OUGD505 - Studio Brief 2 - City Patch Project - Newsletter Cover Trials

Newsletter Cover Trials

- As a way of including the brand colour scheme with the imagery it was considered using the colour as a background. The light green was the only colour that wouldn't overpower the imagery on the cover.  Seperating the title text from the imagery rather than layering them over the top allowed each element to stand out and not conflict with each other.

- Creating a border around the rectangular imagery defines it on the cover and makes it stand out, however having the border around the image means it is rectangular rather than a square extending off the page. 

- Using white for the background made the image and text look much brighter and stand out creating the best contrast within the design. 

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- The use of green duotone imagery combined with the green background and typography allows the imagery to become part of the brand colour scheme creating a cohesive design. 

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- In many of the nature magazines that were looked at full bleed imagery was used as a way of showing the content of the magazine off and creating an eyecatching design.

- Layering the typography over the image it was found that white contrasted best with the image making it more legible. However the smaller text perhaps gets a little lost within the image best of its lack of definition.

Google Image

- It was considered that perhaps having a square white box around the typography on the cover would allow the typography and image to stand out in their own right without conflicting against one another. Making the white block square would allow it to better reflect the link to the patch idea.

- It was considered that placing the title and patch ornament in opposite corners to one another within the grid would create balance within the design.

- Having a larger border around the edges of the typography allowed the allowed the imagery to act as a frame around the contents on the cover. 

- However when the design was printed there wasn't enough clarity between the type and the image making the design look busy.

- Using a white border around the cover imagery creates a frame that contrasts against the picture making it stand out.

- Bringing the typographic elements in so they were more central emphasised how the imagery framed the typography and the symmetry / balance of the elements within the design.

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- To reflect how the titles within the newsletter use the patch ornament it was considered that the patch ornament could be used on the cover above the title. 

- The combination and layout of the title and patch ornament means it takes up most of one side of the cover which creates a half and half balance between type and image.

- Reducing the size of the patch ornament means the title does not take up as much room and allows the imagery to be more of a focus within the cover design.

- Having the patch ornament to the side and above the title typography means that the title extends too far over the image.

- Placing elements in each of the four corners of the grid design create more balance and symmetry diagonally

- It was considered that the border could be made green to match the brand colour scheme and tie in with the imagery however this made the design look duller and didn't allow the image to look as vibrant.

- It was considered that the titles of the pages within the newsletter cold be placed along the bottom of  the cover to allow readers to understand some of the content within it.

Google Image

When placing the typography over different images it was found that despite it being white it still wasn't standing out over the the top of the images. When the designs were printed off this was more noticeable and a lot of the designs were looking very busy and there wasn't enough contrast between the two.

Google Image

- It was considered that in order to emphasise the typography more and opacity could be put over the image to let the white stand out more, however this just made the design look washed out.

Google Image

- Making the image darker was also trialled however this just made the overall design look less vibrant.

Google Image

- It was considered that using a coloured box over the top of the imagery to place the title within could allow it to stand out more , however this would tie in more if it was square.

Google Image

It was found that images with more sky could be more appropriate as this meant there was a large area of one colour for the typography to be placed on.

- To allow any image to be used for the cover design without conflict between image and type it was considered that these could be separated to allow each to stand out .

- Taking influence from the internal design where images go off the page it was considered that perhaps this could be used for the cover design also.

- Having the image on the left of the cover and type on the right so that its aligned to the image reflects how the branding logotype and logo are aligned with one another.

- Placing the title of the newsletter and logo / logotype at the top and bottom of the page creates negative space between them making the design more refined and spacious.

-  Making the image so that it stretches over half the design matches the layout within the newsletter where every page is designed in halves

- It was considered that a larger patch ornament could be used within this space however this is potentially too distracting and takes the focus away from the imagery.

- It was thought that perhaps the patch ornament could be used in white over the top of areas of imagery as a way of linking the image back to the branding and creating a playful aesthetic. 

- Using a box around the typography would continue the white of the border and allow more of the image to be visible on the cover.

- Reducing the size of the patch ornament on the cover created more of a stepped appearance within the combined elements in a similar way to the stepping within the original logotype.

- Changing the name of the newsletter to Leeds Patch Project makes it clear that the issue is for a specific area, creating a sense of personalisation for that place, whilst also playing on the original brand name by replacing 'City' with the  name of the place.

- Colouring the tile in the same way as the original branding creates consistency.