Unit 04: Publish! Projects 13 14/04/2020 - 11/06/2020
Notes on 'Notes on Book Design: On Choosing a Typeface by Derek Birdsall'
- the text shows simple rules on when to chose a typeface for book design;
- when choosing the typeface look at the actual text first, does it require a lot of numerals, italics, headings and sub-headings (capitals and small capitals);
- consider sans serif as a text face, clarity and economy rather than style, sans serif may be more legible than readable;
- consider the 'colour' of a typeface - the greyness/blackness on a page of text;
- leading will affect the choice of typeface and the colour of the type;
- justified and unjustified setting - justified setting on the main text gives comfort to the eye; unjustified setting on the main text breaks words in order to maintain a even right-hand edge;
- word spacing is a reason given for unjustified setting;
- paragraph indents should normally be a minimum of the type size plus leading;
- unjustified setting for captions and footnotes will give an appropriate change in tone and texture;
Notes analysing an the format of an interview design
- usage of axial layout system (where everything is divided by an imaginary line - an axis) is a recurring thing in interview designs;
- the questions in bold and the answers not;
- questions in a bigger size than the answers;
- consider movement;
- needs to show the multitude of voices and the differences of them;
- still be readable;
- also found some unique ones (second and third images below).
Examples
- 1st image - google images
- 2nd image - google images
- 3rd image - https://www.behance.net/gallery/93912585/Artist-Interview-Magazine-Layout?tracking_source=search_projects_recommended%7Cinterview%20layout
- 4th image - https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/276056652134325178/
- 5th image - https://www.behance.net/gallery/78587447/Magazine-Interview-Layout-Design-Grunge-Style
Finding the interview
I found 2 interview choices that I would like to design in this task:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkBm5_Bmcew (3 min; 2 people)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw6DGKyFcHI (8 min; 9 people) *challenge to demonstrate the different voices*
After transferring the transcripts into an indesign spread I realised that the second option is too big for a double spread design. To design it in the way I want it would probably get up to 3 or 4 spreads instead of 2 as the brief asks. Therefore I decided to go for the first option of the 3min interview.
7 Essential Typographic Layout Systems
- Axial ( to just put text on either side of a line. To create an axial design, divide everything by an imaginary line (an axis). To create a bilateral design, put the center of everything on the same line.)
- Radial (To create a radial design, pick a central focal point, and place all the content so that it radiates out from that point.)
- Dilatational (Dilatational designs use type set along circular paths. Basically, rather than radiating out from a point, as in radial designs, the text forms curves around a point.)
- Grid (With a grid, all the text and graphics fit neatly into columns and rows.)
- Transitional (Implementation of movement and direction into your text.)
- Bilateral (Put all your text on the page and center it)
- Modular (Modular layouts use repeating structures to break up the content.)
Notes for the initial ideas:
- idea one shows the different voices clearly; it has movement; good for readability; simple but it works.
- idea two also shows the different voices clearly; the idea of grouping and enclosing the lines in some elements gives a sense of tidying up and 'cleans' the page; it shows movement; readability is clear but can be tricky to follow the eye; the speak like bubbles are a fun element;
- idea three is the most fun one; it has movement. readability can be tricky; used only for short interviews not really good for long extensions of text; the voices are not clearly differentiated.
After debating I I couldn't decide from idea 1 or 2 so i decided to create some mock ups on how it would look with both layouts.
Notes on simple final design
For a successful four page spread I would need to put at least 7 to 8 questions per page (30 questions in total). Therefore, the second idea did not work because the elements/speech bubbles I tried to incorporate took too much space.
However, the first idea still felt too simple so I tried to add an element in the middle of the page to give it a little dynamic; another thing I did was to justify both columns to the center of the page (left column to right and right column to left).
Classic and minimalist piece.
Final design specifications:
Grid:
- 8 rows x 2 columns
- leading 12
- margins top 36pt; bottom 42pt; inside 50pt; outside 50pt
Typography:
- Spread through the two column (justified into the center of the page)
- Source Sans Pro (Italic, Semibold and regular) (clear, classic and minimalist typeface)
- Size 15pt and leading 16pt for italic
- Size 16pt and leading 17pt for main text (semibold and regular)
- Colour black
Additional:
- Additional four thin rectangular elements with colour yellow (ffdf82 in adobe indesign)
Notes on final design
After looking at my first final design for sometime I realised it was just too simple and it needed some contemporary changes, so after looking at some editorial design inspiration on Pinterest I ended up with this final design:
Final design specifications:
Grid:
- 8 rows x 2 columns
- leading 12
- margins top 36pt; bottom 42pt; inside 50pt; outside 50pt
Typography:
- Spread through the two column (justified into the center of the page)
- Source Sans Pro (Bold Italic, Semibold and regular) (clear, classic and minimalist typeface)
- Size 24pt and leading 30pt for Bold Italic in colour yellow (ffdf82 in adobe indesign)
- Size 16pt and leading 17pt for main text (semibold and regular) in colour black
Additional:
- Additional two different sized rectangular elements -behind the texts- with colour yellow (ffdf82 in adobe indesign) in pages 2 and 3
12th May 2020 tutor feedback
- the layout is very interesting; it flows; gives a sense of timeline through the page; shows the conversation; the layout is the most successful element;
- typeface should be better thought out; looks too dull; needs more experimentation with the typeface;
- hyphen to show the speaking line is unnecessary because of the way the page is laid out;
- bold for questions and regular for answers could be switched or make the answers bigger in size - the artists answer is more important than the questions;
- introduce more elements like speech bubbles or be bolder with the yellow;
- needs more personality;
- BE BOLDER!!!!!