Geared toward designers of student media, this presentation covers the principles of design and how to arrange visual elements for eye-catching, reader-friendly pages in newspapers, yearbooks and new
3. today’s selections
• issuu.com
group: student
newspapers
• visualeditors.org
• NSPA: Best of the
High School Press
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
4. it depends
• page size (format)
• location
• content
• publication style
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
5. where to begin?
2 NEWS The Titan Times
Issue 3 |10.31.09 • maestro process
(WED or team)
• what do you have and
what do you want
to do with it?
• how can you organize
page elements in a
way that “attracts
eyeballs” and
maintains interest?
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
8. strategies
for arranging
what you have
Publication Design 1.0
PRINCIPLES of
DESIGN
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
9. dominance
• usually refers to size,
meaning the element is
2-3 times larger than
all other elements
• also called “emphasis”
although can be
achieved by color,
weight, shape
• CVI = center of visual
impact (focal point)
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
10. dominance
• package size
• placement
• typography
• which story is most
important?
• what do I want readers
to see first?
Indiana Daily Student, Indiana University
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
11. emphasis
The Stagg Line, A.A. Stagg High School
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
12. emphasis
• when less is more
• white space will
isolate or
emphasize key
content and attract
attention
The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Oh.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
13. contrast
• pairing “opposite” or
unlike elements to draw
attention to their
differences
• in size: big/small,
horizontal/vertical
• in color: light/dark
• in type: bold/light, all
caps/lowercase
• in weight: thick/thin
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
15. proportion
• also referred to as “scale” and sometimes
called “visual relationship”
• relationship of sizes (nothing competes
for attention)
• elements follow a hierarchy in size
• modular design packages are smaller
variations of each other with type and
other elements to scale (rectangular)
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
16. proportion
• strong CVI
• relationship of sizes
(nothing competes
for attention)
• headlines get
smaller
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
22. informal balance
• elements are not equal in
weight or placement
• also called asymmetrical
• more contemporary than
formal balance and often
creates more visual
interest
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
23. informal balance
The Stagg Line, A.A. Stagg High School
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
24. unity
• repetition of
elements such as
type, color or
shape to create a
sense that
everything goes
together and is
part of a carefully
planned whole
• three-peat rule
Verde, Palo Alto High School
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
36. structure
• grids
• external margins
• visual hierarchy
The A-Blast, Annondale High School
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
37. columns
• more columns or
grids (smaller)
means more
flexibility
• vertical columns
• horizontal rows
• consistent internal
margins
• annual redesign
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
38. entry points
The A-Blast, Annandale High School
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
39. some considerations
• news value above the fold
• teasers and multiple entry points
• not too much gray (the “hand” rule)
• no tombstoned headlines
• importance of packaging
• placement of advertisements
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
44. execute design
principles with
these tools
Publication Design 1.0
ELEMENTS of
DESIGN
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
45. elements
• space
• type
• line
• color
Indiana Daily Student, Indiana University
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
46. types of space
• tight spacing: 0-3 pts, used to group like
elements (for packaging); creates unity
• standard spacing: generally 1 pica
(although outdated), used as consistent
internal margin; creates consistency
• expanded spacing: full grid or rail, used to
open up a design and separate key
content; creates isolation or emphasis
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
67. where to look
• NewsDesigns.com
• Crown Finalists CD for members (CSPA)
• magazines & annuals: Print,
Communication Arts, CMYK, SND
• Newspaper Designer’s Handbook
(Tim Harrower) + JEA Bookstore
• Color Index, Type Index, Idea Index
(Jim Krause)
• websites and blogs (Newseum)
Tuesday, July 19, 2011