Lectures:
Week 6:
We submitted our Exercise 1 on font combinations and Ms Lilian went through them and advised us on how to proceed further. We also began our work on Exercise 2, the grid layouts. Ms Lilian instructed us to experiment with different grid layout ideas for our front page of our newspaper on InDesign.
Instructions:
The Brief
Exercises.
Duration of Assignment
Continuous, throughout the semester
Description
To develop your understanding of the practical employment of typography, a series of exercises will be implemented. Students will apply what they have learnt from lectures and discussions in these exercises, which will be assessed and contribute to the overall mark of the module. It is important that students work on these exercises with commitment in order to fully understand the design principles involved. The knowledge and skills developed will be applied to the accompanying projects.
All exercises prescribed are to be completed and documented (labelled, clean, clear & concise) in
your e portfolio and hardcopy portfolio respectively.
The exercises are as follows:
1) Text formatting
2) Grid system variation
3) Brochure folds (8pg)
4) Magazine publishing online
5) Masthead design
Requirements
To complete and to showcase mastery in the exercises prescribed in its various forms. The work
is compiled chronologically in an A3 Folio and documented on the students’ e portfolio.
Submission
1. Exercises to be documented chronologically in an A3 Folio. The works must be labelled and dated.
2. E portfolio posts for every exercise labelled and dated.
Objectives
1. To develop students theoretical understanding via practical means.
2. To develop students grasps to the components of the module.
3. To develop students explorative and innovative spirit.
4. To develop students practical application of the design process.
Research:
I did some research on various newspaper and magazine grid layouts to get an idea of what works and what kind of style I am aiming for. Please find all attached in my pinterest board:
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| Research board |
Design Process:
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| Experimenting with different layouts in class |
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| Sketches for my 6 column layout |
Feedback:
Week 5:
Good research with an extensive look at newspaper layout design. Very dynamic thumbnail layouts. However, for a FRONT PAGE newspaper layout, there needs to be impact and focus so dynamic pages may be more suited for the inside of the newspaper.
2 – Like the dynamics but be careful how information is layed out as to reduce confusion especially how each visual relate to which block of text, specifically the visual in the centre.
15 & 16 – These two are okay too but may need to play down some elements. Maybe less visuals/ sections? Try them as you have suggested/ but also try them in a more simplified version.
Reflections:
Experience:
It was fun at first experimenting with the different layout options and columns to create different newspaper front page styles, but after a while I got a little bored and it felt a bit repetitive.
My experience of this class so far and the exercise done has been quite an enjoyable experience. We have learnt a lot of interesting and useful skills. We tend to do most of the work during the class time which I find is helpful for my productivity and time management.
Observations:
Although I noticed that I can get a lot of work done in the six hour period, I noticed my productivity plummets quite drastically once we get to the fourth hour and close to zero during the fifth hour, probably because I'm tired and starving already and can't work and think as effectively. I observed that my workpace is very slow compared to my classmates which slows my process down and leaves me behind sometimes.
Findings:
I find that sometimes I tend to overthink the design and layout, it would be better for me to just dive in and do it/sketch it rather than overthink the exact placement of every text box and visual. To do it spontaneously without thinking so much actually would allow me to do my work faster and also have more spontaneous designs which can actually be the best. I need to improve my working speed as well, perhaps I can do this by being more familiar with the software and its shortcuts.
