IGDF Newsletter

[Mitch Wood]

Hi All.

Just wanted a crit on this newletter for the International Guide Dog Federation. My main aim was to keep the layouts clean/approachable/friendly (the articles supplied were sparse so that has given me the opportunity to open up the layouts a little more than normal).

It will be sent to the various affiliated offices around the world so the demographics are the office staff which is somewhat vague.

Most of the images are supplied by IGDF, so I had no chioce but to use them. I am still in the process of working on the details, (shadow of puppy, kerning, titles etc)

p.s. I haven't forgot about the other crit I have in process, just been forced onto this one as it is a rush, rush, rush! Will show some progress on the other thread ASAP.


http://server3.uploadit.org/files/MitchWood-Visionary_coversmlf.jpg

http://server2.uploadit.org/files/MitchWood-Visionary_sml1.jpg

http://server2.uploadit.org/files/MitchWood-Visionary_sml2.jpg

http://server2.uploadit.org/files/MitchWood-Visionary_sml3.jpg

[Mitch Wood]

http://server2.uploadit.org/files/MitchWood-Visionary_sml4.jpg

http://server2.uploadit.org/files/MitchWood-Visionary_sml5.jpg

http://server3.uploadit.org/files/MitchWood-Visionary_sml6.jpg

http://server2.uploadit.org/files/MitchWood-Visionary_sml7.jpg

[Mitch Wood]

http://server2.uploadit.org/files/MitchWood-Visionary_coversmlr.jpg

It is quite low res, so if ya wanna see a pdf let me know!!

[G-Man79]

I dig it. The photos are interesting, the layout is clean and modern. I like your idea of using brackets for the pull-out quotes as well. Nice work!

[Navian]

I agree with G-man, clean simple layout design. The only issue that I can see is the blue text on the photo with the people in the subway. Maybe drop it on the left page, or find another color? The blue text with the blue/gray floor kinda makes it really hard to read. Its the same with some of the page numbers on the photos.

The photo of the puppy (The next visionary), I can see the cut on the shadow. Was this done in Indesign/Quark? It could be that the picture box forced the cut, if so, just stretch it a little to bring the rest of the shadow.

[Drawing a Blank]

Good job. I would say you achieved your aims of keeping the layout clean/approachable and friendly. I agree with Navian that the blue text on the subway photo gets lost, but other than that I see no real problems.

[rockem]

Not bad, just quick glance I think the cover needs the most work right now, and the type on, and I know your probably still working on that stuff but that what I noticed right away. The cover kinda seems like a seperate piece than the rest of it.

[ecsyle]

I think everything is pretty solid, except the cover. I found the text hard to read. Overall though, this thing looks great to me :)

[Navian]

IMO the cover is fine. I honestly dont know why people try to make things more goddy than they need to be.

K.I.S.S.

[balou]

Very nice work. And I'm green with envy that you had so much space to work with! I agree with ecsyle about the cover text (articles list in lower left) I'm not sure why it feels wrong. Did you try just using the white space to the left of photograph for the articles rather than overlapping photo on cover? Nice direction with the puppy photo with oversized harness. Kind of reminds me of the recent Budweiser TV commercial with the young clydesdale pulling the wagon.

[rockem]

The bottom text on the cover is it stroked with white? Looks like it just want to make sure, that would be doing more harm than good

[Navian]

The bottom text on the cover is it stroked with white? Looks like it just want to make sure, that would be doing more harm than good

How so? It is blue text going over blue pants. The little white stroke doesnt do harm to the piece.

Changing its color would ruin the consistancy of the design. Except on some images where the text is white.

Lately it seems from the comments from quite a few people/designers, that those people/designers that are making the comments are much into "goddy design".

If you where given a task to decorate a christmas tree you wouldn't have a tree, you would have a stand of decorations, thus hiding the tree so badly you dont see any part of the tree. I personaly HATE design that gets cluttered, goddy, and/or overdone.

Learn to stop, and drop the pencil (or mouse) when it is good, if you have to fiddle with it after you take a step back to look at it, sometimes when you do this you have gone farther than you need to.

[rockem]

It is very dark blue going over a very light blue, the stroke serves no purpose, it just makes it harder to read and more goddy. Taking it off it would be much cleaner less "goddy"

[Navian]

I dont know why, but I had a feeling you would respond that way.

Oy! I'll just make a mental note to myself to never go to an art gallery with you.

Your like those people who would look at a piece and say: "Thats ugly I dont like it!" You will never step back to see the full picture.

*shudders*

[rockem]

I dont know why, but I had a feeling you would respond that way.

Oy! I'll just make a mental note to myself to never go to an art gallery with you.

Your like those people who would look at a piece and say: "Thats ugly I dont like it!" You will never step back to see the full picture.

*shudders*

ummmm yaaah ok, lol

[Kool]

Navian, if you will click on rockem's profile you will find a link right in the middle which will add him to your ignore list. Then you will never have to read another one of his posts. I suggest all of you who find his posts objectionable do the same. He is entitled to his own critiquing style which does not violate our policies. All this complaining about it is getting pretty tiresome.

[Navian]

Rockem you give me a headache. Reasoning with you is like trying to talk to someone who has had a few strokes and lived. And yes I've worked with someone like this and it almost gave me a couple.

[Navian]

Navian, if you will click on rockem's profile you will find a link right in the middle which will add him to your ignore list. Then you will never have to read another one of his posts. I suggest all of you who find his posts objectionable do the same. He is entitled to his own critiquing style which does not violate our policies. All this complaining about it is getting pretty tiresome.

It's okay, I've never ignored anyone no matter the reason in any form of internet activity. So, I've got a few things to do at work, I'll shut up for a while.

[rockem]

Rockem you give me a headache. Reasoning with you is like trying to talk to someone who has had a few strokes and lived. And yes I've worked with someone like this and it almost gave me a couple.

you didnt try to reason with me on anything you just started stating that I am into "goddy" stuff for some reason. All's I said was I think the cover needs some work along with some others that thought the same.
I just think the storke or dropshadow on the bottom type is hurting it making it hard to read, and kind of make it affect the kerning, taking off I think would make it cleaner...like you christmass tree thingy...if your tree is filled up with ornaments taking some off would make it cleaner and less goddy easier to the eye, in which taking the stroke off would help the type, if you didnt like my idea that is fine, but you went into the rant on ME about the type not the taco guy (cant remember his name) whe he thought it could use work also.

[Kool]

Let it go rockem.

By the way the word is "Gaudy" unless you guys are talking about it being godlike. :)

[Navian]

Gaudy Goddy, to-mato tom-ato

[rockem]

Let it go rockem.

By the way the word is "Gaudy" unless you guys are talking about it being godlike. :)

Goddy lol i know...I was using his term on it..
any ways, he kept on raggin on me, he should have let it go right away from the beginning right? How can I have someone have a thred directed to me and not respond?

Ok back to the crit.....

[ecsyle]

No definitions were found for goddy.
...

The more I look at the cover, the more it works for me.

[rockem]

another thing I noticed on the pages with the giant quotes, it would be nice to see those justified with the headlines on the top.

[rockem]

The yellow brackets around the quotes... the ones on the right of the quote are way off compared to the ones on the left. The ones on the left are a little to tight I think and the ones on the right are giving way to much space, right in the middle of that should be pretty good.

The photo on the cover.. on the tope left of it that negative space, maybe is what is kind of throwing it off for me. It is good that it is there you need some space, but some different cropping versions of the front photo might help to. Or flopping the yellow and blue lines that are on top, maybe reversing those on the bottom, blue on the right yellow on the left, might thow a little better balance into it, not sure would have to see it.

[typographics]

mitch,

this is looking pretty good. i think you will have a nice piece when youre done.

however, i agree with rockem that the cover needs work. Actually, i would suggest a complete overhaul. it doesnt look like it belongs with the rest of the newsletter. i expect one thing, but then turn the page and get something completely different. the entire piece should have a consistant look and feel. i again agree with rockem that the white outline over the type looks bad, and unprofessional.

you have a problem: the problem is that you have blue type over a blue color. your solution is to add a white outline around the type. therefor, you are basically masking the problem, and not solving it. the solution would be to move the type, change the type color, change the image, scale the image down etc... your signiture says "less is more". solve the problem with "less", not adding "more".

again, i think it looks great. you have done a wonderful job. fix the cover and some other minor things, and you will gave a great piece to present the client.

matthew~

[MikeTheVike]

I like the style...The picture of the 3 people and the dog, it looks like it needs to be shifted to the right a little. The people are too close to the left edge seam.

[Mitch Wood]

Many, many, thanks for your input. I really appreciate all of them, no matter what your perspective on design is.

I feel the points about the cover are valid and the text is something I am particularily unsure of, as it was kinda 'bodged' over. (yes with a keyline/glow)

I was supplied this photo and unfortunately it was cropped with no give for placement, maybe I could extend certain parts in PS to give me some more freedom?

Again concerning the cover and continuity of the job, I was thinking about either:

a. Extending the colour bands (which are on the cover, and do serve to be part of there somewhat thin corp-id within their stationery) within the inside of the document, maybe serving as a divider, header, or maybe even an extension of the tab on left (which serves as a location and centre guide as to who wrote the story).

I also feel this might make the inside a little less sterile.

b. Overhaul the cover and keep it as minimal as possible, but keep that key element of the photos inside, the full bleed. Maybe this will gel the cover with the inside, maybe it will make it seem a little too sterile.

I have taken notes of everyones comments and am mulling them over now, I have just mentioned these points at the mo as I was a little unsure of them too, many thanks to all who have posted.

It's all good.