OUGD504 - Design for Print - Production Research #2

Decided to research into creative and contemporary publications based on design because they target a similar audience to me, even though my publication may not be a magazine. This allows me to analyse the tone of voice and presentation methods so that I can consider them for my publication.

Printed Pages

Printed Pages is an arts and design magazine that focusses on depth and discovery, combining engaging and accessible content with top-notch design values.

AW15 Printed Pages:

The book contained a small booklet in the centre of the publication covering the double page spread. This section of the publication removes the audience from the context of the publication and puts them into another. The different sized pages help the audience to remove themselves from this context. I can consider this technique as it will be a useful method of taking the type out of context. 

The only written content provides the name, process and where they graduated from, leaving the audience to interpret its meaning and production methods for themselves. This small section showcases the designs without distracting the audience with lots of text. The audience can then refer back to the publication for the name of an artist and then use other sources such as the internet to find out more.

In order to introduce a new chatper/artist, a double page spread is consistently used:

Like The-Art-Form, this makes the subject change clear. The contradicting typefaces create contrast which helps certain words stand out. The introduction to Alice Tye is brief and concise which puts the audience into context.

Displaying the artwork over a double page spread shows that the content is strong because the audience is completely focused on it. There is no supportive type so the audience will have to interpret the content themselves. This is appropriate for Printed Pages target audience because it will be read by creatives and followers of visual culture, who will already have their own understanding of design.

The stock was heavier than a standard magazine which connotes quality, however it made the book hard to photograph because the pages wouldn't stay open on their own. However the publication is light and malleable enough to hold in two hands which suits the purpose of a magazine.

Coffee Table Book

This large scale hard back cover is heavy and bulky to carry around so it has to be put down in order to be read. This suggests that the audience will have to consciously want to buy/read the publication as it is a task, compared to picking up a magazine and flicking through it. The hard back cover gives the publication an authority that paper back publications can't always replicate.

Contrasting with the tone of voice in Printed Pages, 'Pollock' uses technical jargon to describe art movements and styles which will only be understood by people with a specific knowledge of fine art. The text is small due to the amount of it and also not to distract the audience from the images.

Typically, coffee table books are filled with large, double page, often full bleed images. These images are often printed on a glossy stock so that the colours are accurate and vibrant.

This publication has a narrower target audience to Printed Pages because the publication is dedicated to one specific subject, Pollock.

Matisse

An example of how successful Tschichold's spine principle is:

When browsing the Library, this publication stood out to me due to the large serif typeface vertically presented down the spine was clear and easy to see on a shelf full of books. The white on black text creates a high contrast so it's easier to read.