Magazine Design

1)      Design Research

The type of magazine I decided to choose to create is a music magazine. In order to get a rough idea about how music magazines are usually designed, I have referred to a few music magazines with different styles. In the end, I opted for a more vibrant and youthful layout with minimal text. The following are some layouts that influenced my work.

References:

Beatzmag (2012) Beatz Magazine Issue 1. Retrieved from http://issuu.com/beatzmag/docs/beatz_issue_1

Vmagazine (2012) V75 The Music Issue. Retrieved from http://issuu.com/vmagazine/docs/v75

Flushthefashion (2012) Flush Magazine Issue No. 3. Retrieved from http://issuu.com/flushthefashion/docs/issue3

Terry White (2008) Magazine Cover Design in InDesign. Retrieved from http://layersmagazine.com/magazine-cover-design-in-indesign.html

2)      Conceptualization (Sketches)

3)      Crafting

Start off with front page, putting image as background and adjusting the size.

Creating a background box with jagged edge effect for the masthead in magazine using Illustrator.

Placing the box created in Illustrator and combining it with the title over the background image.

Creating a drop shadow effect on article headlines to make it “pop out” and be more easily readable.

Placement of the article headlines to be featured on the cover page. I had to make sure that they are arranged in such a way that the words can be read without too much interference of blockage from the background picture.

Splitting the text columns and adjusting the gutter space.

Placing the pictures selected and arranging them to frame the pages.

Creating columns and placing dummy text evenly in each column.

Adjusting the hyphenation settings for the texts.

Creating the title and adjusting text fonts for the feature story content page.

Creating a background colour using gradient effects for the content page. Note: this was later removed as it made the text hard to read and straining to the reader’s eyes.

Creating and adjusting the editor’s note text.

Creating the content list and page numbers. Making sure they are all aligned.

Adjusting text and images on new content page. Adjusting the justification of the text as well as hyphenation.

Creating a box behind the text to make the text stand out. Note: this was later removed.

Editing picture in Photoshop to remove the white background from the orginal image then saving it as a .gif file for later placement in magazine layout.

Creating a simple advertisement as one of the pages in the magazine.

Finalizing the elements in the advertisement page.

4)      Final Artwork

After a few more adjustments here and there with the design, this is the final artwork that I have produced:

Image sources:

Fanpop. Avril Lavigne Wallpapers. Retrieved from http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/avril-lavigne/images/22661431/title/avril-lavigne-wallpaper

WallpaperVortex.com. Avril Lavigne Wallpapers. Retrieved from http://www.wallpapervortex.com/wallpaper-1209-celebrity_avril_lavigne_wallpaper.html

Pulsarmedia. Avril Lavigne Wallpaper. Retrieved from www.­pulsarmedia.­eu/­r_avril_lavigne_­0603_1600x1200_w­allpaper_22389.­html

Wallpaperpassion. Avril Lavigne HD Wallpaper. Retrieved from http://wallpaperpassion.com/download-wallpaper/21097/avril-lavigne-wallpaper.html

Wallpaper Beautiful Girl. Avril Lavigne. Retrieved from http://hot-rooms.blogspot.com/2012/09/avril-lavigne.html

Ashmir (2011). Celebrity and Movie Pictures, Photos. Retrieved from http://starspage.net/blog/archives/10696/avril-lavigne-wallpaper-singer-2

Steven (2012). Adele’s ‘21’ smashes Alanis Morisette’s ‘Jagged Lil Pill’ US Album Chart Record. Retrieved from http://musicjustice.net/2012/07/adeles-21-smashes-alanis-morissettes-jagged-little-pill-us-album-chart-record/

Genestout (2009). Colbie Caillat launches tour. Retrieved from http://www.genestout.com/index.php/colbie-caillat-launches-tour/

Kelly Clarkson. Breakaway Album. Retrieved from http://www.clarksonfan.com/albums.html

 Sbdude (2012). Jason Mraz-Tour is a Four Letter Word Concert Live in Malaysia 2012. Retrieved from http://starbucks87dude.blogspot.com/2012/05/jason-mraz-tour-is-four-letter-word.html

Musician’s Friend. Ludwig Accent Combo 5-piece Drum Set. Retrieved from http://www.musiciansfriend.com/drums-percussion/ludwig-accent-combo-5-piece-drum-set

Johnmayerpicspam. Chart Moves: John Mayer ‘s Live EP Debuts on Billboard 200. Retrieved from http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/the-complete-2012-performances-collection

HELP Newsletter (Group Assignment)

Group Members:

Beatrice Yong Poh Ling

Lisa Tan Wei Ching

Loo Chwen Hui

Wong Siew Yau

1) Design Research

Through the research that we have done, we found out that most newsletters’ design layout is tidy, to make sure the newspapers are easy to read and not too complicated for readers to comprehend the content. As a newsletter of an organization, the identity of the organization should be portrayed throughout the newsletter, be it through putting the organization logo on every page or come up with a design that incorporates the logo and the values that can portray the identity of the organization. Therefore, we decided to use the main color of HELP’s logo as the main color scheme for the newsletter, which are red, white and black colors. 

The previous layout was relatively dull when compared to the final edition, because white background was used throughout the newsletter, while having red stripes at the edges of each page, to be congruent with the logo of HELP. However, such design does not only seems dull, it also does not invoke the eagerness in readers to get to know the content in the newsletter, in which will not be consistent with the identity of HELP: an organization full of vibrancy and energy as mentioned by the President of HELP, Datuk Dr. Paul Chan. In order to deliver the sense of vibrancy and energy of HELP, the new layout opted for red background for news pieces alternatively throughout the newsletter, to invoke a sense of eagerness in readers to read the content in the newsletter.

Moreover, we have also done some tweaking over the newsletter’s overall dimension, to make it looks energetic. Notice the edges of every page of the newsletter, and also edges of every news pieces. As compared to the previous layout, which is flat throughout, we revamped the edges of the newsletter, to make it look three dimensional. The rationale behind this is, making the edges bolder and looks three dimensional, are delivering the message that every news piece is important. Readers should pay equal attention to every news piece because those news pieces are parts of the organization. More importantly, it is to further emphasize the identity of HELP organization: an organization full of energy and vibrancy.

References:

-Alanaloria.(2010). 1 SHPRC Newsletter- November, STANFORD SEXUAL HEALTH PEER RESOURCE CENTER. Retrieved on November 30, 2012 from

http://stanfordshprc.wordpress.com/2010/11/02/november-newsletter-all-about-self-pleasure/1shprc-newsletter-november/

-Classicalkusc.(2009). Classical KUSC Blog. Retrieved on November 30, 2012 from

http://classicalkusc.wordpress.com/2009/03/23/kuscs-april-members-newsletter/

-Conti.W.(2011). Ubc newsletter. Studio Snack. Retrieved on 3, November 2012 from

http://studiosnack.com/2011/03/newsletter-design/ubc-newsletter/

-Salinas. Schipper Design. Retrieved on November 30, 2012 from

http://www.schipperdesign.com/2010/print/publications/index.php

- Salmensaari.M, Suvi. L. (2012). Barents Newsletter on Occupational Health and Safety. Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. Retrieved on 30 November, 2012 from

http://www.ttl.fi/en/publications/electronic_journals/barents_newsletter/pages/default.aspx

- Schlitz Audubon Nature Center.Retrieved on 30 November, 2012 from

http://www.sanc.org/publications/newsletter

2) Conceptualization

 

3) Crafting ( Design Development)

Creating the front cover elements and adjusting the colours.

 Drawing the side boxes for the pictures to be fit in using the pen tool. Then using pathfinder to crop out the intersected paths.

Result after adding all elements onto the front cover.

As it looked too messy, we decided to remove some elements and create more white space and used the HELP logo as part of the title. We also decided to change the colour scheme as the previous one was too striking for the eyes.

Using pen tool to draw the corners

 Justifying the article to make it neat

 Adjusting the hyphenation

Playing around with the gradient to add effect

 Finding the right colors

Splitting the columns to fit the article in half the page

 Using the margins and columns as a guideline

 Adding a white box at the back with drop shadow to make the picture stand out more

 Splitting the columns for an easier read

 Adding tiny arrows to the article

A few final adjustments were made to the spacing of the articles and arrangement of elements.

 4) Final Artwork