CRITIQUE
What is the structure of the content (main titles, subtitles, times/dates, menu, contact information, news text, body text, etc)?
The first page has a slug on the top left in all caps with open tracking, a center aligned headline and stand-first both in a serif font. The writer of the article has a centralised byline in a sans serif font above the body text. The body-copy is a left aligned serif, split into two columns separated by a rule with a teal dot at the top. There are three subheadings which are treated with heavier weight and are double spaced to separate paragraphs.The bottom left has a folio with the page number, audio wave graphic and “directors on digital” written in all caps with open tracking. The artwork on page 2 has been broken up into 5 square panels (same image scaled larger) taking up the left two thirds with one panel made more transparent to allow for a credit. There is a sidebar in the right third with the with its own headline and byline followed by 5 paragraphs in sans serif (left aligned), each numbered with a drop cap style numbers. The top and bottom of the right page have folios, the top with the magazine name and Microsoft logo and the bottom has with month, year and page number.
What resources did the designer use to visually represent the structure of the content, to create a visual hierarchy on the page (typeface, position, scale/size, weight, colour, contrast, orientation)?
The designer used Position, size and scale really well to distinguish hierarchy throughout the article. The center aligned heading and stand-first grab the readers attention (Chapman, 2019) and the scale of both in relation to each other is makes if very clear to see the difference as the increased size of the headline makes it look like it is weighted heavier despite using the same font. The body-copy is only one size however, the use of double paragraph spacing and bold subheadings seems to work and the contrast is high enough. The designer also changes font from one page to the other as the body-copy changes structure and the way the information is delivered changes.
What do you think works? What doesn't and why?
Overall my opinion of the left page is fine and I have no issues with the layout or hierarchy, it is very clear and uses good position, scale and weight well. The right page doesn’t work so well with the alignment of the artwork panels and the sidebar. The spacing is awkward and uneven the the top of the sidebar isn't aligned with the artwork. Also the semi transparent panel with the credit seems out of place and unnecessary.
REDESIGN
As stated in my critique, I think the left page was done well but the right was not, so replicated page one and redesigned page 2. The alignment of the images and sidebar were altered to have consistent spacing and the top of the sidebar was aligned with the top of the image. This made the page seem more unified (Shikhrakar, 2019) and the rule of thirds is clearer causing less visual stress.
REFERENCES
Chapman, C. 2019. How to Structure an Effective Typographic Hierarchy. Toptal.com. https://www.toptal.com/designers/typography/typographic-hierarchy
Shikhrakar, S. 2019. Alignment Principle in Design: Importance & Examples [Infographics]. UX 360.design. https://ux360.design/alignment-principle-design/
