Media Blitz

There are many elements that go into making a publication appealing and useful. These elements include the proper use of color, use of space, balance, rhythm, proportion, etc. You can learn a lot from just observing publications and seeing for yourself what works and what doesn’t. In this post I will explain and give examples of how I think certain publications successfully or unsuccessfully used these design elements.

 

The first element I am going to discuss is minimalism and use of space. I think the flyer below does a very good job of using space wisely and drawing the audience’s eye to the important information. The design is simple and gets the point across in a few words and the most important information. The colors on this flyer also really help draw your attention while also keeping it simple.

The next element I am going to touch on is form/function/message. A publication design has to correlate with the message and function of the publication. The design shouldn’t distract from the message or clutter the message. I think the flyer below does a very poor job of distracting the message with all the clutter/design differences. The message is lost with the use of all the different fonts/color and it is also hard to decipher what they are trying to send as their message.

The next photo from my media blitz focuses on the design element metaphors/symbols. The photo below is of a recycling bin on campus that uses the common simple for recycling, green. Color symbols really help people understand the message and create a clear concept. I think this sign does a pretty good job at displaying this symbol but maybe could incorporate it a little more to enforce that it really is a recycling bin.

The next element I am going to analyze is typography. The next picture is different than the rest because I took it from a magazine and not from campus but I think the typography is really great in this design. The design does a great job of using complementary fonts and spacing. The font and space they use help the ad and help display the message. It creates eye traffic and is easy to read and follow.

The last element I amgoing to analyze is dominance. The picture I choose for this element is a tobacco ad from a magazine. I think this ad does an excellent job (yes, even a tobacco ad) of using dominance of its image to attract the eye. The photo dominates the page and is a good size compared to the font and the rest of the ad. The size of the image is very visually appealing and catches people’s attention.