Design thread

Re: Design thread *Updated 12/30*

I took some of the critiques from the Redskins page and, essentially, blew the page up (for next year, obviously). I've got a working copy:

I took some elements of what you guys said and broke down the long story into four sections. The cumbersome mugs are gone, replaced by more team leaders in more categories. The breakout boxes highlight a player to identify a trend and add some color to the page. I made a little art to go along with second and third downs; if you can't see it, it's a basic pro formation offense against a standard 4-3 defense. In the section about the skill players, they are the normal black while the linemen are grayed; the opposite is true in the linemen section.

The logos and the helmets at the top might be a bit much. But I tried to keep the page from being gray-dominant, and this was one way to do so (though, admittedly, probably not the best way). I also may switch the photo in the special teams section to give it a little more balance; and frankly, I'm concerned about that because we all know that special teamers don't appear in a whole lot of AP photos. But it's a work in progress, and I think it looks a lot better than the old page.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 12/30*


The type seems awfully wide. Wide type can work well in small doses, but those items are pretty long, especially the lead item.

Perhaps if the cutout were placed in the center of two thinner legs of type it would be a little easier on the eyes.

And one minor gripe about the bottom player to watch item:

If you are going to incorporate the numeral "2" in the label to make it "Player2Watch" there should be some reason behind it other than the fact that it happens to be a homonym of "to."

For example, "Face2Face" works because there are two faces, etc.

Maybe you could make it a key matchup between two players. Then you could call it "Players2Watch" and the "2" would also carry the fact that there were two players.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 1/3*

I'd make your gutters a bit wider, especially to set off the center section.

Also, I sometimes use what's called "Exploded text" - basically it's body text but at like 11.5 pts. You might want to try that with your overview section so the package appears to have a dominant spot.

I like the highlight trapezoids.

Long rails of data can be easier to read with rules between the lines in some cases. You might try that as well.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 1/3*

just wanted to be the 1,000th response to a great thread

keep it up folks

wish hustle's coulda been 1,000, because he's taking somethink learned here and showing us how he's changed. great stuff

hustle, i'd like some more white space between second and third downs

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 1/3*

another thing, hustle, is to minimize the logos.

You have the stylized redskins and eagles text in addition to the helmet. screams too much to me.

more white space is needed all around, especially on this page. I know you're trying to cram a lot into a little, but you have to let the page breath some.

agreed with the players2watch thing. have to have a reason for the 2 other than the fact it looks cool

i would also use something with the skeds and the rosters to help separate the elements. like alternate shading or rules between the lines.

i like the concept with the virginia connection, with all the logo. perhaps run the two columns of logos down the left side instead of as a header.

I do like the progression of the downs as subheads. good idea there.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 1/3*

Yeah, I'd scale down the logos in the VA. connection, simply beacuse they're not adding much new info week-to-week, and taking space away from stuff that only you're providing. But that's just me

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 1/3*

Hey Hustle, looks like you've got a ton of nice content going there. Hope this thread is helping tweak the page.

You might want to look at some kind of consistent grid (two-column, three-column, whatever) in the middle of the page, for the First and 10 on down through the special teams. As SportsDesigner mentioned, it's also good to give one section a little more visual dominance if possible, but at least adhering to a grid will make it feel more cohesive and navigable. Might want to make your First and 10 hed two lines deep, just so there's room to say a little more.

I dig the color arrow box things, too. That's a nice touch, and breaks things up nicely.

I'm not big on the Va. connection logos, personally. If you just used a mug with that, you could slide it over to the left some and use an action shot with your Player 2 Watch. Also, if you stick with two mugs downpage, might want to make them the same dimensions, for consistency's sake.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 1/3*

Thanks for the help, all. I'll sit down with it in a few days. Or whenever the Skins lose.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 1/3*

Hustle, one thing I meant to mention. If you do have a graphics department, you might want them to tinker with the Redskins' helmet a little bit to adjust the reddish-brown color. It's much more purplish than it should be.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 1/3*

I'll have someone look at it, a photog or somebody. I can tell you that's exactly how I downloaded it from NFL Media.

When the page is actually on my screen, the helmet does look a little purplish. But the trapezoid looks to be truer to the color; but on the image here, it doesn't appear to be that way.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 1/3*

Also, for the benefit of all, I scrapped the logos on the Va. Connection. Instead, it's just a plan header in a pic box with a map of the state. Then I used dots at certain points on the map, and lines connecting the dot and a text box that explains the connection. (Mug is scrapped too.)

Seems to work well - leaves some white space and is still distinctive.

Of course, I guess I should learn just where Richmond and Harrisonburg and Roanoke and Big Stone Gap are on the map.

 

Re: Design thread *Updated 1/3*

If you ran the helmets around 80-90 percent of current size and dropped the underlined city names below them, it could help create white space.

Overall, you're off to a good start.