Design thread

Re: Design thread *Updated 2/6*

Hopefully not a recycled headline from the Abner Louima case.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 2/6*

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 2/6*

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2006/02/15/sports/15luge_graphic_lg.gif

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 2/6*

That graphic would have been better if they showed where on the track each person crashed.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 2/6*

I haven't been to SJ much lately, glad to see this thread's still active. When it stays on task, it's a great tool for all of us.

And speaking of tools, the best thing the people on this thread can do to keep it interesting is to ignore the moron who seems to blame designers for all the world's ills. Just don't repond to any of his babble or use his name. Even if he doesn't go away or shut up, there will be fewer responses to his childish nonsense to wade through when you're searching for fairly serious discussion.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 2/6*

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 2/6*

Nice CP, tho the top hed is a cliche. The rest of the page is way too busy, mostly elements for the sake of elements.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 2/6*

i have to say, this is the most useful thread I've ever encountered here. Although, I'm at a small daily, it's nice to see what the metros from other parts of the country are doing.

By the way, noticed some people aren't too crazy about the rails. Both metros around my area have them - is it a sin to use one?

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 2/6*

Yes, we have a difference of style on that. Which, of course, is OK.

I love busy. And I love augmenting every story you can, providing entry points on everything possible.

The one thing which made me cringe a little was the 1x1 NBA action photo.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 2/6*

Same here, Shotglass, that just kills me.

And I'm in the "anti-busy" category, especially not a fan of the logos scattered around this page (I count four of 'em). And I wish there was a little more air around the Stevens centerpiece, just to give it a bit more pop.

Still, I do like the hed treatment and exploded type lead-in on the CP a lot, as well as the by the numbers. Overall, a pretty solid cover.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 2/6*

Just checking in for the first time in a while and I'm sad to see DyePack bringing his diseased posts to this thread.

But I wanted to comment on this page. I love how clean the design is, and I like how the bottom ad is so offset (no color, contained in a box) that you immediately know it's an ad. If ads have to be there, that's how to do it. Also, great use of the dominant art and strong colors on the page (the blue, the green, the red).

That said, I hope this is either an inside page or a special-section wrap. If this is Page 1 of the sports section, I'm already lost. I look for a mini-mast of "sports" that designates the section, not something that looks like a headline on the left side of the page. Doesn't have to be centered, but has to be a commanding anchor for the Page 1. I also look for teasers, or briefs, or even scores. Something to pull me in to the rest of the section.

And a nit-picky thing, but if you're going to use a serif font, your headline shouldn't rub up against the bottom of the photo. A few picas between would have been perfect, and the space is there to use.

Also, I don't like the columnist photo cropped so tight his forehead is cut off. It draws my attention, but not in a good way!

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 2/6*

Yeah, but all them Canadians are so advanced, they like their sports pages as avant-garde as their modern art. Normality be damned!

My own view. This page breaks way too many of my personal rules for design. But it does so in a way that makes me wonder if me and this other designer would even be speaking the same (design) language if we ever met.
Something this far off the track, well, it's hit what it's going for, but it ain't ever gonna work in my town.

(And this, in my admittedly unjustifiably xenophobic opinion, is how all the foreign non-English-speaking papers win SND awards despite having to conform to entirely different rules for their marketplace than the U.S. papers do. That, and the judges like big text, but don't know what the foreign words mean. ;D)