For the changes, I removed some of the smaller images to make room the for a larger image on page 2 to establish a higher level of hierarchy to the design. I also re-sized and aligned all of the smaller images to it column instead of it breaking out. I also broken up page 2 to a 3 column grid to make it proportional to the 3 lists items. The 3 quotes are redistributed to the article where they fit best.
Tru – this is looking pretty good, so here are my thoughts:
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Masthead: I’m wondering whether you’ve considered allowing the vertical orange line that heads up towards the top of the page from the “o” in “Unlocking” to actually bleed off the top of the page? I’m not sure, but it might be a good thing. OR, ask yourself if you really need it? The reduced masthead on the Back Cover doesn’t hold that extension... and it seems to work quite well. Also, consider exactly how tall and where you place the box that holds “Central Asia Institute Spring 2016”. It doesn’t appear to horizontally align with the baseline of “Potential”, so I think you need to be more intentional with that lower edge of the box. Maybe it should bleed into the orange rule that runs below the masthead? Keep thinking about the masthead, it is the most important element on this page.
The Mission statement extends across the whole page… and that is a pretty long line width for this sized text. Why not break it up into 3 columns… like you’ve done on page 2? I wonder if you really to style the heading for this statement like the other sections? After all… it isn’t quite like them, because it will appear here every issue. Maybe using a “run in” heading… sitting on the same line as the body copy, but Bold or Caps or both… It’s important that we don’t see this as the same type of content as the other articles, that will be changing each quarter. AND – I just thought of something else that could effect the styling/placement of this statement… read on.
I wonder about the photo placement on the page… the 2 photos seem to pull the page balance downward – hard. I wonder if they could sit higher on the page? What if you used 1 of the 3 columns I’ve encouraged you to make for the Mission Statement to hold a photo? It will take some rearrangement of body copy, but this is something you should continue to work with. Also – the 2 lone lines at the top of the right column seem almost as bad as having just 1 up there. Feel free to cut, or add to lines in each section to make the lines of text fit your design. So… either add lines to “Places” so the section gets longer, or cut lines so that those 2 lines don’t sit there any longer.
No need for the little logo in the photo at bottom right… it looks a bit strange there, and is unneeded.
Interior Spread
Page 2 looks great. I suggest you add 1 more item to the list “Public Health…” to fill it out a bit more.
I think the black squares around the overly large page folios at the bottom of the page call attention to these page numbers too much. Is that necessary? Does your audience really need these to navigate a 4-page newsletter? Of course not… but they need to be there… in a much more subtle way.
Quotes: too many on page 3. Wouldn’t the audience rather see an enlarged photo instead? Answer: yes they would.
The heading at the top of page 3… currently doesn’t sit well as a 2-line heading. There is too much leading. You could also think about having it cross the columns as a 1-line head that invades the right-hand column. You decide, but it can’t remain as it is.
Back Cover
Reduce the masthead – much smaller to fit above a return address (that you can make up). It is much too large here.
When you print this and trim it down… you will see a white stripe along the bottom of the page. Is that your intention? It might be fine… I just want to make you aware of it. We won’t see this as the page background… we will see it as part of the bands of color down there. So… it is the right width to fit into the bands?
This is getting close to being done!
Hey Tru!
ReplyDeleteI think what you've done for this design all looks really good. You have many creative ideas that all come together nicely. I do like what you've done with the masthead on the front page, as well as the way the newsletter spring issue box to the right fits with the heading. The fonts and colors both work for me, as do the pictures.
But, I do agree with Coni about page 2. My eyes really noticed how you could use one more bulleted item at the bottom of the last list. Same thing with page 3 and the two line heading, perhaps instead you could make is go right across the top of the page and just start the paragraphs a little lower.
For another thing you could think about: On the cover page where you begin to start articles and you have the two columns, I find that it looks a little bit different that on the front page the two subheadings aren't equally next to one another. I feel as though it would be okay if it wasn't on the front page, but that also might mean you would have to change the position of the picture and I'm not sure if you want to do that or not considering it does seem to fit good where it is in the left column.
Tru, so far this is looking very, very nice. As Nicole said, I agree with your color choice and typefaces.
ReplyDeleteFor the front page, I really like the way you made use of the space next to the title/logo of the newsletter by adding that drop down box next to it. Smart! I'm also questioning the tiny logo in the bottom photo, it's not needed and it looks odd.
For the back cover, if anything, maybe take away the blue box behind the logo and just leave the text?
The inside pages are looking quite nice. There's not too much I can suggest to change or fix. If anything, I was thinking maybe to balance out the second page with the first, have the photo not the right page towards the bottom right instead of across, almost leveling with the big photo on the left page. Also, just some minor typography adjustments, you have 2 widows. There is one in the first quote on the left page and 1 on the right page in the paragraph under the second quote.
Overall, I think this is coming along quite nicely. Great job!