I’ve had a bit of experience doing some designs for conventions and books. It never fails to amaze me when people give me an assignment and say “Well, do what you think looks right.”
Considering the actual planning involved and all other sundry concerns such as target audience and consistency, that really is a tall if not impossible order. Actually it IS possible, it’s just that the product just isn’t as good as I would have liked it. Furthering frustrations are those who feel that your judgement is best, and then override your opinion because it ‘suits them’ better rather than their target audience.
via memegenerator
There’s a bigger problem, especially when it comes to designing things like graphics intensive books. Programs books for specific conventions, brochures for particular products and other such items that require a holistic design. If the inside of the article is disharmonious with the outside, it creates a jarring effect.
I suppose it’s felt less with magazines since they’re supposed to be frenetic and overflowing with ideas, but say you’re designing a menu for a mom and pop diner. You really can’t use a beveled calligraphic font with fancy flourishes in silver on a velvet backdrop. It’s not only misleading, it’s pretentious and silly, even more so when you open it up and see a typical greasy spoon breakfast on the first page.
The pinnacle of fine dining. via Mark Tucker
What I really like to take away from this article however, is the recommendation of proofing thumbnails. It really saves a lot of mistakes before it comes to the actual print run. There have been some terrible mistakes for comics that I prepped for print, partly of which was my fault when margins were too small, giving the publication a cramped, unprofessional look.
Ah well. Live and learn.
via Beginning Observations
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