Task 4 Conclusion
To conclude this task I have written below and also listed what I have learned and what I've learned will help me in creating my own double page spread layout.
What I have learned:
Throughout this task I have learned how to evaluate and compare double page spreads and front covers, I have also learned the terminologies in both of these fields and how placement of page elements can effect the overall feel or vibe (and even legibility) of a layout. I have also learned some new ways, through looking at magazine covers and layouts, and techniques that I can put into good use when creating my own layout.
I have learned that:
Some layouts have an underlying grid to them and some others do not.
Having a grid layout helps designers organize and make sure there is enough space on the page for the page elements (such as a masthead or header, body text etc).
Sometimes designers put borders around images, and some do not.
Magazine articles that are interviewing bands tend to have more images than those which are interviewing solo artists (such as Lady Gaga versus Metallica).
Images can be in colour or black and white or even sepia.
Some articles' backgrounds are images of the actual solo artist or band.
The overall "feel" and colour scheme of an article can sometimes be influenced by a solo artists or bands fashion choices and genre.
Magazine design differs depending on the magazines target audience.
Mode of adress differs depending on the magazine genre (for example a magazine that focuses on rock will have more intimidating modes of address).
Fonts vary depending on the magazines genre or target audience.
The UPC can be placed on the back or front of a magazine.
Some magazines have simpler layouts than others.
Now, I have also learned a lot of terminologies throughout this task such as:
Header/Masthead (the header is usually the title of a magazine article, the masthead is usually the logo of a magazine that appears on every cover, each magazine has its own unique logo and font for its masthead)
Grid/Layout
Body Text/Coverlines (the body text is usually the actual text, paragraphs within an article, coverlines are sentences or even words that state articles on the front cover of a magazine, and what celebrity is being interviewed in each specific issue)
UPC (the barcode on a magazine which would be scanned while paying)
Date line (tells you when the magazine was published)
Issue (an issue is basically a publication of a magazine)
Gutter (this is basically the vertical blank space between paragraphs or elements in an article)
Elements (this could be the images, text, masthead, header, background, coverlines etc)
Colour scheme (the colours that you can see within a cover or article)
Alley (a horizontal blank space between the header of an article, lead-in or body text)
Lead-in (a bit of text that describes what the article is about)
Pull Quote (something that the interviewer or interviewee has said, taken out of the body text and presented on its own)
Target Audience (the majority or category of people that buy the magazine, and what genre the magazine is based on, for example, Vogue is read by mostly females, whereas Mens' Fitness Magazine is read by mostly males)
Banner (a shape or border than encloses important information or lists things or is used for decorative purposes)
Lure (a product, article or booklet that is given away in the magazine for free, sometimes lures just draw attention to one particular article)
There are many more terminologies out-there, but these are the main terms I have used and learned.
How will what I've learned help/impact my work?
What I've learned will help me create and spot issues and or problems with my layout designs, it will also help me identify what I am actually doing and creating, it will also help me figure out what kind of layouts I'm drawn to, and what I'd want my article layout to look like. It will also help me determine what elements I want to use on my article layout, and where to place them. It will also help me explain to other people, why I have chosen something (whether it be an element or font etc) and why I like it.
What I have learned:
Throughout this task I have learned how to evaluate and compare double page spreads and front covers, I have also learned the terminologies in both of these fields and how placement of page elements can effect the overall feel or vibe (and even legibility) of a layout. I have also learned some new ways, through looking at magazine covers and layouts, and techniques that I can put into good use when creating my own layout.
I have learned that:
Some layouts have an underlying grid to them and some others do not.
Having a grid layout helps designers organize and make sure there is enough space on the page for the page elements (such as a masthead or header, body text etc).
Sometimes designers put borders around images, and some do not.
Magazine articles that are interviewing bands tend to have more images than those which are interviewing solo artists (such as Lady Gaga versus Metallica).
Images can be in colour or black and white or even sepia.
Some articles' backgrounds are images of the actual solo artist or band.
The overall "feel" and colour scheme of an article can sometimes be influenced by a solo artists or bands fashion choices and genre.
Magazine design differs depending on the magazines target audience.
Mode of adress differs depending on the magazine genre (for example a magazine that focuses on rock will have more intimidating modes of address).
Fonts vary depending on the magazines genre or target audience.
The UPC can be placed on the back or front of a magazine.
Some magazines have simpler layouts than others.
Now, I have also learned a lot of terminologies throughout this task such as:
Header/Masthead (the header is usually the title of a magazine article, the masthead is usually the logo of a magazine that appears on every cover, each magazine has its own unique logo and font for its masthead)
Grid/Layout
Body Text/Coverlines (the body text is usually the actual text, paragraphs within an article, coverlines are sentences or even words that state articles on the front cover of a magazine, and what celebrity is being interviewed in each specific issue)
UPC (the barcode on a magazine which would be scanned while paying)
Date line (tells you when the magazine was published)
Issue (an issue is basically a publication of a magazine)
Gutter (this is basically the vertical blank space between paragraphs or elements in an article)
Elements (this could be the images, text, masthead, header, background, coverlines etc)
Colour scheme (the colours that you can see within a cover or article)
Alley (a horizontal blank space between the header of an article, lead-in or body text)
Lead-in (a bit of text that describes what the article is about)
Pull Quote (something that the interviewer or interviewee has said, taken out of the body text and presented on its own)
Target Audience (the majority or category of people that buy the magazine, and what genre the magazine is based on, for example, Vogue is read by mostly females, whereas Mens' Fitness Magazine is read by mostly males)
Banner (a shape or border than encloses important information or lists things or is used for decorative purposes)
Lure (a product, article or booklet that is given away in the magazine for free, sometimes lures just draw attention to one particular article)
There are many more terminologies out-there, but these are the main terms I have used and learned.
How will what I've learned help/impact my work?
What I've learned will help me create and spot issues and or problems with my layout designs, it will also help me identify what I am actually doing and creating, it will also help me figure out what kind of layouts I'm drawn to, and what I'd want my article layout to look like. It will also help me determine what elements I want to use on my article layout, and where to place them. It will also help me explain to other people, why I have chosen something (whether it be an element or font etc) and why I like it.