hasta luego baby

This semester has gone by too quickly – in the blink of an eye, a computer illiterate being like myself has managed to grasp the adobe programs...and learned to love graphics more than I can imagine. Just like everyone else, I was petrified going into this class. Given that it was a requirement for my then major public relations, I enrolled, expecting boring lectures and an inundated amount of tests and quizzes. Of course, graphics turned out to be one of the most pleasant surprises in my schedule this semester. It became my favorite class, despite the fact that I think I sold my soul to the Newhouse lab devil since. 

But expectations aside, I really am so genuinely happy to have taken the course. My world has been provoked once again, and I enjoy the minute details that typography and great design brings into my life. I feel I've been challenged as a observer through graphics 217...and trying to dissect a logo or design beats those awkward moments in Newhouse when you run into people you really don't want to see. Learning how to design resumes, logos, magazines and websites have also been a huge asset towards my path as a student. Graphics solidified my decision in changing my major to magazine, because I realized that I very much want to immerse myself in an industry that values aesthetics and detail. 

I only hope that other students who have taken graphics 217 can say the same about the course. Greg's genuine concern and interest in students and an otherwise honest (and very much critical eye) has changed how I look at magazines and logos. And in addition, it's great that our class had such a great TA like Chloe who was so extremely helpful and open to suggestion throughout the projects. I very much have a bittersweet feeling departing with this course – knowing that there will be no more manic 3 am moments in the newhouse lab trying to figure how to salvage a file will be blissful – but this class has been one of the most thought-provoking and interesting class I've taken in Newhouse so far. I've realized that all the hype with graphics was true; I fully embrace the nerdiness that I actually secretly love sitting in front of a computer, trying to perfect a design. 

C'est la vie.

Wrap Up Post

I didn't think I would be cut out for a graphics course. I never tried anything creative outside of writing, and I had only basic, minor experience with InDesign. But, this class has been beneficial in many ways that I didn't expect. I now have a strong grasp of previously daunting programs (and can show off to all my "artsy" friends back home who think they know everything). Typography is now a big deal to me. Alicia and I even had a serious discussion about how Rolling Stone got the Madonna layout all wrong. You know a course was important and worthwhile when it changes your perspective outside of the classroom. I don't look at logos, type choices, magazines, etc., the same way I did when I was apprehensive about enrolling in the class. All of the hard work and extra time in the labs were frustrating at times, but now, as I think about it, I'm extremely glad this course immerses you within the topic. Our final products were of course important, but the process of learning what works, what doesn't and how to put it all together will stay with me as I move on to other courses and projects. Learning how to design is like riding a bike...I'll withhold the rest of the metaphor.

Oh, The Places You'll Go

Before this semester, I didn't really know what I wanted to do. Did I want to do advertising? Journalism? Did I even want to be in Newhouse? (actually, that last one's a lie, I definitely knew I wanted to stay in Newhouse). But anyways. So I took this course with much trepidition, as I had heard that it was hard and involved a lot of hours. I imagined long hours sitting in the library studying for tests on typography and other boring (sorry Prof. Hedges!) things. I was very wrong though. Yes, we learned about that, but it wasn't a chore. There were examples in everyday life that I had never thought about, and soon I found myself analyzing the type and layout of an advertisement, instead of the new pink dress that it was actually advertising. The projects we did we useful, and everything we learned in class was actually utilized. We didn't have tests....it wouldn't have helped. Instead, we learned hands on in the labs and on projects. I've also never had a teacher so available for help and critique. Overall, I learned so much in this course. I never saw myself as a graphic designer, but this year I was so incredibly proud of myself, my work, and the effort I put in. This course proved that I could really motivate myself, and for that I'll be forever thankful. This course and Prof. Hedges influenced my semester and caused me to declare Advertising as my major. It also made me put CS5 on my Christmas List. So thanks Professor Hedges, for everything. You really made me enjoy this course. Have a good break, and see you next semester!

Wrapping Up GRA217

Before I took this class, the word 'anxious' could not even begin to describe how I felt about the class. Due to an unfortunate incident back in my early days of childhood, I was told that I had no "art skills" and since then, I have come to accept my lack of creativity and all skills of that form.

I remembered the first time I saw Professor Hedges in his office, I told him that I wasn't the best artist in the world... or something along those lines. I also recall Hedges telling us during class that if we think we're not creative enough for this class, he will prove us wrong.

Well, after three long months of GRA217, I am glad to say that Hedges is right. I may not have aced all the projects in this class but I have learned the skills needed to come up with things that I didn't even think I was capable of producing. It's been a tough ride (especially with almost all my weekends spent in lab) but the whole journey was worth it.

So, I just want to take this opportunity to thank Professor Hedges and Chloe, our lovely TA, for their willingness to help and for believing in each and every one of us! THANK YOU! :D

Final Post For Class

When I saw my friends doing Graphics projects last semester, I was really worried about how I would survive the class...I'm not too savvy with computers to begin with, and on top of that, I did not have any knowledge of the Adobe programs. Although I did take a Commercial Art class during my freshmen year of high school, which allowed me to explore creating projects through programs on the computer, I assumed that college level Graphics would be so much more difficult.

This class was definitely my most challenging, yet rewarding class in college so far. I was never a good test-taker so it was a nice change for me to be able to determine my own grade in a sense. I also had more motivation to do a good job on the projects, not because it was for a grade, but because it was my work with my name on it. There were many times I was frustrated with the programs and myself because I could be at lab for hours and come out with my project looking like I barely did anything; or I would end up having made two changes from a previous draft. Although I felt I put so many extra hours in, I felt like it was never enough.

I also feel like I learned something new about myself. I never thought I was a perfectionist, but through working on these projects I found that in a sense, I am a perfectionist and want everything "just right." I would basically be done with a project, but would spend another hour literally fixing the most minute details possible. I think this class has also taught me the importance of details, rather than the overall picture. It was most definitely a good change of atmosphere and study material from my other classes and although it was hard work and challenging, I secretly enjoyed it a lot!

Wrap Up Post

If GRA 217 had not been a requirement, I know I wouldn't have bothered taking it. Graphics never really interested me, and although I did have minor experience in Photoshop, I didn't really care much for it. After taking this class, however, I notice so many things about typefaces and designs. I unintentionally analyze whether that poster works for the event or if that logo accurately represents the company. I never noticed these things before, but now it's a part of my daily routine.

Even though the class required a lot of time commitment outside of lectures and labs, it was never boring. There were times when I was frustrated and unsatisfied, but it always felt rewarding to be finished with a project and to know that I had made it. I learned so much about InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop that I would not have learned otherwise, and I know it can only help me in the future. I'm glad this class gave me a chance to express my creativity and to appreciate design in the way it deserves. I feel like I got a lot out of this class, and I'm definitely satisfied with the experience I gained while doing all these projects.

Wrap Up Post

I was initially really worried about this class because I had no previous experience in the graphic design field. I must say that this was a pretty intense course. It was very time-consuming and stressful at times. When deadlines approached, I found myself thinking about concepts and visuals that I could use in my project everywhere I went. It essentially became a big part of my life throughout this semester. Although it was stressful, it was a different kind of stress compared to other classes. I actually really enjoyed learning about the topic itself and the skills (InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop). I learned so much within the past 4 months. Since I’m a Public Relations major, graphic design skills and knowledge will be extremely helpful in the future, especially in creating posters, newsletters, or annual reports for a company. I’m really glad that this course was a requirement, or else I would have never taken it. After taking this course, I pay so much more attention to typefaces and graphic designs wherever I go, which scares me from time to time.

Overall, I think the process of working on the projects was much more important than the final products in this course. Despite the fact that I was always stressed during the process of completing the project, I realized that the actual process allowed me to learn a lot. Although I am truly happy that there aren’t any more projects, I am definitely going to miss this class! :( 

Wrap Up Post

GRA...what a time consuming, frustrating and yet beneficial class! Yes, it took over my life this semester with the deadlines and trying to figure out how to use InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop, but I am pretty sure that I have obtained some really important skills for my field of advertising. Although I want to be a copywriter, I will have the basic knowledge to work with the artists and know what is possible to create in these programs. Furthermore, if I was to work for a smaller agency where one wears many hats, I would be able to complete graphical requirements. Already, I have been able to use it in my current job, helping the graphic designers and pointing out revisions to make. Besides the career-wise benefits, I feel like I am able to critique real-life posters, signs, billboards, etc. Also, typeface choices have become a huge deal to me. Actually being able to see how they interact with a piece, I know will be an asset. It is almost scary though, when I find myself noticing everything, leading, tracking, use of white space, hierarchy, etc. with almost every graphical piece I look at!

Wrap Up Post

I was really happy that I was able to take this course. Growing up, I always wanted to express myself creatively through photography or graphics or anything. However, my family did not have the money for me to do these things and I didn't have the right connections so I always longed to learn how to use the programs and create stuff. And since I'm on scholarship here I was finally able to develop the skills that I've always wanted by taking this course. For me, the experience was very freeing and exciting. This course really helped me to take the step in the creative direction that I've always wanted to go in.

Here's one thing I learned this semester: Even if you're getting an A in one class, that class can still bring your GPA down. How? It sucks a lot of your time and energy out so you can't concentrate on all of your other classes. Yes, I'm talking to you GRA 217!!! This class was very time consuming and that would be the only negative thing about it. It should be 4 credits. (Like seriously. Biology is 4 credits and that has a lab... just like graphics!)

Besides learning technical skills like using inDesign, I learned how to appreciate graphics and see it in a different way. When I look at an ad or text now, I always look at it from a graphic designer's point of view.

So thank you Hedges for teaching me all of that. It totally sucks that you're leaving SU after Spring semester =( ... who am I gonna take Advanced Graphics with now!??

-Christine Oh

Wrap It Up Post

I have to agree with what Ryan said. This was one of those classes that going in, I was dreading. I had no idea what to think when we started learning about this typeface and that typeface. Typography and images never seemed all too special to me. But once we actually got into doing the projects, I realized how fun design could actually be. Although it was a little painstaking and dreadful staying in the lab for hours trying to fix up the tiniest little things to try and perfect the projects, running back and forth from the lab to Hedge's office with something new to fix each time, I actually enjoyed it. This was the first class in a really long time that actually allowed me to be creative, and I'm happy I took it.
Now, when I look at different ads or logos or whatnot, I find my self saying, "Really?" and analyzing it and thinking of all the things they should have done to make it better. Even though I don't know if I'll ever take another graphics course, or ever do anything that deals with graphics, I'm glad i learned the things I've learned in this class. Especially since I plan to go into the magazine world after college, it's definitely a plus to know how to lay out a magazine design. All in all, I'm actually really happy i took this course.

Ryan Gerhardt: Final Wrap Up Post

For me, the original reason that I took the class was because it was a requirement in Newhouse. If it hadn't been, I'm not so sure I would have chosen it. However, I'm glad it was a requirement. While this class has been a lot of work, a lot of it is pretty fun most of the time. Plus, I think it was good to have developed some skill and familiarity with these programs. I am quite technologically illiterate and was scared of most of the software when we started out. Now that I'm leaving the class though, I feel that I have a decent grasp on how to use most of it even if I'm not as proficient as I probably could be.

Being an advertising major, I'm sure some graphics knowledge and ability will come in handy when I get into some of my upper level courses and out into the real world. Like I said, some of the projects such as the magazine project I found to be fun and may even take another graphics course at some point. (so long as it is graded very leniently). If nothing else, I now know how to make a pretty cool looking resume.

The New Sun Maid Girl Controversey

The Sun Maid Raisins girl got a makeover and it has caused so much controversy! I don't understand why people are making such a great deal about it, but I personally don't like this new change. Betty Crocker did it, Aunt Jemima did it, and Mrs. Butterworth all did it so I guess the Sun Maid Girl thought she had to keep up and become younger and "prettier" as well. It's probably a result of all the media images that we have around today in television, movies, magazines, etc. Although I have no problem with modern images and such, to me, this Sun Maid Girl looks like Barbie. I thought the old Sun Maid Raisins Girl looked fine the way she was and if anything, gave a more home-ier touch to the brand. Now for some reason, the brand looks like it isn't as authentic and established as it was before. This new Sun Maid Raisins Girl, who by the way looks like she had a fake tan and has a lot of make-up on, makes the brand look cheaper. If I were a loyal customer to the product, I would also start to think if my raisins would change or taste different too. For some reason, the new face of the box bothers me. It just looks so fake and superficial and unpromising? I don't know why, but I don't think I'll buy these raisins anymore. Supposedly the girl is going to get a name and have advertisements that portray her doing "womanly" things such as working out, and going shopping/grocery shopping. She might even speak multiple languages. I understand the company is trying to modernize their brand, but I'm not buying it.

Art Directors Club, really?

The Art Directors Club was formed to bring together layout artists, managers of art departments and art buyers to explore the role of art in advertising. The old logo (the one on the left) was said to have been designed based on an update of Albrecht Durer's signature as he was an appropriate model having had sold his commercial prints on the street directly to people instead of working on commission.

Personally, I feel that both logos do not do a good job of representing the group well. But if I had to choose between the two, the old logo makes more sense than the new one as the old logo has a story behind it. The new logo seems plain and uninteresting especially for a group that is meant to explore the role of art in advertising. The new logo is also misleading as it spells out the name of the club and may just end up confusing people who do not know of this club to think that the group is exclusive to art directors only.

Although the color of the new logo is striking, it is not relevant to the club at all. The typeface used in the new logo has no depth to it. While the old logo doesn't say much about the club, it is at least artsier than the new logo which will most likely attract people in the art field.

In a nutshell, both logos are not doing their job of representing the group's cause and the Art Directors Club NEED to come up with a better logo!

Source: Brand New

New Logo, New Identity

The Oakland Museum of California is creating a new identity for itself, starting with a change in their logo. Whereas the older logo seemed to give off a traditional and professional feel, the new logo is more young and modern – but not necessarily in a good way.

One thing that surprised me about the new logo is that it is completely different from the old one. The font is different; the spacing is different; the emphasis on hierarchy of words is different; the colors are different. In fact, it’s hard to imagine that the two logos are representing the same brand at all, as if the designer wanted the new logo to have absolutely no associate with the old one.

The old logo, with its blue and white colors, looked a lot more reputable. It gave people the idea that OMCA was a museum dedicated to enriching visitors about the history of California. However, when I look at the new logo, I get the sense that it is not a historical museum, but a museum for modern art. The emphasis the old logo placed on “CA” disappeared in the new logo because the letters “O” and “M” are given the same exact treatment. This makes it harder for people – especially visitors who do not live in California – to realize that the museum is about California. I would think this would be one of the more important details of the logo, but it seems as if the designer assumed that everyone already knew what OMCA was and did not take into account the people who may be unfamiliar with it.

Another disappointment with the new logo is that it is hard to read. In an attempt to emphasize OMCA, the designer made those letters bigger and bolder. However, in the process, he split up the word museum into two lines: “mu” and “seum.” Although this may not be the case for everyone, when I first looked at the new logo, I didn’t realize that the two lines were supposed to be combined to spell out “museum.” Instead, “mu” looked like it was supposed to be one separate word, “seu” another word, and the letter “M” looked like it had been placed there randomly. I am not very fond of the way the designer spaced out the name of the museum or emphasized the hierarchy of certain letters. Instead of giving it the modern look that the designer might have been going for, I feel that it makes the logo look like a jumble of random letters that don’t make sense.

Learning about Flash from...Jim Carrey?

Recently, I saw Entertainment Weekly posted a short blog entry about Jim Carrey's unique and extremely cool new Web site (check it out here). Since it heavily utilizes Flash and we just finished discussing the capabilities of Flash-based designs, I thought it would be useful to post.

This is not a typical Web site. Visuals, not text, become the main interaction with a reader. The links to other pages are far from simple cuts to a static page (click around to see what I mean). Carrey's official site shows the immense possibilities of interface technology.

Also, it might be helpful to visit the company (65 Media) that designed the Web site. Their design is very similar to their work for Jim Carrey.

If only we could design something like this.

Wave to Google: The Google Wave

I love my google. And therefore, with the newest launch of beta "Google Wave," I couldn't wait to play with it. However, I guess the word beta should have been a harbinger of the demise of the wave. The concept is clever and wholesome – Google masters basically invented a program that allows regular people like us to interact with each other in real time on the internet, thus bringing us further away from human contact. I kid, but really, that's how it works. Just like Gmail was in its beta stages, one needs to be invited to be able to use Google Wave. Once everyone's on, we all can "wave" and send documents, go online, have video conversations, all at the same time. I'm still trying to figure it out, but Google describes the wave as "an online tool for real-time communication and collaboration. A wave can be both a conversation and a document where people can discuss and work together using richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more."


I will say I was initially and am still very disappointed with the design of Google Wave. For a company that prides itself on ingénue, Google Wave really didn't impress. The navigation and headers were very much like Gmail and although it came with a very thorough tutorial, I still felt let down by the whole application itself. But then again, it is in its early stages. I'm sure the Google masters will find a new way to stump us all.

The Olympics

I've noticed that many of the current event post done for this week revolve around color, as we have been talking about it in class. I wanted to do something a little different though mainly because I thought this was a pretty big deal. Sochi, Russia is the site for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. Above is the recently released logo for the games, designed in part by Interbrand which is a company that determines the vale of brands, and it has a very noticeable feature. Right in the logo is the ".ru" conveying the fact that this logo is also a website for the games.

Now, many companies and brands have made their logos websites as well. But this is the first time the Olympics has and it makes perfect sense for such a large international event for which they are trying to raise a lot of buzz, especially among the younger generations. Making the website a prominent feature is good for the current cyber-age and I think it will make the Olympics more popular. What do you think?

Aol

 “Aol. One logo, countless ways to reveal.”

  AOL has recently released a statement of a new brand identity. The logo itself is constant, while the backgrounds change constantly in countless ways to portray the breadth of AOL’s content. According to the logo designers, the constantly changing images were intended to elicit surprise. In addition, the period in the logo was added to portray confidence and completeness. The new brand identity will be fully unveiled on December 10.

I personally do not think that the new AOL logo was a necessary move. I grew up seeing the old logo, so I am used to the iconic running man. The new logo itself is really simple and bold in a white, sans serif font. It changed the O and the L into lowercase letters. However, I think capital letters were more effective and bold because it makes the name stand out more. It seems as though they added the colorful background images to complement the simple logo (Aol.). Although I understand that AOL was going for a new dynamic approach, I do not think it was not executed well. Some of the background images seem really odd and strange (i.e. goldfish). It does not seem like a real logo. I definitely think that they should keep the iconic running man. I am definitely looking forward to seeing people’s reactions when the new logo is fully unveiled. 

From Logo Design Love

Some Color for Thought...

I found this to be a fun and interesting post on ColourLovers by evad. What with the holiday season and all, I enjoyed the variety of color pallets shown depicting colors one should use for designing certain types of food. This is convenient for those designing web sites in need of food depictions, however I think we can also use it in other situations. Color is something whose meanings vary amongst people, but there are overall stereotypical feelings and emotions that can be evoked when using certain colors, or combinations of them. For example, surprisingly the apple pie pallet is extremely bright, when I thought it may include more browns. However, apple pie comes with the assumption of that delicious, granny's apple pie that makes you feel warm and happy all over, hence the bright yellows. Picnic time includes the blue, pink and orange. Maybe these are not the first colors that pop into your head when thinking of a picnic, I thought of green at first. But the blue demonstrates the openness of the outdoors and tranquility. The orange and pink are fun, lively and optimistic. A special sort of connection exists between color, objects and emotions. I believe professional graphic designers have the ability to understand this relationship in order to successfully achieve their goals in overall design and execution.

Current event: The End of Print..?

This article by Felt & Wire (http://www.feltandwire.com/?p=5254) pointed out that some people feel that the end of the print is coming soon thanks to advances in technology. The article went on to highlight the Control: Print exhibit at Parsons School of Design. The exhibit celebrated print that still exists in a digital age.

I think whether or not print will die out is an interesting question that is discussed a lot these days. Just recently, my Literature class discussed if people will stop publishing books and just move everything to the web and use electronics.

Though future inventions and other advances are unknown, I don't think print will ever die out. There are a lot of movies out there that show a futuristic society that is so advanced that they don't even use paper. I don't think this will ever happen because people won't let it.

Seeing something in print is a different experience than seeing it on a screen. Though computer graphics and videos open up a door to new ways to be creative, there are just some things that won't elicit the same feelings if you were to experience it in print. This is why I believe there won't be an end to print.

The purpose of the students' projects at Parsons was to "develop and document projects exploring the future of ink on paper through questions of time, memory, language, narrative, sounds, and space."

Mountain Magazine

Danielle Gorski

Magazine Project

November 19, 2009

Magazine Identity and Readership:

Mountain Magazine is a magazine dedicated to skiers and snowboarders who are serious about their respective sports.  The magazine includes information on the best mountains, resorts, and dining, as well as tips on training and reviews of the latest gear.  This magazine is not for day-trippers, it offers a glimpse and review of many luxurious retreats, and as winter gear is often expensive, it does not cater to amateurs. 

Magazine Visual Identity:

This is a visually stunning magazine that utilizes brilliantly colored images to capture the true meaning of serious winter sports.  Many graphics are needed to not only tell the reader, but to show them, where they should go for the latest winter sports.  This is sort of a trendy magazine for skiers and snowboarders, and uses bright, well-matched colors throughout, especially in headings.  The cover I designed adheres to this, as bright colors and action pictures are present on the cover and throughout the rest of the magazine.

Article Visual Identity:

In the cover article, I used an action picture of a skier on the slopes of Colorado to illustrate the deck, which describes that danger that Crested Butte’s steep slopes are in of being groomed over.  I used a picture of these steep slopes to inspire emotion, and bright graphics and colors to match the rest of the magazine.  The yellow stands out against the blue and white of the snow and ski, and matches perfectly with the skier’s jacket as well. 

Article Design Strategy:

The feature page ties the visual and text together with the application of the color in the picture to the text.  This provides contrast to the blue and white in the rest of the picture.  This feeling is carried onto the jump spread, as I did the same thing except with red.  I also used the red in the sidebar and thick lines, as well as blue in the lines and the pull quotes.  The text is bold and colorful and easily readable, with little flair.  It is clean, bold, and sporty.  I use the contrast of bold and medium text throughout the article to create hierarchy, to increase readability, and to maintain a pattern.  I used white space to focus on the images, as they are truly telling the story and adding to text.  I used black, white, red, and blue for the text because those are the colors in the dominant image on the jump spread, and also utilized colored lines to add cleanliness and order. 

Style Sheet:

COVER

Cover Headline: Helvetica Rounded LT Std Black, 110/132, optical kerning, tracking -70

Second Headline: Helvetica Rounded LT Std Black, 33/40, optical kerning, tracking -40

Cover Teasers (Top 3): Tw Cen MT Bold, 29/22, metrics kerning, tracking -20

You’ll Never Guess: Tw Cen MT Regular, 19/21, metrics kerning, tracking -30

Keeping Crested Butte: Tw Cen MT Regular, 18/14, metrics kerning, tracking -50

5 Steps: Tw Cen MT Bold, 44/31, metrics kerning, tracking -30

We Promise: Tw Cen MT Regular, 29/22, metrics kerning, tracking -30

Free Gear: Tw Cen MT Bold, 54/31, metrics kerning, tracking -60

Turn to Page 46: Tw Cen MT Bold 15/14, metrics kerning, tracking -50

Issue Date: Helvetica Rounded LT Std Black, 11/40, metrics kerning, tracking -20

FEATURE SPREAD

The: Baskerville Regular, 34/41, metrics kerning, tracking 0

One: Apple Chancery, 66/80, metrics kerning, tracking 0

Last, Standing: Big Carlson Medium, 70/84, metrics kerning, tracking 0

Deck: ITC Legacy Sans Std Medium, 14/15, metrics kerning, tracking 0

Tens of Millions: ITC Legacy Sans Std Medium, 19/15, metrics kerning, tracking 0

Article Credit: ITC Legacy Sans Std Bold, 13/15, metrics kerning, tracking 0

Photo Credit: ITC Legacy Sans Std Medium, 12/15, metrics kerning, tracking 0

JUMP SPREAD

O: Apple Chancery, 81/98, metrics kerning, tracking 0

Body Copy: Janson Text LT Std 55 Roman, 10/13, metrics kerning, tracking 0

Pull Quotes: ITC Legacy Sans Std Medium, 17/18, metrics kerning, tracking 0

Photo Caption: ITC Legacy Sans Std Book, 10/10, metrics kerning, tracking 0

Sidebar Headline: Bank Gothic Medium, 16/19, metrics kerning, tracking -15

Sidebar Topics: ITC Legacy Sans Std Bold, 16/19, metrics kerning, tracking 0

Sidebar Numbers: ITC Legacy Sans Std Book, 16/19, metrics kerning, tracking 0

Folio Numbers and Month: ITC Legacy Sans Std Book, 9/11, metrics kerning, tracking 0

Folio Mountain Magazine: Arial Rounded MT Bold, 10/12, metrics kerning, tracking 0

Photo Credit: Janson Text LT Std 56 Italic, 9/13, metrics kerning, tracking 60

Document Grid:

I used a very clean grid, with relative uniformity on both sides of the page, and the pictures snap to the grid and the text has no trouble fitting around it.  I chose 3 columns of medium thickness because it matched well with the images, which are the true focus throughout the magazine.  Two columns simply looked too blocky, and four was far too many and looked too busy.  I set the top margin at 2p0, the bottom at 2p2, the inside at 3p0, and the outside at 2p0.  While I used white space to bring greater attention to my images, I wanted to fit as much content as possible on the pages without making it seem too busy or overlap the page, so these dimensions were perfect for me.  I kept the gutter at 1p0 as well because I used an image across the two pages and wanted to maintain its integrity. 

Sources:

Cover Image: http://business.transworld.net/news/st-pattys-day-sick-twisted-event-march-16th-at-diamond-peak/

Feature Spread Pictures: http://www.mensjournal.com/ski-cheap

Main Jump Spread Picture: http://www.snowclub.gr/forums/index.php?s=ed2299325dba1ef18d80aed5c7e0d06d&showtopic=7169&pid=178875&st=120&#entry178875

Small Jump Spread Picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kpmst7/663474284/

Barcode: http://www.badgerbooks.com/books/barcode.shtml

Mountain Graphics: my own design

Extras:

I used bright colors throughout the magazine to set off the white of the snow and the blue of the ski that is in most winter photographs.  I made sure to utilize accent colors from the picture itself, such as the orange of the snowboarder’s board on the cover, the yellow of the skier’s jacket on the feature page, and the red of the skier’s jacket on the jump spread.  Bright colors are visually appealing, and I used them to tie the pictures and text together. 

Vanessa Hudgens: Stripped

Christine Bae

Project: Magazine Project

11-19-09

magazine identity & readership:

My magazine, Ladies & Men is a fashion/entertainment magazine that caters to males and females of the young adult age, primarily 18-25. It is a good quality magazine that focuses on fashion such as high-end fashion mixed with affordable fashion that could be worn by both normal people as well as celebrities. It also features stories on people in the entertainment industry such as actors/actresses, musicians, models, etc who are profile worth. The intended readership is really for the younger generation to be entertained as well as informed about the different things that are happening in the entertainment industry as well as what the people in that scene are doing to make a mark in the industry.

magazine visual identity:

Through my magazine design, visually, I want to portray sophistication yet a comfortable and fun atmosphere to the magazine. I want readers to be able to see the magazine as a respectable and classy magazine, yet still entertaining and easy to read. The content in my magazine is also catering to the younger crowd, so it is filled with interesting stories, facts, fun images, and so forth. Overall, the tone of the magazine is a sophisticated, yet fun feel.

article visual identity:

Visually, I wanted to convey a easy and fun read for the audience. I wanted to make sure there was enough spacing and white space throughout the articles, as well as enough visuals to keep the reader from feeling overwhelmed with text. Also, I wanted the visuals to add to the experience and make it as important as the article itself.

article design strategy:

The content of my article uses a Georgia font, making it aesthetically pleasing to look at as well as it being easy to read. The print is also not too small, using a 9.5 font, making it easy for the readers. It's usually very unappealing when a font is too fancy or too small to read, therefore I made sure that the print was clear. Along with the article, I pulled out quotes that particularly would spark the interest of readers- something said that would be unexpected of the featured person, a quote that matches their personality, or just something the readers would not know about the person.

style sheet:

Cover Headline: Lucida Bright Demibold 120/144, 0 kerning, tracking 0

Lucida Bright Demibold 27/22.4, 0 kerning, tracking 0

Cover Teaser: News Gothic MT Bold 17/20, kerning 0, tracking 0

By Line:

DropCap “V”: Savoye LET Plain 9.5/13, 0 optical kerning, tracking -100

Jumpspread: Georgia Regular 9.5/15, 0 kerning, tracking 0

Jump Spread Pull Quote:

quotation marks: Lucida Bright Regular 49/58.8, quote: Lucida Bright Demibold15/15

Sidebar: News Gothic MT Regular 12/14.4, 0 kerning, tracking 0

Title head: News Gothic MT Bold 28/30, metrics kerning, tracking 0

Content: News Gothic MT Regular 12/30, metrics kerning, tracking 0

sources:

http://top40.about.com/od/h/p/vanessahudgens.htm (source of article)

http://allcelebpics.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/vanessa-hudgens031.jpg (black&white photo)

http://www.j-14.com/2009/05/HSM3.JPG (Zac & Vanessa photo)

http://www.mymostwanted.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/766182/size/big/cat/ (opening spread photo)

http://i2.pinger.pl/pgr445/e415145b0022908149f23736/02404_Vanessa_Anne_Hudgens_InStyle_UK-1_122_169lo.jpg (pg. 2 pic)

extras:

For the opening feature spread, I played with the main image's colors to create a visually attractive and fun headline and deck. I wanted to play off the colors I was given in order to make the pages cohesive and unified.

Mike Estabrook - magazine project

Magazine Identity & Readership

Though my feature article deals with music, I would want my magazine to focus on art and popular culture in general. My personal interests are not limited to just music and I try to have a deep understanding and knowledge of many topics. So, my target reader would be someone who also wants to be well-read in those areas, and in this case, alternative music culture.

Magazine Visual Identity

Because I want the magazine to convey sophistication, yet also possess an aesthetic that is marketable to all readers, the layout should be polished and simple. As a result, a reader who is not as familiar with the topic can enjoy and absorb the information as much as a reader with more background knowledge. By not overwhelming readers, an inclusive readership can be attained.

Article Visual Identity

I intended to express several ideas with the article’s layout. I wanted to capture the band’s identity/sound and allude to it throughout the design. Informing readers effectively was also an important task. As was the intent with the magazine’s visual identity, the design and complementary imagery/information had to be equally appreciated by fans of the band as well as those who were being introduced to Grizzly Bear through the article.

Article Design Strategy

With the feature spread, I tried to design a layout that could make an initial and accurate impression of the band. I chose a contrast within the hed and dek (arrangement, size and colors) because it represents the opposing qualities of Grizzly Bear: sprawling but oddly organized. This continues with the jump spread. The tilted placement and fragmentation suggests disorder. But the defined pattern I adhered to, instead, creates order. Also, the sidebar is intentionally very simple because, since most readers would not be familiar with these bands, including the featured artist, an influx of detail would make the reader feel like they were cramming. Chaparral Pro is an easy-to-read, visually pleasing typeface that furthers my method of informing without requiring much of the reader.

Style Sheet

Cover Headline:

ITC Franklin Gothic Std

Individual letters: Medium, “W” 170 pt., “I” 240, “L” 180, “D” 130, “L” 360, “Y” 250

“Cohering”: Medium Condensed, 90, 50 kerning (r/i), -25 tracking

Cover Dek:

Monotype Modern Std Condensed, 24, metrics kerning

Sub-dek: Monotype Modern Std Bold, 36, metrics kerning

Byline and Photo credit:

Monotype Modern Std Wide Italic, 12, metrics kerning; Monotype Modern Std Bold, 16, metrics kerning

Jump spread body copy: Chaparral Pro Regular, 9.5/13, metrics kerning

Drop-cap: ITC Franklin Gothic Std, 400, Medium

Pull-quote 1: Monotype Modern Std Bold, 18, metrics kerning

Sidebar title: ITC Franklin Gothic Std Heavy, 36, metrics kerning

Sidebar sub-head: ITC Franklin Gothic Std Demi, 9.5, metrics kerning

Sidebar section titles: ITC Franklin Gothic Std Book Italic, 9.5, metrics kerning

Sidebar descriptions: ITC Franklin Gothic Std Book, 9, metrics kerning

Caption: ITC Franklin Gothic Std Demi, 7, metrics kerning

Pull-quote 2: Monotype Modern Std Bold, 18, metrics kerning

Drop-cap 2: ITC Franklin Gothic Std Medium, 72

Folio: Chaparral Pro 10, metrics kerning

Page number: Regular

Title: Bold

Date: Italic

Document Grid

I chose to set the body copy in four of the six columns because too much text on a spread pushes readers away. The two-column arrangement on each page makes the article easily approached. Also, to enhance that strategy I made the margins quite wide to prevent the text from imposing upon a reader.

Sources

http://www.annarbor.com/2009/09/03/Grizzly%20Bear%203.jpg

http://230publicity.com/images/Grizzkitchen.jpg

http://www.wers.org/music/albums/reviews/images/veckatimest-cover.jpg

http://blog.yellowbirdproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/beach-house.jpg

http://www.tellallyourfriendspr.com/herewegomagic/3.jpg

http://wearsthetrousers.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/200209_stvincent1.jpg

Color

I tried to make the layout as colorful as possible because Grizzly Bear’s music often feels like a spectrum. I took colors from their new album to implement throughout the design. But, I did not want the colors to be randomly used. Specifically, the two pages of the jump spread follow organized patterns and similar shades on each side. This, again, allows for Grizzly Bear’s theme of varied unification to come across in the magazine’s design.

anne hathaway: in the raw / mag project

Magazine Identity & Readership:

I envisioned my magazine as literary and fashion based. I imagined is as a mix between Vogue & The New Yorker. My intended readers are women, targeted age (20-45). However, in contrast to Vogue, my magazine’s identity is foused heavily on social issue and justice – in combination with fashion.

Magazine Visual Identity:

I’m highly influenced by photographers such as Richard Avedon and Diane Arbus and I especially wanted to convey that through my feature and jump spreads. I really like the idea of the old-school feel of black and white and I was lucky enough to find a high resolution picture of Anne Hathaway to implement that. The personality I wanted to convey was very raw (hence my title), and honest. I chose a very stilling picture for my feature and it contained the feel I wanted to express in my magazine.

Article Visual Identity:

As an avid magazine reader, I knew that I was drawn into magazines that utilized a lot of white space. Also I wanted a dominating image that would captivate the raders if they were just flipping through the pages, like many people do. I wanted the article to be easy to read – making the readers feel at ease.

Article Design Strategy:

I chose to do my feature and jump spreads on Anne Hathaway. The article that I based my design on talked about the evolution and transformation of a post-break up Anne. In my magazine, I wanted to reflect the frank conversations she had with the interviewee in the essence of my magazine spreads. The types that I chose in my feature spread complemented the organic feel of the picture that I chose, ultimately bringing together a cohesiveness through the picture and type. The color that I chose also was very important in the process of me creating my spread. I knew that I wanted to go with a feminine color, to reflect the classy and composed stature Anne Hathaway possessed, but I didn’t want it to be too overwhelming. I chose a pinkish magenta that I searched through the color palette that I thought complemented Hathaway’s own personality but also would be different from the black and white in the background. These choices were implemented throughout my feature and also jump spreads. I carried the pinkish magenta color and typography throughout the drop caps in my article. I wanted to make sure that the article wasn’t drowning in the massive amount of text that it had. Overall, I designed my article spread with the idea of it being very clean and simple, yet classy and understated.

Style Sheet:

Cover Headline:

“In”-Eccentric, 128.125/153.75, metric, tracking none

“the”-Spring LP Std Light, 128.902 pt/(154.682 pt), metric, tracking none

“Raw”-Eccentric, 128.902 pt/ (154.682 pt), metric, tracking none

Cover Teaser: Cambria, 17/20.4, metric, tracking none

“Anne Hathaway”-Spring LP Std Light, 30/36, metric, tracking none

Author Credit: Cambria, 18/20.6, metric, tracking none

Body Text: Georgia, 9.5/13, metric, tracking none

Photo Credit: Cambria, 15/18, metric, tracking none

Jump Spread Pull Quotes: Orator Std Medium, 19/20, metric, tracking none

SideBar:

Headline: Palatino, 26/31, metric, tracking none

Headline Teaser: Cronos Pro, 12/12, metric, tracking none

Photo Captions: Gill Sans, 10/11, metric, tracking none

Document Grid:

Before settling on the 3 column grid, I tried experimenting with the 2 column, 4 column and even 5 column grids. I thought that the 3 column grid fit best with the design of my feature and jump spread. It wasn’t too overwhelming and classified the information in a clean way.

The margins that I adjusted were also reflective of the design of my layout. I wanted a significant amount of white space to allow for an easy-flow when readers were flipping through the magazine.

Sources:

I used 6 images throughout my magazine layout. I had two dominant image and 4 small images for my sidebar.

Anne Feature: http://ima.dada.net/image/2130729.jpg

Anne Jump: http://www.smokingincinema.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/anne_hathaway_smoking_001.jpg

Anne Sidebar 1: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3165/2546297210_28d6c089c6.jpg

Anne Sidebar 2: http://musicfameandfashion.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/anne-hathaway.jpg

Anne Sidebar 3: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6p0MudPQEfs/ScltReAJCdI/AAAAAAAAAbk/ObH9bMs6vQw/s320/annehathaway-in-marchesa.jpg

Anne Sidebar 4: http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/090223/Oscar-fashion/Anne-Hathaway_l.jpg

Extras:

I kept my color selections minimal because I wanted to maintain the cleanliness of the layout. I used the eyedropper tool and took out a grayish black color from the first picture and used it as the background color in my sidebar. The pink I created through the color wheel.

Magazine Project

Magazine Identity and Readership

My magazine is called Featured, and it is a monthly magazine for readers in New York City. It targets a mature audience (mostly young adults) and presents trendy and up-to-date information about city life. It features stories about noteworthy places, events, food, entertainment, etc. in NYC. Featured is a reputable magazine that exposes and familiarizes readers to NYC culture.

 

Magazine Visual Identity

Featured is a magazine with a lot of visual elements that attract the reader’s attention. However, the visual aspects of the magazine do not overpower the information and are not cluttered around the pages so as to appear disorganized. It is a magazine that speaks to the reader through both text and images, which will provide an enhanced experience for the readers as they read the articles.

 

Article Visual Identity

Because I wanted the feature spread to reflect the tone of the musical, I used a slightly more provocative image to emphasis the maturity and crudeness of Spring Awakening. With the jump spread, I wanted to familiarize my readers with the characters; so I used several individual photos of the actors, as well as a cast photo. I also wanted to emphasize the artistic element of Spring Awakening by conveying the message of the article into pictures: Spring Awakening is an exciting rock musical with many vibrant scenes and performances from gifted actors.

 

Article Design Strategy

The image on the feature spread implies that Spring Awakening – as well as this article – is meant for a mature audience. It gives the reader a general idea of what the musical is going to be about: most people will get the sense that it is about two young and passionate lovers. Upon reading the deck head, readers will understand that it is actually much more than a musical about love, but a story about the lives of maturing adolescents without excessive censorship. Much of the dark and heavy tones on the feature spread are not carried through to the jump spread. I wanted to convey a lighter and less dramatic layout for the jump spread because the entirety of Spring Awakening is not dark and gloomy. However, I used photos with darker colors because I wanted them to complement the feature spread. I stayed consistent on both spreads by using the black background and the red distorted boxes of my feature spread in my side bar. Overall, I wanted the article design to reflect the moods and tones of the actual musical in order to give readers expectations and some things to look forward to.

 

Style Sheet

·      Feature Spread Headline (Red Type): Guardi LT Std (75 Bold); 100/120; optical kerning

·      Feature Spread Headline (Light Blue Type – “The”): Guardi LT Std (75 Bold); 100/120; optical kerning

·      Feature Spread Headline (Light Blue Type – “Experience”): Guardi LT Std (75 Bold); 50/60

·      Feature Spread By-line: Guard LT Std (75 Bold); 15/18; metrics kerning

·      Feature Spread Deck Head: Caslon 540 LT Std (Roman and Italic); 15 and 18/21.6; metrics kerning

·      Jump Spread Drop Cap: Guardi LT Std (75 Bold); 100/120; metrics kerning

·      Jump Spread Article: ITC Stone Serif Std (Medium); 9/13; metrics kerning

·      Jump Spread Pull Quote: Caslon 540 LT Std (Roman); 15/17; metrics kerning

·      Jump Spread Captions: Antique Olive Std (Roman); 7/8.4; metrics kerning

·      Jump Spread Photo Credits: Antique Olive Std (Roman); 5/6; metrics kerning

·      Jump Spread Captions: Antique Olive Std (Roman); 7/8.4; metrics kerning

·      Jump Spread Folio: Antique Olive Std (Roman); 9/10.8; metrics kerning

·      Side Bar Headline: Budmo Jiggler; 22/26.4; metrics kerning

·      Side Bar Information: Antique Olive Std (Roman); 7.5/9; metrics kerning

 

Document Grid

I chose to use three columns for each page because it looked more artsy and theater-like. I used two columns in my first draft but realized it presented a more professional and standard image, rather than a creative one. I wanted there to be an appropriate amount of space for the margins because there is a lot of information and photos to be absorbed from this article. I did not want to make the spread look too busy, so I needed a system to carefully place all the photos in a way that would not take away from the article itself. I put a lot of white space within the article, such as along the invisible borders of the photos, so that the visuals did not overpower the jump spread.

 

Sources

Feature Spread:

·      http://www.aalborgteater.dk/Files/Billeder/aalborgteater/Praktisk_info/Presse0809/SpringAwakening/AT_PRESSE_SPRING_AWAKENING.jpg

Jump Spread (Left Page):

·      http://www.broadwaysanjose.com/press/springawakening/SPRING_AWAKENING_Blake_Bashoff_c_Joan_Marcus.JPG

Jump Spread (Right Page):

·      http://www.cb-pr.com/Images/Spring%20Awakening/spring7.jpg

·      http://www.broadwaysanjose.com/press/springawakening/SPRING_AWAKENING_01-5_Christy_Altomare_as_Wendla_c_Paul_Kolnik.JPG

·      http://www.broadwaysanjose.com/press/springawakening/SPRING_AWAKENING_19-4_Blake_Bashoff_c_Paul_Kolnik.JPG

Side Bar:

·      http://www.broadway.tv/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/other-photographers-for-book-19.jpg

 

Extras: Colors

Because the Spring Awakening logo is red and black, I wanted to incorporate those colors into my spreads. I stayed consistent with my use of these colors, but the layout of my feature spread clearly uses these colors more than my jump spread. This is because I didn’t want the dark colors to overpower my article and visuals in my jump spread. It was, however, appropriate for the feature spread because it portrayed the serious mood of the actual musical. I used one yellow box to highlight one of the words in the sidebar headline in order to incorporate the color of the playbill with the rest of the side bar. Yellow also represents the bright lights on Broadway, so the color reinforces the idea of watching a musical in New York City.