Graphic Design- Week 12 (Lesson 14)

For Lesson 14 in Graphic Design, we were instructed to submit a one page reflection about the differences and similarities between InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator. We then had to find a good example, and bad example of Layout and Design in the form of print media. Below is my reflection and the four examples of good and bad layout and design.

Examples of GOOD Layout and Design:

The cover I chose as a ‘good’ example of layout and design was the March 2011 cover featuring Kate Bosworth. Everything on the cover is easily readable, and the colors used draw the eye of any passerby. The photo of Kate Bosworth is edgy, and keeps with the magazine’s general style. The cover isn’t cluttered and it is generally appealing. The spread I chose is from the May 2009 issue and it is very nicely put together. I love the colors used, and the photos are nicely placed. This is the first 2 pages of a large spread showcasing different Nike tennis shoe designs. The only thing I would change about the spread is the size of the font used. There is plenty of space to have used a larger font than what was used.

Examples of BAD Layout and Design:

The cover I chose to represent a bad layout and design example was the September  2008 issue of Nylon Magazine featuring the stars of 90210. The photo is lovely but all of the font gets lost within the picture of the 3 girls because it doesn’t pop against their clothing. If they had used the same yellow or pink font instead of the black and purple, it would be more easily read. I also don’t think it is necessary to list all of the TV shows talked about in the issue, on the cover. They could have left out the list, and included something else that is discussed in the magazine. The spread I chose to evaluate was the one from the same Kate Bosworth March 2011 issue. Once again, the photo’s used are very nice, but the font is way too small. It is very, very difficult to read the paragraph about Kate, and the page outlining what is in the issue. It would have been wiser to enlarge the font and make the photos smaller, so it could be more easily read. The photos of the makeup could also have been made smaller.