- [Voiceover] Using the example of a magazine spread,
let's see how we can draw upon some basic design principles
to create an effective layout.
The constraints of this project are as follows.
We have a fixed number of words.
If we look at the info panel,
it tells us how many words we have, 729,
and add to that the two captions,
and we end up with a total of 750 words.
There are several styles of text.
The headline,
the strapline,
the first paragraph, which doesn't have a first-line indent
and thereafter, the body text,
and also the captions.
These types styles are determined
by the template of the magazine.
They can't be changed, nor can the three column grid.
There are two images.
We can use either, or we can use both.
In this first example, the pictures
occupy the top half of the page
and the text flows until it runs out.
So what we have at the end is leftover space
rather than designed white space.
In this next example, the article is on one page
and the images on the other.
There's no visual connection between them.
As with the previous page, the text flows until it stops.
The white space is leftover,
rather than incorporated into the design.
With the third spread, things are getting more interesting.
The white space is now incorporated into the design,
adding it between the strapline and the body text.
This is achieved by adding space after the strapline.
Additionally, the columns are balanced.
The headline is aligned
with the top of the image on the facing page,
and visually reinforces the top margin of the page.
Alternatively, we can put the white space above the heading.
This moves the headline further down the page
and perhaps makes the entry point
to the article more inviting.
It also reinforces the connection
between the headline and strapline and the body text,
and because the columns are no longer as deep,
it makes them more inviting to the reader.
So far though, we're lacking an integration
of text and image.
In the next movie, we'll see some ways
to strengthen the visual connection between them.