Conscious Design Thought in a Simple Magazine Spread

Introduction

The above pictured magazine spread appears in Popular Science magazine’s Special Edition of The Science of Sleep Issue. Although no information is given on the designer’s name of the spread the writer is Nic Albert, and the photo is a Shutterstock credit.

While overall very simple, the design takes into account the context of the page, which informs the reader about why we dream as well as the general purpose of the magazine magazine, to inform about sleep. Keeping the design-feel formal lends credence to the article itself and does not distract from the information provided.

Typography

While the typeface choices are not very interesting, they are appropriate for the context in which they are used. The magazine in which this article is found is informative in nature and thus more formal. These typefaces reinforce that feeling. The contrast between the sans serif structure and the slab serif is pleasant and interesting (highlighted in yellow above), as well as the contrast in sizes and weights (highlighted in blue). The large san serifs letter (highlighted in red) at the beginning of the article helps to continue the flow of the eye downward from the title of the article to it’s body and also adds more contrast.

Photography

The photographer used lead lines and the Rule of Thirds in creating this photo. The eye first notices the balloons and the person holding them (Rule of Thirds) and then is drawn away, over to the article using the horizontal and vertical lead lines that effectively frame the writing.

The three above photos offer other options for photos that could be used in place of the one originally featured in the magazine. They contain a slightly whimsical subject. They follow the Rule of Thirds, causing the eye to first light upon the left hand side of the page. Then, they each use lead lines to draw over the the article and frame it in.

Conclusion

The easy, organized flow created by the photo as well as the simple, yet pleasingly contrasting typefaces create a great design for the purpose of this spread. It is not meant to be overbearing or distractive, simply informative. But, the combination of the photo’s effects with the contrasting elements of the typefaces keeps the viewer’s eyes interested, and invites them in to read the offered information.