• TRY IT: 10 minute
critique
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Build your awareness of design principles by identifying the
most common pitfalls of beginning designers.
Goal: based on the design knowledge you've gained, assess a newsletter
and make suggestions for improvement.
Note:
These directions were designed for the original hands-on course.
If you are online, you might find any page in a magazine —or
your own layouts— and consider the design and typography in
light of what you've learned. Make a thumbnail sketch showing ways
to improve the piece.
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Look
over the design. Assess the following areas:
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Purpose:
Does the newsletter perform its intended function?
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Form:
What method has been used to create balance? Is it working?
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Contrast:
SQUINT. What elements attract your eye? What next? How does
your eye move through the page? What methods of creating contrast
have been used? Could contrast be manipulated more effectively?
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Content:
do the words and pictures support each other?
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Visuals:
Assess quality, type, effectiveness, size, cropping, juxtaposition.
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Typography:
Is it consistent? Identify the number of typefaces, styles of
type, families, methods of distinguishing among content. Is
there a clear hierarchy?
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Is there a clear grid system in place for organizing the content,
and keeping elements aligned with each other?
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Create
thumbnail sketches incorporating your suggestions for improving
the design.
Great Job! You're well on your way to cleaner,
more effective design.
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