Evaluation on magazine layouts

Overall, creating the magazine layouts was useful in getting better within photoshop. I had to create at least 3 different ideas, only 2 of them were based on my chosen conflict and the other was a completely different idea so that I could try a completely different style.
The artists that have inspired me the most for this project would be David Carson and Ed Fella. David carson would be more for the graphic designing bit and how he has put the text and images/shapes together. And the fonts he uses really work with it's theme/background. On the other hand I really liked Ed Fella's work because it would help me for my own designs to add in. Can really see that it's been hand drawn by coloured pencils and things but also the different textures, thickness and sizes that he has used. If I was to create my own font, I would most likely make them in the style of Ed Fella.
My first idea was to keep it simple with a few images and not much text, it did go the way I had wanted but I felt it was boring and could have a bit more going on. The kind of Typface I used in this one would most be Serif but the words 'Animal Testing' was in Sans Serif. Most of it fitted okay but now looking back over it, I don't think the font 'Animal Testing' really fitted with what it was saying - match the kind of feeling I wanted to give.
So for my second idea, I tried to make the font match a bit better but I still couldn't find one that I felt could work. (This is where I could have drawn my own and photoshoped it in). But on the overall for this idea, I had tried to copy another layout that I had found on the internet which had a bit more going on and gave me some good areas to use mixed media in.
From these experiments, I had only kept them graphic like and not using mixed media. So what I could have done was hand draw some of my own pictures and text to photograph and add on. Also I could of done some real life photography of animals then photoshoped it. Further more, I've used many ideas and techniques and from all this I've found it easier to use photoshop. Also have a better understanding in which is the best type of typography to be used with different subjects/emotion.

Postcard

Magazine Layout 3

Tate Modern Visit

Jon Barnbrook

 "Barnbrook is one of the most well-known creative studios in Britain.

Our team of designers specialise in producing innovative books, corporate identities, CD covers, custom fonts, websites and magazines. Our clients range from international museums to charitable organisations"

- http://www.barnbrook.net/about.html

In each one of his work, they are all different. Either different type of text style, placed differently, some overlaps eachother or created using different materials (eg, paint, photoshop, wood). I think his work is really interesting because they're all different and give different types of effect. I like his fair use of colour, some are warmer, brighter where as some of the others are more simple based, black and white. Not all of them use typography and images, some have just one of them.

David Carson

In a lot of his work he uses images/shapes within the background and the typography is layered over the top. Various colours are used but most of the text is black. In each one they use the same sort of style font, Serif. First 2 are quite simple, where as the third one has more going on like repetitive shapes and a lot more layers of typography. The typography is quite easy to read, alothough the images are quite random and don't nessicarily connect with the text. The title or main aim is the biggest focus.

Magazine Layout 2

A layout I found of the internet:

The version I made on photoshop:

I tried to make it as simular as possible to the layout I had found. So instead of the hearts I had used paw prints which relate to 'animal', also using images from the internet to do with my conflict subject. On the notebook paper I had hand written some arguments, against animal testing, on a blank piece of paper then photograph it to put on top of the lines in photoshop. I think my outcome came out better than I expected, would have been better if I managed to get the handwritten bit done.

Conflict subject ive chosen - Animal Testing

Negative view of animal testing:

What is animal testing? It is an experimentation carried out on animals. It is used to assess the safety and effectiveness of everything from medication to cosmetics, as well as understanding how the human body works.
It can cause them a lot of pain and even if scientists have tried to minium the pain as much as possible, it is still unfair to put them through it. Any benefits to human beings that animal testing does provide could be produced in other ways.
They could use less invasive techniques, better medical care and better living conditions. But further more instead on experiementing on the whole animal itself, they could experiment on the cell cultures. They could also use computer models or in my opinion, just stop animal testing all together.

CD Design

Out of final piece - Landscape

Magazine layout 1

This is my first magazine design, just tried to keep it simple. I have a short bold title, and the word 'STOP' really sums up what my article is about/aiming for. And then a little caption besides it all. It's basic and easy to understand. But maybe I could have put a little more effort into it - adding more effects.

Library research

Ed Fella

Edward Fella is an artist and graphic designer, whose work has had an important influence on contemporary typography. He worked as a commercial artist designing brochures and illustrations. He has always refused to use a computer, but has built up over 30 years of a carrer just using pencils, ballpoint pens, crayons, knives, etc.

I really like his style and the use of colours really clash well. Also none of his creations are the same, they're all slightyly different - like different fonts and some have backgrounds of extra swirls.

The Face Magazine

 This really relates to conflict because of the way her facial expressions are and the way she's posing really sums up how she feels, which clearly says doesn't give a crap. She is giving off a lot of attitude, you can see this because the way her top lip goes up and the position her hands are in.

This is also a good example of conflict. Again his facial expressions are giving attitude, straight forward 'what you looking at?!' kind of look. The heading fits perfectly, also it's like hes been in a fight as he has a nose bleed. So showing that he is hard and whatever is coming his way, he's ready for it.

Kate Gibb

 I found this artist from a site called  Big Active, and out of all them (apart from one other) this one really caught my eye. I'm not too sure why this artist stood out to me, I think its the way she presents the colours and shapes but also that the images used are so realistic but are edited to a vintage type theme. I really like the colour scheme, it's not too bright or dull. It's just a little faded but the brighter colour still come through.

Magazine Layouts

Good type of layout:

I would say this has been designed and thought well through because it's design links well with its theme, which is 'music underground'. So they've used the roads from a tube map on top of the images and writing. Also the colours all clash well together, there isn't really any bad colours and it's good because it's not too dull.

Bad layout:

I don't really like this one, just too simple and doesn't look that nice. The use of colour is very minimum but doesn't really work well. The title is called 'Tea Time' but neither of the pictures relate to it, they both are a fizzy drink. Seems really bare, I think it needs to be a little more exciting and link with its theme.



Ugly Layout:

Luminous green and red? I don't think so.. Also the title isn't very creative, 'The science of Sci-fi'. Another bad bit to this is the text itself, it doesn't even go around the the women smoothly either. For something sciency, it could a little more interesting and have more strange/different things going on.

Styles of Typography

Love, has that curvy italic effect. This is the kind of font you'd find on a valentine cards.

Horror has more of a thicker font, a bit like its painted on roughly. No smooth edges - sharp edges, not all filled in. They look like they're dripping or ready to transform to something unusual.

This one has more of a curly, feminine style to it. Used in Art Noveau, a little elegant.

Very computerlised, no curves or letters join. Quite square type, block.

Has a bit of humour, not serious or curvy type of font. Bubbly. Bold.

For most fonts, as soon as you see them you can tell straight away for what type of catergary they would come under just by its shape or the way it links letter to letter.