STUDIO PRACTICE : Grid/ Figure and Ground/ Cannons/ Colour Theory/ Folds/ Typesetting and Folds and what is a book?

Today's lesson we looked at Grids for the newspapers. Working in pairs we had to locate the grids used for newspaper layouts.

How important is the role of Grid in the newspaper design?

Grids for newspapers are one of the most challenging to do. This is because newspapers are frequently updated. The grid acts as a framework which contains all the important elements of the magazine, on the same time enabling designer to place the text and images into chosen spaces and right columns. Through this process designer can focus more on creating harmony, symmetry and balance. The space between columns is important as it makes the text easy to read and creates flow between all the elements.

In pairs we had to locate a grid on the The Guardian magazine. The grid of one page uses 5 columns. The grid brings order and hierarchy to the newspaper. Images and text sit easily inside the grid without distracting the reader's eye. Our work:

Figure and Ground

The eye differentiates an object from its surrounding area. A form, silhouette, or shape is naturally perceived as figure (object), while the surrounding area is perceived as ground (background).

Figure

The word 'Figure' above is clearly perceived as figure with the surrounding white space ground. It is usually the smaller of the elements in the visual field.

In this image, the figure and ground relationships change as the eye perceives the form of a window shade or the silhouette of a face.

This image use complex figure/ ground relationship which change upon perceiving leaves, water and tree trunk.

Ground

Everything that is not figure is ground. As attention shifts from figure to figure the ground also shifts so that an object can go from figure to ground and back.

White Space

White space refers to the canvas/page space left in between different elements of your design but is sometimes referred to as negative space. There are two types of negative space:

Active White Space

This is the space that you make a conscious effort to add to your design for emphasis and structure. Active white space is often asymmetrical, which makes the design look more dynamic and active.

Passive White Space

This is the white space that occurs naturally, such as the area between words on a line or the space surrounding a logo or graphic element.

'Nest' is an Leeds College of Art student's Magazine. With a new magazine every couple of months come a new magazine cover and lots of new images of work produced by students in our university.

This double black page spread is based entirely around the background image which could be considered the figure as it is the main eye catching part. This double page has a lot of a 'white' space in black colour around the design.

Although this double page has less white space than the previous one, but it has a blocks of text on one side when on the other are just pictures. The layout of the text and images is very organised. The bold text on the top of every paragraph separates the text making the page clear and organised. Also separating the text and images avoids overcrowding the page.

This double page contains lots of white space. There is no any text on it just images. This makes the photographs flow well together and looking organised.

Next lesson we talked about Canons. For our study task in groups we had to create a mind map about Rules of Graphic Design and answer on three question such as: what are they? how do they help designers? when are they unhelpful? should we always use them?

Balance

Visual balance comes from arranging elements on the page so that no one section is heavier than the other. Or, in other instances, a designer may intentionally throw elements out of balance to create tension or certain mood.

Proximity/ Unity

In design, proximity or closeness created a bond between elements on a page. How close together or far apart elements are placed suggests a relationship (or lack of) between what are otherwise disparate part. Unity is also achieved by using a third element to connect distant parts.

Alignment

It brings order to chaos. How align type and graphic on a page sn in relation to each other can make your layout easier or more difficult to read, foster familiarity, and/ or bring excitement to stale design.

Repetition/ Consistency

Repeating design elements and consistent use of type and graphic styles within a document shows a reader where to go and helps them navigate your designs and layout safely. Ensure that your document utilises the principles of repetition, consistency, and unity in page design.

Our created mind map:

We have been divided into small groups and asked to chose four Genres from the list below and chose a colour form the pantone colour guides which would well represent the our chose genre.

- Chick Lit

- Crime

- Fairy Tale

- Fantasy

- Historial Fiction

- Horror

- Humour

- Mystery

- Romance

- Since Fiction

- Thriller

- Western

- Young adult

With my group we have chose 'Crime', 'Fairy Tale', 'Fantasy' and 'Horror'.

For the 'Crime' we had chose:

For the 'Fairy Tale' we had chose:

For the 'Fantasy' we had chose:

For the 'Horror' we had chose:

For the next study task we had to show couple of examples of folds and create a booklet to demonstrate skills we had learned in sessions.

The fold which I chose is 'Hot Dog' fold which is very simple to do as can be created from any size paper.