Project 3Magazine!

DMET 255

Elements of a pageLook familiar?• Similar layout to

Newsletter• Project 3: Magazine will

focus on all elements in layout composition.

Headlines!!!!• Most important TEXTUAL element on a page• #1-layout/image, #2-headline• The reader might be attracted to the layout/image, but they won’t read

the article if they don’t find the Heading interesting…they will just move on

• Headlines can vary in size-depending on the importance of the article• Headings should always be bigger than the other elements on the page

Kicker (intro, stand-first, deck) *many names• Acts as a bridge between headline and body copy• Sets tone of article-what to expect in the article/summary-

basically it’s like a good 1st paragraph of the article• Smaller font size than headline-bigger than body copy• If headline is sans serif-make kicker serif• It’s not a required element-(sometimes image/header is

enough)

Body Copy• Designing the body copy is the first thing you should do

when you are designing the templates for the magazine!• Setting the correct margins, columns, and size of the

body copy affects readability and usability.• As a designer use column and type choice to reflect the

identity of the brand and to present the story in a way that suits the content.

Pull Quotes• Attractive design element that can break up big

blocks of body copy.• Use them in conjunction with the image to tell a

story.• Set font size big enough to pull the reader’s

attention, but shouldn’t be as big as the headline.• It’s not always a “quote”.

Subhead• Used to break up body copy and give clever insight into the next

paragraphs.• Readers are put off by long blocks of text!• Can be larger than body copy or same size (but bolded)• Do not place subheads: below images, in the last 3 rows at the

bottom of the column, in the first 3 rows at the top of a column, top of a column, or below a pull quote.

• Subheads should not get cluttered up with other design elements

Image Captions• Must work as a unit with the image• Do not place caption above image!!• Place caption below or on the image.• No hyphenation!• Type size should be as big as the body copy (or

smaller)• Sans-serif type

Bylines and Credits• Depends on the importance of authors/photographers.• For stock images & outsourced writing, place credits vertically

near the gutter (a few pts. smaller than body copy).• If it’s written by famous journalist/photographer place bylines

just below headline or intro text.• Same size as body text (or a few points larger).• Bylines are smaller on news pages vs. feature pages.

Running head (section head)• Navigation elements that guide the reader.• If you set them in brightly colored box and bleed them out of

the page they are visible when the magazine is closed!• Reflect the tone of the magazine.• Should be done in the beginning of magazine creation.• Not all pages need running head-place at beginning of sections• Don’t over do it-they shouldn’t dominate the page.

Folio• Consists of many elements. Mandatory-page number• Optional: publication logo, date, month, section title, web page.• Typically the same on every page, but you can switch it up in

non-traditional magazines (ex. larger on section starter pgs.)• If you choose to put it on one page in a spread-choose the right

hand side.• It’s up to the designer to determine whether the pg. # should go

over an image.

Folio• Consists of many elements. Mandatory-page number• Optional: publication logo, date, month, section title, web page.• Typically the same on every page, but you can switch it up in

non-traditional magazines (ex. larger on section starter pgs.)• If you choose to put it on one page in a spread-choose the right

hand side.• It’s up to the designer to determine whether the pg. # should go

over an image.

WorkflowFlatplan & Structure

Flatplan• A flatplan is a

diagram of thumbnail pages in which each story is represented by the number of pages (thumbs) it consists.

How to use a Flatplan…

• When making a flatplan, ad pages should be marked clearly. Also as you are done with certain pages mark them so that you will know how many pages are finished.

• It is similar to a story board. Pages are arranged in a way so that the magazine has a flow.

• Ex. If you have several 8pg stories, it’s a good idea to break those stories with a few short stories or ads to maintain balance.

• Flatplans can change daily depending on the articles (they could be made longer or shorter) or ads (adding or dropping ads).

• It’s important that everyone has an updated plan!

• Art directors often print out the finished pages of the magazine to help them identify any flaws in the rhythm or flow of the magazine.

• Thumbnails are important! How can you utilize this system in your own workflow?

Structure

• C1-Cover Page• C2-Advertisement (2nd most expensive ad)• C3-Advertiser (3rd most expensive ad pg) or

TOC• C4- Back page of magazine (most expensive

ad pg)

Table of Contents• Always 1st page of

magazine• Can be laid out on 1

page, two page spread, or in two pages intersected with advertising (ad pgs on right)

• With or without images• Must distinctly show

page numbers, headlines, and descriptions.

• Good typography design is essential on these pages!

Impressum• Usually placed in the

front of the book, but can be in back

• List of all people that work in the magazine (from editorial staff to marketing and sales people to publishers, etc.)

• Straightforward and clean

• Magazine masthead (logo) is usually at the top of pg.

Editor’s Letter• 1st editorial page in

magazine. • Welcoming letter from

editor-in-chief where he/she explains issue’s content.

• Covers main topics and (possibly) some insight or background on the topics.

Other Key Front PagesShort 1 page topics

• News sections

• Reviews

• Topics about society, culture, arts, events, etc.

• Short interviews or columns

Section Start pages

• Generally opens a certain section of the magazine (news section, beauty section, etc.)

• Can be use throughout magazine

The front of the magazine follows a structure and design that is only slightly changed from issue to

issue.

Feature Well• Largest part of magazine

• Contains main features (long or short articles)

• Not many ads

• Important to plan this section in the flatplan to make sure that the pages flow well in regards to size and color.

• This is where designers have the biggest freedom, although certain style of the publication should be followed.

Back of the book• Contains remaining content from the front of the book, shorter

articles, news, listing, remaining columns, horoscopes, etc. • Less important than the front (from advertisers point of view)• Material should NOT be less interesting here, but rather the

more laid back content.• The last page is typically rserved for the columnist, short essay,

short interview. • Generally advertising is cheaper – smaller ads (1/4pg 1/16 pg)

grouped on these pages.

The front of the magazine follows a structure and design that is only slightly changed from issue to

issue.

Good and bad Practices

Magazine Spreads

Single Pages

• Never think of a page singularly, but as a spread!

• The page might be on it’s own, but it creates a unit with another page-even if it’s an ad!

• Peripheral vision allows us to view the entire spread in a normal viewing distance (unlike a newspaper).

• You must always consider what will be on the other page.

Elements of the Spread• Think about holding a magazine in your hands

or laying it down on a table to flip through it…the most visible side is the right side.

• The most visible parts of a spread are the outer upper parts!

• Place best content on outsides-provocative image and words.

• That’s why footnotes and some credits are on the inner corners near the gutter!

Reader’s Eye Direction

• Readers concentrate on the top parts of the spread.

• Work from top left and continue to the bottom.

Example of Bad Text Flow

Example of Good Text Flow

Sources• http://www.magazinedesigning.com/magazine-flatplan/

• http://www.magazinedesigning.com/magazine-spreads-good-bad-practices/

• http://www.magazinedesigning.com/structure-of-the-magazine/

• http://www.magazinedesigning.com/magazine-page-elements/

• http://www.magazinedesigning.com/magazine-columns/

• http://www.magazinedesigning.com/magazine-masthead-creation/