Design thread .... v.2

Let me know what you think of the graphic. Obviously this was the incomplete page before the copy and before it got relegated to B&W.

An additional note: 'Gaines Adams' got changed to 'a defensive player', since it seemed less likely as the week went on that Adams would be around at six for the Redskins. (And the white space was eventually filled in with samplings from the mock-draft world...lame, I know, but I kind of ran out of time.)

In case you can't read...the first slot with Johnson:
"It’s a long shot, certainly, and many feel the Redskins don’t have the combination of expendable players and draft picks to move close enough to snare Johnson. But those same people believe the Redskins — always one to get their man — won’t give up on this year’s top prospect. But by taking the top prospect, the Redskins don’t address a need area. Splash factor: Jackpot."
The second:
"This is what the Redskins need, whether it’s Gaines Adams, Jamaal Anderson, Amobi Okoye or LaRon Landry. But each has holes — whether it’s a question of value or a true team need — that could easily be second-guessed. But there is no second-guessing that the Redskins defense needs help, much more so than the offense. Splash factor: Break even."
The third:
"This would be most beneficial but probably the least popular. Instead of picking once on Saturday, the Redskins could address multiple needs with second- and third-round selections. But given that this draft is relatively weak after the first handful of picks, there figures to be other teams looking to move back as well. Splash factor: Game Over." (It actually says Jackpot on the page, but I'm certain I changed it.)

Thoughts?

 

Can someone help me... I'm looking for a page, not sure whether it's the Detroit News or the Free Press, but it was a story on the tigers players and their intro music, and the CP was done on Ipods. I've looked through 3 or 4 different portfolios on NPD, and can't find anything. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

First off, I love that you're back.

Secondly, this incontrovertible fact remains on bumping heds: If you are doing it, there's a better way to handle that page.

 

i know, this ain't sports, but here's a couple no-hop digest pages... Goal with these pages is to cram as many stories as possible on them.... so any comments on my cramming..

 

On the bottom clip:

Never, ever, ever have a story wrapping around the photo with no text connecting. Either move the photo to the right, or cut some of that ridiculously long cutline.

 

I have to disagree with you on the wrapping text, Doc. I think it's fine. I do it occasionally with centerpieces, as does the Washington Post and several other major metros. I understand the premise for the text to be a non-stop flow to make it easier for the reader to follow. That's an insult to the readers. It's all right there. They won't get lost.

Sometimes, we overthink things too much.

 

The point is, why do it when it easily can be avoided? Does the cutline really need to be seven lines long? Cut that down, and the problem is instantly solved.

 

reason i left cutline extended is it had extra tidbits in there that the reader could find that wasn't in the story.... and that and i believe if you have rules separating each story the reader can't get "lost" and automatically knows where the other leg of copy goes... just my two cents... if i would have placed the photo anywhere else it would have to be left hand side and i think it would look akward cause it's looking away from the story... or whatever... and if it was on the right, i'd have butting photos, unless of course, i push the butterfly up top, then i'll have the art top heavy...

 

If your goal was to put extra stuff in the cutline that wasn't in the story, then do a breakout box. Not only will it solve the lengthy cutline issue, but it looks better anyway.

 

not to be a smart ass, but a woman talking about how she owns a motel, a bar, a cafe and when she turns 100 she's giving it up to go fishing worth a break out box?

 

Not to be a smartass, but if that's your reasoning, is it even worth a story?

If you're going to be this defensive with your pages, why do you post so often? Are you actually looking for advice, or just looking for someone to say, "Great job?"

EDIT: My point is -- Yes, willie-butch is correct when he says some very respected papers use stories with non-connected legs. That's fine, if it's part of the intended design scheme. But it's not in your case. You could have easily avoided it, is all I'm trying to say.

 

and i understand what you're saying... i'm not here looking for praise.. i'm looking for criticism, but i do understand that each designer has their own opinion, and not saying yours is wrong, but besides cutting the cutline, there wasn't anywhere for the photo to go with it looking right, unless of course i dumped the butterfly photo and did nothing but text....