Photoshop Glory!

I'm not sure if I'll be getting any in-class critiques on these. So far, I haven't gotten anything yet. And, uh.. I treasure those. So! I need some feedback. This is due in a couple weeks, and I'm mostly concerned with these images which require graphic layout and eye-pleasing glory.

None of this is official design for YWS or any publishing possibility. These are my original designs for a school project.

This is a magazine cover. No, it is not the Squills cover, for those of you who know about Squills. I'm just playing with it for this project! Anyway, I'd like input on the layout of the magazine and definitely thoughts on the typography. I feel like I overdid the bolding and reddening and whatever. The in-class labs liked over-doing it, but it kinda makes my eyes bleed sometimes. Does it look like a real magazine like this though? Would you pick it off the shelf?



This is a magazine ad. It's just a spreadsheet, so it takes up two pages. It's an ad for YWS. No it is not official. But I know some of you guys out there take advertisement and marketing classes, so input is appreciated! (Reasoning behind the stick figures is from Nate's old-school stick figure comics, but uh.. that dates me. So.)

At the bottom is the YWS logo, and beneath that is "www.YoungWritersSociety.com"!



This is my book cover! It's actually based on my paper about Shakespeare's lost play Love's Labour's Wonne, using the Doctor Who episode as it's main reference (though naturally, there are more reliable sources). I had trouble with the front cover (right). Not sure if I wanted the actor from the show on the cover or just a portrait of Shakespeare or just keep it plain and ancient looking. The title used to use a staircase effect, but the asymmetry made me cringe. And again, the typography. I struggle with typography.



With the book cover is also a table of contents and two sample pages in which I'll have to play with layout around my paper. Maybe I'll post it later this week if I get to it. Anyway.

Be nice. This forum is scary territory for newbish me. D':

As I told you in Chat, I apologize for any and all meanness in this critique. It is just now, in my sleep-needy, counting-fail, typo-plagued state that I have realized just how much of a snob I am when it comes to visual design.

Does it look like a real magazine like this though? Would you pick it off the shelf?

No to both. It's far too cluttered; too many elements, the typeface for the "Squills" is really childish (please tell me that's not Comic Sans...) and the exact opposite of professional, and the text elements look ready to collide with each other/the picture.

Less is more, white-space is wonderful, and you need more white-space. Also, less childish typefaces, and more consistency with the typefaces. Right now, I espy at least four distinct typefaces, which is several distinct typefaces too many considering how HUGE each type element is. Shrinkage: it's needed.

I feel like I overdid the bolding and reddening and whatever.

Listen to this inner voice; if it is saying you overdid it, you overdid it. And you did.

Magazine ad = you can't be serious. Stick figures can look nice (see Order of the Stick), but those stick figures just look sorry and like a child half your age drew them. In Paint. Which is not a program you should ever use for designing/drawing anything unless you are really good.

I also think the official logo and web address need to be more prominent. Depending on whether or not your planning on it being a two-page spread (which is what the dimensions indicate), having it centered at the bottom is not a good idea since the page fold would run right through it and potentially obscure some of the information.

As for the book cover, it's decent, though the background needs some texture. Having it flat like that just looks... flat. Also, the typeface should probably be serifed on the back considering how you have script and serif on the front: the more elements you tie together, the better. Speaking of, incorporating more blue wouldn't hurt, either, to tie into the TARDIS.

Hey Jabbavitar!

So, quick comments:

#1.
I'd have to agree with Kyll.
As Kyll said, too cluttered. I don't want the parchment touching the title. Also; the title needs a new font. If it were me, I'd suggest something narrow and straight lined. And instead of that cyan, maybe alittle more toward blue would look nicer. And the parchment could be a lot smaller. I'd like some class in a magazine and some blank space always helps.

#2.
Stick figures are fine if you're putting this in a kids' magazine. Otherise, it seems a little childish to consider it seriously. Also; personally, I've noticed that two-page ads in white come off nicer than black, in the magazines I read. It's a good stick figure concept, but if you could take it to the next level of figures, like maybe the 7-Up's Fido guy, simple yet has more depth than this. And, it'd be cool is you used the two pages to guide the viewer through the advert.
Or a simple comic strip at the top about writing and then, you put in the logo (bigger)

#3.
Loves!
The only thing I think is the "In the eyes..." the font can be reduced. But otherwise, I'd definitely pick it up with a nice cover like this.

Anywho, love ya!