This document summarizes Madeleine Ross's experiments with magazine front cover and double page spread layout designs in Photoshop and InDesign. For the front covers, Ross tried different image and text placements, colors, and bleed line settings across three iterations before deciding to feature a central image with title text at the top and potential additional context text. For the double page spreads, Ross experimented with image shapes, placements, and column designs across multiple versions before landing on a layout with shaped images, colored blocks, and flowing text columns that maintained continuity across two pages. Overall, Ross reflected on keeping elements like shapes and cut-out images while being open to changes depending on final photographs and production details.

1. Experiments
Madeleine Ross

2. FRONT COVER EXPERIMENTS

3. PAGE SPREADS EXPERIMENTS

4. Front Cover
Process
This is the first front cover
experiment I did, but it didn't’t
turn out well at all. The bleed line
margins are all different, the
pictures I have selected I have
made far too big, and in summary
it looks far too busy, with there
being too much writing and things
looking too hectic and not
together.
This was my second experimental front cover, and for this one I
took a more simple approach. It definitely looks less chaotic,
with less text and more focus on the image of the model. I like
this idea as it has the aesthetic I am looking for. However, the
bleed lines again are not clear, and the white banner at the
bottom could be smaller, however over all I like the text font I
have used and the placement of it.

5. Front Cover
Process
This was my third front cover
experiment, which mirrors the same
overall style of my second front cover.
I have made the picture slightly
smaller on here, so I can leave a larger
margin for adding more text around
the outside, and I’ve also used the
border tool in Photoshop to make
sure all my bleed lines were correct
and my cover looked neat and well
put together. I used a slightly more
pastel color here, which I have taken
from the picture itself, but I think that
the color isn't as punch as I would like
it to bed, so I also experimented with
different background options.
I tried with a dark navy blue
color which complimented
the picture also however
the text at the top wans’t
nearly as visible as the
others I tried, so if I chose
this color I would have to
change the font colors.
I think this one is slightly better
than the blue as it is a punch
bold color and the title can be
seen just fine through the bright
orange. To improve this slightly id
maybe use a different tone of
orange as this looks kind of
autumnal themed and that’s not
what I'm trying to get across.

6. Reflection
I think going to include the main set up of the front cover with the
image in the middle and then the title at the top. As for the color
scheme im not 100% sure yet, as I think it will matter more about the
picture and how well it compliments that. I think I also might add small
amounts of text that summaries the content of the magazine to add a
little more to it, but I will be careful as to how much I say and where I
will place it to avoid it looking chaotic.

7. Double Page
Process
This is the first part of my double page spread, intended to be
a sort of opener and little summary of what's to come in the
article, with pictures of my own to match. I liked this layout
however I think it looks a little bit boring and your eyes don’t
flow across the page. I like the color as it fits with the over all
aesthetic and the orange and blue are slightly muted to make
them look more professional.
This is my second experiment, and I think this one has turned
out great. I included colored shapes by using the shape tool and
using the transform and skew tool I made them slightly
distorted. The shapes add a sense of playful youthful vibes, and
the colors add a bit more fun and take away some of the bland. I
also used another picture and changed it from being a block
square to a circle. I did this by using the eclipse tool and deleted
the stuff outside of the picture. This makes the page look a bit
more interesting and along with the shapes it makes the readers
eyes flow a bit more.

8. This was my first second page of the double page spread,
which I did in Photoshop. I thought that this version, although
not fully completed as I switched to InDesign, looked quite
plain and didn't’t have much about it. There is no column
design and placement of the text, which does’t make it look
like a magazine article, and the image at the side looks like it
does’t fit very well in the space. I do however like how,
sticking with the theme of the first page, added the differed
colored shapes at the top, to add some fluidity between the
two.
This is my second page spread experiment, and I think this one is a
lot better than the one I started in Photoshop. I did struggle with
using InDesign and although this method has helped me
understand it a lot more, I am still quite unconfident and struggled
to get the colors that I wanted. I think these colors compliment
each other well, however they will not be the ones I will be using in
the final product. I really like this layout with the columns, and I like
how the “L” goes down a few pages as it makes it look like a real
magazine. I think when I come to do the final product I may change
some of the placement of the photographs depending on what
photographs I get and how good they turn out.

9. Reflection
I will keep the shapes on and underneath the photos as I think they help
make things flow and add pops of subtly color and youthful fun to it. I
might change the layout of the images depending on how my photos
come out, however I intend on keeping the idea of cutting things into
shapes such as the man in the circle, and if I can collect more images of
my own and from the internet I can do this with lots of pictures and not
just 1. Regarding my second double page spreads, I think I will keep the
layout and the placement of the text, but some photographs and text
fonts might need to change during production.