Considering my previous attempt at blogging at around this same exact time last year, let's consider this endeavor more successful already. I will blame the failure on simply being too busy having the time of my life. However, this blog is also going to be wildly different. Instead of focusing on my adventures in Spain/Europe, I will elaborate on my design adventures throughout the last semester Mizzou has in store for me. In its own way, I'm sure it'll be just as venturesome as Spain.
Critique: Baby Beauty Pageant
Designing the cover and the feature for this issue of Vox was the first assignment of the semester. That being said, one of the hardest things about it was not knowing what the editors look for/expect from the designs. Being unfamiliar with Vox's design style for the most part, it was hard to choose an initial direction to follow with this. Also, the text of the story was rather short, and made it difficult to understand whether the little girl, Ellie, her father, or the relationship between the two should be the main focus. After designing the cover, I realized that this photo was a popular one to use and what the editors were really looking for was a cover showcasing both the dad and daughter. However, for a different approach to the story, I felt my design could've worked, but understand why and didn't and how I should've been more unique.
As for my feature spread design, I feel like it was difficult placing the text while still keeping in mind that the story itself was a photo story and that the photos need to be showcased and not downplayed by the design. I fear that in trying to do this, I actually end up playing it safe. However, I feel I'm not quite sure how to achieve a nice balance between the two. I think I definitely could've pushed the envelope concerning typography choices a bit more.
This week I will be working on designing a cover, splash page and first feature spread of the Spring Preview Vox issue. At this point, I have been racking my brain to settle on any kind of direction to take with this assignment, but I am already having much more trouble in ideas than I did with the baby pageant.
Response: The Meredith Corporation
Being visited by four members of The Meredith Corporation, three of which are Mizzou alums, was extremely helpful, enlightening and interesting. We did discuss the semester-long projects we will be working on with the publishing class, designing our own prototype of a magazine for The Meredith Corporation. Each member reiterated that they all wanted us to think outside the box, come up with something new and that they've never seen before and be bold. It was a great motivating factor with which to start out the semester and the project.
The visitors also talked a lot about redesigns. Better Homes & Gardens is experiencing a redesign that encourages more clean and uncluttered spreads, and soothing color palettes. The online magazine is also launching its redesign in April. Big things are happening for this magazine, and you can tell everyone is really excited about it, and also very occupied with it.
Examples of the redesign: http://www.behance.net/sarah_ep_dunn/frame/588534
Anyway, I am of course a bit overwhelmed by the project, but surprisingly enough I am more excited than nervous at this point. I know it will be a huge undertaking, but it might be my favorite focus of the semester.
You Can't Miss... This!
AMAZING typography creation examples. These works are ones I could only ever aspire to be able to create, but there are some great photoshop tutorials out there for doing similar things with text. I am completely intrigued by images constructed solely from text, and hope to work more with typography spreads. If not as far as assignments go, perhaps I will practice the art form on my own. Go here to see all 50 incredible examples - http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/inspiration/awesome-typography-examples/
Also...
I am following ilovetypography.com this semester, and while it's been a couple weeks since the last post, said post featured a LOT of good stuff while kind of wrapping up the best of 2010 in typography. One of the most interesting things I found was an application called "What the Font."
I don't know about y'all, but I constantly pass billboards, advertisements, movie covers, building titles, etc. where I think, wow, I really love that font. What is that? But then soon after, because I'm not quite neurotic enough (yet, at least) to take a picture of every lingering font inquiry, the moment passes and I soon forget about what could have been my new favorite and most-used font. However, what a Eureka! idea with this application. You can upload a photo, or type the URL of a photo where you want to know the font that's being used. Then, this website will search through their huge database of fonts and find the font that's closest to the one that can be identified on your photo.
Perhaps I've just been living under a rock for a while and this sort of thing has existed for a while, but I found it simply delightful. Hopefully some of you are as reclusive as me and will also be pleasantly excited.
That's about all for now folks... look forward to more riveting design news soon.
- Kaylee
