Design thread

Re: Design thread *Updated 3/29*

Just want to echo what DyePack wrote. Every headline here is bland, with poor verbs (is, earns); a little thing like an active verb can go a long way toward spicing up a headline. These read like those horrible AP headlines that are better served as subheads.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 3/29*

Don't care for the Impact font, if that's what it is.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 3/29*

Hopefully, that last page was just one of my bad days. Here is another page.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 3/29*

Well, you're wrong. In my discussions with readers, they almost always hate narrow columns of tiny letters all over the page. Bastard column widths help differentiate one story from another.

wv ... On the first page you posted, I'd have run the story stripped over the top at 4-over-5 to widen the columns out a little bit (readers do notice and appreciate these things), and I don't like having the pullquote centered with story text rising to the top of the next column like that at all. On the second page, I'd have probably put some kind of info box (game info, maybe) at the right side of the WVU story to provide some separation from the column.

The Nextel Cup logo I have no problem with --- it helps attract readers' eyes to that corner of the page. SportsDesigner, have you considered that maybe he's at one of those small papers where he's trying to do everything at once and doesn't have time to do a cutout?

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 3/29*

wv, here's an old fart answer on the two pages you've shown me. And you may have been told it's outdated, but...

If you're bumping heads -- ESPECIALLY the way those three heads on your first page are perfectly lined up with each other -- there is a better way to present that page. Period.

If the answer is, "Well, the fonts and size are quite different," well, yes, they are. No matter. The eye still tends to look straight across the page and see a mass of big type.

Also, I don't understand the inconsistent use of rules between stories. If you're going to use them, use them all the way, not just to block off your top story and your column rail.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 3/29*

Well, actually, at first glance, no I didn't see the rule.

wvsportswriter ... just a suggestion, but it looks like the women's basketball stuff is your lead package.
I would flip the Zimmerman column to the left side and move everything else over to the right.
Depending on how you did it, I might even put the WVU story across the bottom. Or at least run it on three/four legs with a pull quote off to the side.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 3/29*

Just an FYI for everyone offering their comments: The NASCAR logo used on the first page I posted is a set feature that always appears there every Tuesday. It isn't the designers' choice.

As far as the other suggestions, bastard measures, bumping heads, et cetera, I will take them into consideration and apply them when I can. Thanks for the comments. Keep them coming. I probably will post some more pages later today, as long as no one cares that I appear to be monopolizing the thread.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 3/29*

Better you than certain others.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 4/2*

I like Impact font. Don't scrap it just because some people here don't like it.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 4/2*

On the "Better than bagging a buck" headline, it looks as if the type was kearned a little too tight. If you have to take it in more than -2 (in Quark), change the wording. I know the alliteration works, but creating a black text block kills the effect.

I did like the "girls tourney" box... just the right amount of color to offset and organize, and even though I can't read the content I think it's important to have some bulleted 'quick hits' for readers to pull together a multi-interest event.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 4/2*

The second page is improved.

Interesting that your paper uses green label bars. Green is often a color that is tough to reproduce well on the press. Most places use red or blue because it's more dependable (especially for reverse text).

Great centerpiece photo and you played it well.

You might want to see how it goes over to add the bulleted summary to another story on the page - like the one at the top. A little more information to draw someone in.
Also, again, how about an "up next" box with the Mountaineers.

Overall, that's a real good page.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 4/2*

I was interested in what headline fonts are mainly the 'norm?' for most papers?

Because, for me, I work at a shithole weekly newspaper, and we use crap fonts for our heads like Helvetica, which is too spaced out, and then the publisher expects to tighten it to -10 on Quark, which then makes it too tight.

I was just wondering what are some good fonts to use for Headlines, such as gamers, features, columns, etc.