A Spooky, Saturated Spread
26 Oct
This a layout taken from the Martha Stewart Living Magazine, October edition.
This layout is very effective for several reasons. It works really well that the background of the spread are real photographs. They are what is visually appealing and attention grabbing when you first look at the layout. They draw you in to the spread. The left page of the spread is all warm colors. These orangy, redish, yellows draw in the eye. After looking at the left page, your eyes move over to the right which consists of cooler colors such as greens and browns. To create a visual gestalt, the center of the page is the pumpkins which are the same warm colors as used in the left side of the spread. This ties the two pages together.
I like that this spread focuses on design elements rather than text. The bulk of the spread are vivid images with crisp colors. The designs on the pumpkin are works of art and are central to the spread. The text is strategically place on opposite ends of the right page so that they don’t interfere with the images and in fact frame it. The text highlights the images rather than the other way around.
The headline is very pretty as it appears a bit see-through and glows through the background of the page, giving it a jack-0-lantern affect. It is very creative and works well with the theme of the spread. The type works very well for this design and concept; it is a halloween spread and the font gives off a mysterious and spooky feel, while still being legible and even a bit elegant. It is a pretty type. The body of the text is in a simple type which is perfect so that it doesn’t take the attention away from the central images of the spread, and it doesn’t blend with the headline or sub-heads.
Color definitely has an effect on the viewer in this spread. The colors set a dark and mysterious tone, giving the effect of a haunted house and making the viewer aware that this is obviously a halloween spread. The whole spread appears to be glowing just like a jack-o-lantern. It is the bright, warm, orange-yellow tones that achieve this. They are placed against darker backgrounds creating shadows which also add to this affect.
The colors in this spread are fully saturated. They are bright, clear, crisp and vibrant. As far as value goes, on the left it is high since the page is practically glowing and very bright. On the right the value is lower creating shadows and darkness in the background. This spread effectively sets a halloween, spooky, and dark mood for the viewer.
Blog Assignment #9
26 OctAs we move from the logo assignment to the magazine layout project we will be diving deeper into our understanding of color.
For this weeks blog post I want you to find an example of a magazine spread that uses color effectively. You need to not only explain why you like it, but also incorporate a discussion on why the color choice is effective in terms of design and concept. In this I will be looking for your understanding of complimentary colors, hue, intensity (saturation), value (tone), warm versus cool colors, the hierarchy of color on the page, etc. (look back to the blog assignment #6 for good links on the principles of color and the Amy Arntson book)
I want you to look at how the color affects the viewer, what does it make you think of, how does it affect your mood, what are the main associations with the color and does it relate to the concept behind the design. And as always offer any criticism to how they could improve upon their choice of color.
You will also be required to find your layout in an actual magazine and not the internet. I want you all to spend time looking at different magazines and how the layouts reflect their purpose, which is much easier to do if you have the actual product in your hand. You must upload a scanned copy of the layout to your post as a reference.
A Graphic World 