This is the second magazine spread we needed to create for the Typography class. As a reminder, we could choose from one of three articles provided to us or choose our own article and use the copy to create the layouts.
The prompt was to use Adobe InDesign to format the text with the following principles of typography: leading, kerning, and justification. Design headlines, subheadings, and body copy using font pairings and principles of visual hierarchy and emphasis. Organize our designs using grids.
As the same topic was to be chosen for both magazine layouts, I again used the article about Japanese Wood-Block Printing for the copy text. After designing a mock layout to see what grid design would look best, I decided on a three-column format for thinner bodies of text that are reminiscent of the Japanese vertical writing style even though this is an English document. I opted for a simpler font of MS Gothic for the title, again using a larger point size for the main title than the subtitle. This layout is meant to be placed on facing pages and so the subheading is opposite the headline and in smaller font and different typeface as well as color as though following the tittle after a colon. This look was aided by using right alignment on the title, and left alignment on the subheading. I used a non-traditional grid layout for the text which curves to mimic the curves of the females in the wood-block and print, because of the use of a plainer title. To offset the increased illegibility because of the grid layout and smaller text, I opted to have a serif typeface as the copy text which paired well with the sans serif title. Sticking to only two colors, which match the color scheme of each magazine’s photos, allowed for a simpler look.