Elizabeth – I’m going to suggest you return to some of the earlier decisions you made, and then continue on from there:
Cover The first think I notice is the squished and distorted image to the right. So this proves that this shape doesn’t usually work for photos – it’s too tall and skinny. Although I’m in favor of unique and creative photo cropping, it never is done with distortion – especially to people photos. So… I suggest you remove the photo from this color bar and find a photo to place at the very bottom of your page, in all that white space below the Mission Statement.
Color bars: you know, if the blue color was significantly lighter, you could extend it up to bleed off the top, right, and bottom of your page. Although, it might work as it is… I’m not sure. But, most importantly, that would flood color over a vertical edge on all pages… a good thing I think. It will break up the large amount of white on your pages, AND give you something to “travel over” with other elements (like photos). This “overlapping” technique will add interest to your page, and create depth – helping you develop the design further. Please consider doing both (color shift and enlarging it to bleed off edges), I will really help move this layout along.
Headings and body copy: The words “Central Asia Institute Mission” are too large… and compete with the masthead for prominence on the page. Nothing, especially a subheading, should be doing that. Please significantly reduce the pt size of your headings – all your headings are too big throughout the design. In fact your body copy is huge too… is it because you cannot accurately view these sizes on your laptop screen? If you are in that position, as many students are, please remember this: body copy is considered type between 9pts and 11 pts, and headings between 12pt and 14pt. That is a rule of thumb, but you should keep within those sizes. So… try 10pt type on 14 pt leading (usually written 10/14) for the body copy… all body copy on all pages. Be consistent with your styling.
Interior After you reduce the size of all your text, and enlarge those color bars to actually cover the edges of your pages (no white space left to the outside of the bars) and move behind your photos - please make sure to differentiate your paragraphs, currently you are not using an indent… so how can we see where they begin? Make sure you are using a text wrap of at least 9pts (p9) on all your photos… so it pushes the text away.
You need more text on page 3, which should spill over onto the bottom of the back cover. Please add another section.
Back Cover You are not clear about what happens here. Did you receive the email from me, with a PDF that shows you exactly what happens on the mailing panel – the top half of the page? Please find that information, or look at other newsletters in this blog. When designing the mailing panel, please do it upright until it is done, and only then flip it around 180 degrees.
Keep working on this, only a few more days to go, and this has a significant amount of work to be done still.
Elizabeth, my favorite part of your newsletter are definitely the colors, the typeface, and the logo. The logo goes perfect with the title of the newsletter. The tall, slim font is perfect for the audience of college students you've chosen, especially girls. The colors are perfect because they're complementary, but you've used the lighter tint of both colors which gives it a harmonious feel.
On the front page, the photo is quite squished and distorted. I would suggest stretching it out or re-placing it in normal size then adjusting it to fit the page. Then have the text "wrap" around the photo because it looks like you have room for the type to stretch down. Though I love the logo, maybe it's not a big problem, or maybe it's just me, but I'm not sure if i like the bottom of the "H" hanging down lower than the rest. But again, not a big problem.
On the back, besides the correct adjustments Connie has already pointed out to do for the top half regarding placement and correct materials, I suggest adding something to the bottom half as well so it is not so empty and plain. Maybe a photo with a quote, or a collage of photos.
For the inside pages, I would suggest of course to add more text since it does not fill up the pages. I also notice that the second page has different tracking than the first. You might even have to make the point size of the font smaller to fit in more text. I like that you've made a symmetrical layout with the pages by putting the photos on each top corner of the pages. Also, where there is bold text under the subtitle Places, I think it would be a good idea to add some space between there and the body text, just so there's more breathing room. You left space on the second paragraph, but not the first one.
Other than the above, I think you've made great improvements!
Elizabeth – I’m going to suggest you return to some of the earlier decisions you made, and then continue on from there:
ReplyDeleteCover
The first think I notice is the squished and distorted image to the right. So this proves that this shape doesn’t usually work for photos – it’s too tall and skinny. Although I’m in favor of unique and creative photo cropping, it never is done with distortion – especially to people photos. So… I suggest you remove the photo from this color bar and find a photo to place at the very bottom of your page, in all that white space below the Mission Statement.
Color bars: you know, if the blue color was significantly lighter, you could extend it up to bleed off the top, right, and bottom of your page. Although, it might work as it is… I’m not sure. But, most importantly, that would flood color over a vertical edge on all pages… a good thing I think. It will break up the large amount of white on your pages, AND give you something to “travel over” with other elements (like photos). This “overlapping” technique will add interest to your page, and create depth – helping you develop the design further. Please consider doing both (color shift and enlarging it to bleed off edges), I will really help move this layout along.
Headings and body copy: The words “Central Asia Institute Mission” are too large… and compete with the masthead for prominence on the page. Nothing, especially a subheading, should be doing that. Please significantly reduce the pt size of your headings – all your headings are too big throughout the design. In fact your body copy is huge too… is it because you cannot accurately view these sizes on your laptop screen? If you are in that position, as many students are, please remember this: body copy is considered type between 9pts and 11 pts, and headings between 12pt and 14pt. That is a rule of thumb, but you should keep within those sizes. So… try 10pt type on 14 pt leading (usually written 10/14) for the body copy… all body copy on all pages. Be consistent with your styling.
Interior
After you reduce the size of all your text, and enlarge those color bars to actually cover the edges of your pages (no white space left to the outside of the bars) and move behind your photos - please make sure to differentiate your paragraphs, currently you are not using an indent… so how can we see where they begin? Make sure you are using a text wrap of at least 9pts (p9) on all your photos… so it pushes the text away.
You need more text on page 3, which should spill over onto the bottom of the back cover. Please add another section.
Back Cover
You are not clear about what happens here. Did you receive the email from me, with a PDF that shows you exactly what happens on the mailing panel – the top half of the page? Please find that information, or look at other newsletters in this blog. When designing the mailing panel, please do it upright until it is done, and only then flip it around 180 degrees.
Keep working on this, only a few more days to go, and this has a significant amount of work to be done still.
Elizabeth - please see the next post (Nichole's) to see how the back cover should be arranged.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, my favorite part of your newsletter are definitely the colors, the typeface, and the logo. The logo goes perfect with the title of the newsletter. The tall, slim font is perfect for the audience of college students you've chosen, especially girls. The colors are perfect because they're complementary, but you've used the lighter tint of both colors which gives it a harmonious feel.
ReplyDeleteOn the front page, the photo is quite squished and distorted. I would suggest stretching it out or re-placing it in normal size then adjusting it to fit the page. Then have the text "wrap" around the photo because it looks like you have room for the type to stretch down. Though I love the logo, maybe it's not a big problem, or maybe it's just me, but I'm not sure if i like the bottom of the "H" hanging down lower than the rest. But again, not a big problem.
On the back, besides the correct adjustments Connie has already pointed out to do for the top half regarding placement and correct materials, I suggest adding something to the bottom half as well so it is not so empty and plain. Maybe a photo with a quote, or a collage of photos.
For the inside pages, I would suggest of course to add more text since it does not fill up the pages. I also notice that the second page has different tracking than the first. You might even have to make the point size of the font smaller to fit in more text. I like that you've made a symmetrical layout with the pages by putting the photos on each top corner of the pages. Also, where there is bold text under the subtitle Places, I think it would be a good idea to add some space between there and the body text, just so there's more breathing room. You left space on the second paragraph, but not the first one.
Other than the above, I think you've made great improvements!