Design thread

Re: Design thread *Updated 3/29*

Colleagues:

Like many of you, I plan to use this thread and the writing thread to get honest and helpful critiques of my work in both areas (I am a reporter/paginator at my newspaper) because I am always trying to improve my skills. I have been a reporter for more than 10 years, since my senior year of high school, but I have been a paginator for only six months. So, that is where I need the most help. I have never posted any of my work on here. But, oddly enough, Nick3849 has, on page 56 of this thread, which I appreciate. Thanks for the feedback on that page (the one with the great soccer photo as the centerpiece). My question is, how do I post pages on here? I have them saved as qxd, pdf and jpg files. Just tell me which one works the best and how to post it, and I will be good to go. Thanks in advance for your time and advice. I appreciate it.

wvsportswriter

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 3/29*

You have to upload your jpg somewhere else then use that link in your post.

Highlight the link and clilck the "Insert Image" icon.

There are many free hosting services on the web. just search free image hosting.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 3/29*

You could use newspagedesigner.com. Most of the pages posted here are linked from there.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 3/29*

OK. Below is my first attempt at posting a page. Why is my page smaller than others' pages? Is that something I can fix? That way, you all can get a better look at it. Thanks in advance.

Edit: I think I have it figured out now. If I am doing something wrong, though, just let me know.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 3/29*

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 3/29*

My first thoughts ...

That photo with the story on the right-hand side throws me off. Since it's the same depth (with the cutline) as the stripped story at the top, at first I think it's with that story. Obviously, it's not.

I wonder if the page might be helped a little bit by making that pull quote and mug fill out that one column space -- maybe making the story start a bit shallower or going with a bastard column width on the two elements if you want to keep the start that deep. Then you could throw that every day file coach shot at the bottom of the right-hand story, which will help break up a little bit of the gray down on the bottom-right side.

One question - did the Herd story have to contain to the cover? Something nice might have been to do a pull out of five keys to spring practice or something to run with that story on the cover to give the reader a quick idea of what the team needs to address. A pull-out or something like that might also help that story not start so long and gray on the cover.

A little white space between the strip story and the headlines of the two stories underneath might help too, because they seem a little tight.

Those are just the first few things I notice. Hopefully others will chime in.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 3/29*

Carrie points out several good suggestions.

The page sticks to the six-column grid. This is a good idea on an inside page but it can make a cover feel a little too rigid. As Carrie says, take the strip story and make it four columns on five. Little things like that will add some interest.

Also, you might want to use "up next" boxes. Easy to do info.

Or a bio box with the feature. Writers should be expected to do a bio box with a feature.

Beware logo mania. For instance, the NASCAR logo is useless. You would be better off creating a little cutout of the leader's car and running that in its place. You could use the cutout again when you needed it.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 3/29*

I think the readers can figure out the Beilein photo goes with the Beilein story. Yeesh.

Same with the spring practice story. The column is a little gray, but let's think of the readers. They don't obsess about things like that as the design camp does.

Don't change things just for design sake. Redoing column widths, etc., may be a good way to waste time and to avoid doing the copy editing part of the job, but it really accomplishes little. Standard column widths are almost always the way to go.

Now for the criticism: The headlines on this page are awful. They're flat with absolutely nothing to draw in the reader. Headlines, not design, are what really attract readers. And these don't.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 3/29*

Good point on the NASCAR logo. I didn't even notice it. I think I was too distracted by the big red circle in the section flag ...

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 3/29*

What you are supposed to do is take a screengrab of your page and see how it looks shrunk down.

If it looks good that way, then you have a better shot at winning an SND award.

(kidding, uh, I think)

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 3/29*

Actually, when I looked at the page, my first thought was the photo in the top right corner went with the top story and that it should either be bigger or smaller because it was the same column width as the story below it.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 3/29*

Didn't anyone notice there is a rule separating the Beilein photo from the story across the top? There is no way to mistake which story that photo goes with.
Where are your eyes, designers??