense of organization even though it is so broad. I will explain this more when I discuss the document’s grid. However, I purposely organized the title, cover teaser, text, photographs and pull quotes on a 180 degree line because I think this helps make the magazine look organized as a whole. If the magazine was only about entertainment or had a more focused topic then I think I could have gone crazier with rotated texts or photographs, but not in this case.

Article Visual Identity

I wanted to show the reader that this was a fun article. It is supposed to attract Sex & the City fans, however the title also could be intriguing to people who are not as familiar with the show and movie. The casual script type and bold pull quotes help to convey that. Also, the photographs are interesting and fun to convey that the article is not supposed to be very serious.

Article Design Strategy

The initial impression I wanted to give the reader was that this was not just another article on New York City, Sarah Jessica Parker or Sex & the City. I used the script text to attract the reader to the word “Sex”, but also to show that the article was fun. I used the large photograph of New York City, Sarah Jessica Parker and the different color text for her name to let the reader know the article tied all three together. I wanted to use a structured text for the rest of the headline and for the pull quotes to imitate the structure of the New York City buildings on the feature spread. However I continued to use the Wendy text for the drop cap and the title of the sidebar so that I could continue to show the article was fun.

Style Sheet

Opening Spread Headline: Kepler Std Medium Semicondensed, 90/95, metrics kerning, tracking -60. Wendy LP Std, 220/146, metrics kerning, tracking 0.

Deck: Kepler Std Medium Semicondensed, 26/28, metrics kerning, tracking 0.

Body Copy: Garamond 3 Std, 11/13.2, metrics kerning, tracking 0.

Pull Quote: Kepler Std Bold Condensed, 27/27, metrics kerning, tracking 0.

Sidebar Text: Antique Olive Std, 8/9.6, metrics kerning, tracking 0.

Caption Text: Antique Olive Std, 7/8.4, metrics kerning, tracking 0.

Document Grid

As I explained earlier, I chose to use a grid and stick very close to it with everything on a 180 degree angle. I chose to use two columns because this article is fun and about entertainment, and not really very serious or like a news article. I think if I had used three columns, the article would have been more of a news article and seem cluttered. I chose wide columns with a width of 21p10 because there was still a lot of text to give to the reader, but I felt the wide columns were more appealing to the reader.

Sources

Feature Spread photograph of Sarah Jessica Parker:

http://c-photo.i-part.com.tw/n1v1/3/1/4/0/970413/photo/book83/12140398038.jpeg

Feature Spread photograph of New York City: http://eksith.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/chrysler_building_midtown_manhattan_new_york_city_1932.jpg

Sarah Jessica Parker in Wedding Dress: http://cm1.theinsider.com/media/0/378/58/sarah_jessica_parker_is_sorry_for_the_black_wedding_dress_decision_main_10231.0.0.0x0.460x692.jpeg

Sarah Jessica Parker on the phone:

http://www.mtv.com/movies/photos/s/sex_and_the_city_movie_071022/adds_121107/flip-carrie_bradshaw_phone.jpg

Cynthia Nixon:

http://lunarsoul.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/cynthia-nixon_l.jpg

Kristin Davis:

http://www.accesshollywood.com/content/images/23/230x306/23450_kristin-davis.jpg

Kim Cattrall:

http://maxdunbar.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/kim_cattrall.jpg

Extras

I chose to use the gold theme for the entire article not only because it was aesthetically appealing, but also because the article talks about how the television show Sex & the City makes New York City look much richer and more glamorous than Sarah Jessica Parker grew up in. She discusses this in the article.

Magazine

Joanna Hardy
Project: Magazine Project
Date: 4 / 15 / 09

Magazine Identity and Readership
My magazine, Energize, is a sports magazine that covers all major sports. Any sports fan would be eager to read this magazine because it would include up to date stories across many sports, statistics, athlete profiles and more. The intended readership would be for any person who likes sports or follows one particular sport. Energize covers many sports, so any fan could find something that interests him/her.

Magazine Visual Identity
Through my magazine, I wanted to convey a strong, bold, bright design. When I created my feature spread and jump spread, I knew I wanted to use very vivid images of Usain Bolt that would jump off the page and create a very strong picture in the reader’s mind. I also decided to make a cover because I was very inspired by the images and design of my spread. I wanted to especially convey this same visual identity on the cover, since that is what the reader first sees.

Article Visual Identity
In my cover article, I am trying to convey the intensity and achievement of Usain Bolt. From my images used in the feature and jump spreads, I want the reader to be able to tell what the reputation is Bolt has as an athlete. The design of the spreads makes the reader realize that this is an article about the life and achievements of a famous sprinter.

Article Design Strategy
The design of my magazine is meant to bring a sports and athletic feel to the audience. On my feature spread, I wanted a very large, intense, strong image to set up the stage for the article. Since it is about a sprinter, I really wanted the focus of the image to be on him and his achievement, which is shown by the strong image of Bolt clearly winning the race. The deckhead is in small lines of white type to go along with the white lines of the track along the bottom. I wanted my typeface for my headline to be bold, strong and noticeable because it is an article about running. My jump spread continues my idea of bold and strong, in terms of color and image. The green lines along the side continue the idea from Bolt’s shirt on the feature spread and the line along the side of the feature spread. I wanted to use an easy to read typeface for the body copy and carry over my typeface from the headline for the captions, pull cote and part of the sidebar. I really wanted the jump spread to be similar to the feature spread in that the images and the colors really jump out to the reader, which connects to the feeling of the feature spread. The sidebar goes along with this idea of creating a straightforward and clear timeline for the audience.



Style Sheet
Cover Title: Stone Sans ITC TT, 65/78, metrics kerning, tracking-0
Cover Teaser: Abadi MT Condensed Extra Bold Regular, 63/52, metrics kerning, tracking-0
Feature Spread Headline: Futura Extra Condensed Extra Bold, 102/122.4, metrics kerning, tracking-0
Jump Spread Pull Quote: Futura Extra Condensed Extra Bold 24.26/29, metrics kerning, tracking-0

Document Grid
I decided to use a three column grid because I thought it would be the most appealing format for the reader. With the three column grid, the large images are able to fit in nicely and balance out the page. Together, they also create breaks for the reader to stop. I made my margins in order to incorporate the text with the images, so that the text is not too far away from the edge of the page.

Sources:
http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/olympics/bolt.JPG
http://media.washingtontimes.com/media/img/photos/2008/08/22/20080821-234329-pic-784162814.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/Boltbeijing.jpg
http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/EMP-6243241.jpg
http://media.washingtontimes.com/media/img/photos/2008/08/17/20080817-015624-pic-678736289.jpg

Extras:
My color scheme came from the first image I worked with, the one from the feature spread. The bright green and yellow in his uniform are incorporated throughout both spreads. I thought I would use them because they are such bold, strong colors, which is the type of feeling I wanted to incorporate throughout my magazine. My visual image of a bold, sports magazine is enhanced by these colors.

Denti Magazine Project

Magazine identity and readership

My magazine is chic, sophisticated and flirty. I designed it intending for young women 

into celebrities, music, and the latest gossip to pick it up and read it. Personally, 

these are always the kind of magazines I pick up and I wanted to create something that 

Intrigues me because I knew it would make me more passionate about the design.

Magazine visual identity

I intended to convey a magazine that was chic, organized, simple yet girly and appealing 

to the eye. I designed the magazine for my intended audience of young, hip women. The 

images, typography, colors and layout were all chosen to create a consistent design that 

would give off a flirty and fun feel.

Article visual identity

I choose this article to show the transformation of an all-American girl into a glamorous 

superstar. I was able to pull quotes from the article to highlight that Underwood is 

still an all-American girl and heart and fame didn’t change her that drastically. The 

article also helped choose more glamorous pictures to highlight the transformation and 

show the contrast.

Article design strategy

My design is simple, yet has a lot of character. When you first look at the feature 

spread, you notice the strong image placed on a black background and the color of the 

typography, for it was pulled out of the image. The feature spread just feels cohesive 

and the title has a lot of dimension with a contrast in size, placement and color. When 

you move into the jump spread, the same kind of glamorous and serious images appear, 

which are consistent with the main image on the feature spread. The same colors appear 

however the gold is a little darker in the jump spread. I was very consistent throughout 

with typography and color.

Document Grid

I choose to stick with two columns because it created a more sophisticated and organized 

feel. I think having two columns makes it so much easier to read.  I lowered my top 

margin because I wanted more space at the top of the magazine. With my particular design 

I didn’t want so much space in between each column. It looks a lot more cohesive with 

less space.

Extras

Before I had any idea as to what my design was going to look like, I found my main 

picture for my feature spread. I pulled the colors out of Carries hair and lips and made 

them either darker or lighter. The colors made the design so much more cohesive and 

natural looking. I purposely found images in which Carrie was wearing white and her face 

was serious. It just added to the flow of the spreads and the sophisticated, yet flirty 

and fun feeling I wanted to create.

Magazine Project

Magazine Identity & Readership: Personality Web is a magazine about celebrities. Its name is meant to convey that it’s a magazine about celebrities—not just the gossip about their lives, but also some insight into their personalities (hence “personality”) and the interconnected world they live in (hence “web”), because celebrities often mingle with each other and my magazine should present that. It’s directed at young adults.

Magazine Visual Identity: The magazine should be young and should express vitality, energy, and fun. Thus, it will use vivid colors and the pages will be bigger. The articles should be light, but should preferably have somewhat more substance than most magazines.

Article Visual Identity: I wanted to portray the “fun” aspect of the magazine mentioned above, but without taking away from the story’s topic, which deals with the lives of the “rich and famous.”

Article Design Strategy: Because my article is about the rich lives of the Gossip Girl cast, I chose a typeface similar to those used for Gossip Girl DVDs, ads, etc. for the words “Gossip Girl” and for the deck, and then chose a relatively elegant typeface for the rest of the title. The photograph takes up one page of the spread and, while posed, shows the fanciness of the cast’s lifestyles in aspects such as their clothes. I carried the same typefaces over to the jump spread in the folio, captions, and pull quotes. Also, I used Garamond as my body text font because, not only is it readable, but it is also elegant. The pull quotes pulled out information from the article that emphasized the point I was trying to make in my feature spread.

Style Sheet:
· Title:
o Bell Centennial Std Sub-caption, 120/144
o Bulmer MT Std Display, 70.5/84.6
o Bulmer MT Std Italic Display, 90/108
· Credits: Bell Centennial Std Address, 22/26.4
· Deck:
o Bell Centennial Std Address, 26/31.2
o Bell Centennial Std Address, 35/42
· Drop cap: Bulmer MT Std Display, 10/12
· Body text: Garamond Display, 10/12
· Pull quotes:
o Bulmer MT Std Display, 15/18
o Bulmer MT Std Display, 17/20.4
· Captions: Bell Centennial Std Address, 7/8.4
· Folio: Bell Centennial Std Address 7/8.4
· Sidebar:
o Bulmer MT Std Display, 18/21.6
o Bulmer MT Std Display, 15/18
o Bulmer MT Std Display, 11/13.2
o Bulmer MT Std Display, 9/10.8
o Bulmer MT Std Display, 10/12

Document Grid: I placed my margin so I would have ample space for my text and photos. I chose to have three columns for each side of the jump spread because it spreads the text out in small chunks that allow the reader to stay focused, but without making lines too short.

Sources:
Image 1:
http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/3200000/The-Cast-HQ-gossip-girl-3218070-1252-1607.jpg
Image 2: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeT34u78Rrcm2I3Nm22VMxvn612IpD8lObvfp5TMHuEDlO6W8vl5i1hy3GDJugzmfucKCExo67UOSFfdJjg3swCmEMLfZ0PfXW17pjSMNy1nFAdsyW-DVObku3jlyywrL-FnVjVZMsTCw/s1600-r/gossip-girl-gap-ads-01.jpg
Image 3:
http://www.vidiot.com/GossipGirl/images/GossipGirl_2009_SweepsAd_WK5.png
Image 4:
http://cm1.theinsider.com/media/0/74/46/247375.0.0.0x0.432x285.jpeg
Image 5:
http://photos.ed-westwick.org/displayimage.php?album=349&pos=2
Image 6:
http://photos.ed-westwick.org/displayimage.php?album=349&pos=13
Image 7:
http://projects.daytondailynews.com/cache/galleries/photos/1058266/
Image 8:
http://projects.daytondailynews.com/cache/galleries/photos/1058260/
Image 9:
http://projects.daytondailynews.com/cache/galleries/photos/1058247/

Color: I picked all of the colors directly out of the photo on the feature spread. In the deck, I made important concepts stand out by shifting their location and using different colors (purple for “Gossip Girl” to show royalty, which is what the people on the TV show are treated as, and to create contrast with the “Gossip Girl” in the title, red for “hearts” because red represents love, and green for the last part because it mentions money, which can be connected to dollar bills).