Week 9: Editorial Design 2 / Typographic Hierarchy
DVB201 Typographic Design Semester 1 2020
Assessment 2: Editorial Design 2 / Typographic Hierarchy (Week 9)
By Molly Smith - N9947183
Tutor: Sabine Carter & Arnn Baet
TASK 1: Critique and Redesign
For this task you will choose a website or a magazine spread to analyse their use of type, mostly focused on type hierarchy.
The spread I have chosen is from Artist Talk Magazine
The original magazine spread:
What is the structure of the content (main titles, subtitles, times/dates, menu, contact information, news text, body text, etc)?
The content follows a basic grid structure. The title is aligned to the left of the spread, the body text is aligned into three distinct columns and there are no sub-headings. The spread consists of a heading - the name of the artist, three images - two are named, the body text which contains artist quotes and information about the artist, and page numbers.
The main title along with the ‘hero image’ is the main thing you notice when looking at this spread, the size and boldness of the text and the fact that this is the largest image defines this hierarchy. The next thing you notice is the second largest image of the artwork then the body text.
What resources did the designer use to visually represent the structure of the content, to create a visual hierarchy on the page (typeface, position, scale/size, weight, colour, contrast, orientation)?
The designer employed a range of techniques to create hierarchy and structure on the page, including using multiple typefaces, font size, font weight, lines and boxes, column and white space. The title is considerably larger and bolder san-serif type than all other text, and it sits aligned to the top left of the spread, therefore drawing the reader's attention first. The next element is the use of a large ‘hero image’ that takes up the rest of the first page in the spread, indicating that this is an important image in defining the artist. The title of the artworks are separated into an outlined box, this text is capitalised and bolder than the body text. I find this confusing, almost indicating itself as a subheading to the body text. The body text is the smallest in size and weight, it is clearly separated into three column by using lines.
What do you think works? What doesn't and why?
I like the alignment of the main title, I think it works well in drawing the viewer in, as well as the hero image. I believe there should be less white space on the first page, and the text and hero image should work together rather than being separated through the white space. I don't like the unaligned hero image and image on the next page, I feel this is quite jarring.
The column of body text creates a neat readable structure that is organised and balanced, however I think the artist quotes could be more defined and separated from the body text.
The artwork names should be smaller in height and weight as they currently can be confused as subheadings
The use of monochromatic colors work well in this instance, it ties to the images and highlights the artists chosen colour pallet
Redesign the page your way. Describe your design decisions, and style guide.
In my re-design I aimed to address the original issues outlined in the above question. For the title I used the font Reenie Beanie, for a more handwritten ‘artist’ style, aligned it to the top right of the first page and enlarged the ‘hero image’ to take up all of the first page.
I also used the font Reenie Beanie hoever smaller, for the artist quotes to differentiate them from the body text. I used the next largest image to also act as a break between the quote and body text. I maintain the three columns for the body text, and used Acumin Variable Concept Wide for the type. I changed the artwork name position to be within the image, this references back to the first page title and image placement.
The Redesign:
TASK 2: Event Program - Conference line up
For this task you will create a line-up of speakers for what would be the BEST conference in the world for YOU. If you could hear a talk from anyone, dead or alive, who would you invite? We are granting your wishes. Line them up, write the bios, find their profile images and set the double spread on the conference booklet where your dream team is described.
