Task 3 - Critique and Redesign
Spencer Lees | N10814221 | DVB201
1. What is the structure of the content (main titles, subtitles, times/dates, menu, contact information, news text, body text, etc)?
The spread under investigation is from CQ Style Spring Summer 2018. It includes an enlarged pull quote, slug / topic at the centre top of the page, fashion image with credit and caption to the photographer, brands, and model. Much of the spread is dominated by a two-column grid filled with body text and a lack of main titles, subtitles, headline or standfirst. The spread also contains a folio with the page number and name of the magazine issue also centred to the page like the slug.
2. 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 major visual decision made by the designer was to have an emphasis on the pull quote that is emphasised through its enlarged scale of both the text and outlined quotation marks. Otherwise, there isn’t any hierarchy, or variance in scale to visual guide the reader through body text and overall article.
3. What do you think works? What doesn't and why?
I believe the use of a two-column grid without any subheadings, drop cap or bolded characters creates confusion within the reader as it feels overwhelming and personally, I do not feel engaged to read the body text. I believe there needs to be some emphasised aspect of the text to provide direction to the audience. On the other hand, I like the harsh transition of the spread between the text into the photography. I feel it represents the street / urban environment the model is photographed in well, unlike a loose dress in a studio which would more appropriately need borders or text overlapping to loosely transition the audience.
Reflection
For the reimagined design, I chose to add a bold inviting headline (sourced from early in the article) in a Sans-Serif to make a strong inviting statement to the audience. I followed this by a summarised standfirst that explained the body copy in one sentence. Adjustments to the body copy included a transition from a two-column to a three-column made possibly with a seven-column grid. The uneven number of grids contributes an asymmetric and edgy aesthetic which I feel better represents the urban photography. I provided an entry point for the audience with an enlarged drop cap whilst bolding out the quotation marks and content of the pull quote for further engagement. Lastly, subtly details like a dividing rule between the headings and body text provided a balance to the page and offsets the intensity of the bolded sans-serifs entering the body copy.
