Design thread .... v.2

Here's an example of buckdub's theory. Does anyone really care that Acta is facing off the page?



Also, I agree with whomever said this thread should be not just for our pages, but for some pages we see on various sites. When the Design Thread was at its pinnacle, it was just pages from random papers and deskers discussing those pages. Not just our pages.

EDIT: Since carrie's not around anymore, I'll be happy to head this up, even though I'm not near the designer she is.

 

Oh snap! You're totally right. That wasn't even your page. Jesus, I need to lay off the sauce ...

<runningawaywithtailtuckedbetweenlegs>

 

His looking off works here, probably even better than if he was looking into the type. Just goes to show that there are very few if any absolute rules in design but (to no one in particular) it helps to know the rules and why they are before you start breaking 'em.

 

Totally agree.

I think breaking the rules works only when you know the rules and why you are breaking them.

As for that page, every photo is facing left -- so something's going to be looking off, because you can't anchor them all to the right. The Acta package looks great, and it's almost more effective -- considering the story's subject -- because he's looking off into the distance

 

When I started my first job out of college, I was really struggling to learn Quark. I noticed that a lot of the bigger papers in my area were running designs day after day that looked awfully similar, so I came up with a template for my pages to help speed things up. This passed for a few issues before my publisher approached me and, in no uncertain terms, told me to knock it the fuck off.

At the time I thought he was being a royal prick, but almost eight years later I realize it was some of the best advice I've ever gotten in this business. Since then I've worked hard to make sure every page I produced is unique.

 

Agree. I think it amplifies his frustration. In this case, it works really, really well.

 

This isnt a copy editing thread, but it bugs the hell out of me that the head isn't "Thinking positively." or, alternatively, "Think positive."

...and we wonder why no one can speak correctly any more.

[/end rant]

 

Compared to those two examples, Thinking Positive is much, much better.

 

My local metro is legendary for having templated sports fronts.
They have about five that they choose from and they always have six elements on the sports cover.
Visually, it is about the most boring paper you can imagine.
And I strongly disagree with the attitude of do what you can with the inside pages.
Every page you design, you should treat like the cover.
Five simple design rules
1) Always have three elements with every story. Headline, story and one additional entry point: Breakout box, art, pull quote, something.
2) Don't internally jump stories , unless you work for a tab and always have one story on the cover that doesn't jump.
3) Plagarism doesn't apply to design, steal when you can that means look at design sites and see what won in the APSEs.
4) When you steal, take from outside your timezone
5) Every other rule is made to be broken. But don't break the ones above.

 

Gannett?

 

Nope, even though it sounds like something Gannett does.
The G thang is the seven column front, I think that is still true at every Gannett paper.
The only flexibility my metro has is that they can shorten or lengthen the rail , but it always has to be on the left-hand rail and contain the index.

 

Haven't used one since you guys ripped the shit out of it. 8)