Project 5: Digital Magazine Feature
Introduction
In this project, I set out to design a fashion magazine spread to accompany an article about Gucci and Balenciaga’s Aria collection. I used the principles related to type, hierarchy, and grids to design my spreads, and tried to achieve readability and a modern look.
Final Spread
Grid Tracing Exercise
I tried two different ways of tracing the grid in these articles- highlighting modular form elements, and also with regular rectangles. This helped me to identify how the grid plays into the overall form of the articles.
Design Inspiration
I tried to take the direction of a modern, high-end publication. Vogue was an inspiration to me, but I feel that its style can often be more classic, whereas I wanted to exemplify a simple, clean and sharp feeling. I used the SSENSE magazine as inspiration, as that brand caters to new, young and emerging luxury brands and consumers.
Sketches
At first, I set out to try to make a 4 column grid that worked well in the context of a fashion magazine. I sketched 5 different page layouts, many of which used a 4 column grid.
Image Inspiration
Initial inspiration and comparison pictures:
My favorite photos of the collection were taken by Kevin Tachman, and I used many of them in my spreads and for inspiration:
I also liked these images from Gucci :
Typography
I used Source Sans Variable for the titles, and Source Serif Variable for the body. I close a serif font for the body due to its readability and flow. The Sans title font provided impact and simplicity.
Spread Iterations
I started with a 4-column grid, but eventually changed to 3 columns for practicality. I also decreased the gutter size so that my work was more legible, and included larger images.
First Draft Spread:
Cover Drafts:
For my first draft spread, I chose a Kevin Tachman image as the cover. I selected this image for its soft but exciting aesthetic qualities. I also liked the movement of the people, plants and air in the photo’s background. However, I ended up choosing a different image for the final as it seemed more striking as a cover. I also played with the cover’s title placement, size, shape and whether or not to include the subtext on the title or not.
First Page Drafts:
I started using a four-column grid with a large image at the top of the page, however I switched to a 3-column grid with narrower gutters per class and instructor feedback. I also changed the images, image citation format, and removed one image to optimize for the changes in shape.
Second Page Drafts:
I adapted the text and images to align with my 3 column grid system, changed the folio text position and the text spacing to improve readability. I also shrunk the title to match the size of the title on the fourth page.
Third Page Drafts:
My third page remained mostly the same, aside from some changes to citation and folio.
Fourth Page Drafts:
At this point I was just following the format of the second page, but had less text to work with so I used more images and a larger pull quote. I also changed my folio to the final format.
Final Draft Spread:
While I didn’t have the chance to iterate through a lot of breadth for this project, I did try to be very careful with my craftsmanship. I tried to create shapes with my text and images, pay attention to issues like spacing and orphans, and create a grid that furthers the aesthetic and clarity of my publication. While I started out wanting to do the four-column grid, I ultimately decided to heed feedback from my classmates and go with the three column grid, along with shrinking the gutters between the columns.
