WEEK EIGHT / DIGITAL DESIGN STUDIO / CE 2404 01 / continuing education / fall 2006
resources
graphic design rules
adobe tips
typography 1st
david carson
PAGE DESIGN
Lecture: Form, Hierarchy & Communication
Page design is a practice that works in direct union with the grid. Page layout programs like Quark and InDesign have grid mechanisms built in to the interface. Much of what we do in this exercise will call upon the familiar territory that we covered in earlier classes.
Our main focus will be the arrangement of several elements on a page: Primary and secondary heads, body copy, quotes, initial caps, photos & art. We will begin working with type and image. Develop order between the two. Explore composition through hierarchy, balance, rhythm, emphasis, unity, white space and proximity.
IN-CLASS WORK: Use the supplied text and images to develope an editorial spread. Explore various grid systems, use of space, image size and proximity. Remember the items we've discussed up to this point like repetition, the invisible line, page trim and color.
FINAL PROJECT: For the Final Project I would like us to bring everything together in book form. Issues of composition, typography, color, image use, hierarchy, page design and production will all be called into play.
First begin by selecting content. Some suggestions might be a favorite writer or poet and create a 12 page book to show selected passages or poems. Song lyrics or musings are also acceptable. The idea is to build a format from your content. Set up your page designs in thumbnails, or as a war room technique, meaning put all the spreads out in front of you on a table or on the wall so you can see everything at once. From here you can determine what goes on in each spread.
Determine the art and tone of the cover. Design an inside front and inside back cover. One possibility is to create an end paper or finish. The pages should have a format that has a continuity throughout. Make thoughtful use of whitespace, use contrasts of scale and strong and thoughtful use of typography.
GOOD LUCK!
The images to the left are representations of student work from previous classes. Below, are samples of professional work. The top two are news paper layouts that show "GREEK" text for design and the screen view with the text. Bottom is a book cover making clear use of grid systems to organize information
