Assignment from Instructor: In this exercise, you’ll practice your composition design skills, especially establishing a visual hierarchy. Your task is to conceive and design a print ad that drives people to an online magazine’s website.
1. Choose a magazine with an online edition, such as National Geographic. The ad communication should illuminate a special topic or section that might be covered by the magazine. For example, the topic of animal conservation might be covered in National Geographic.
2. Develop an advertising idea focusing on the specific topic or section.
3. Determine a method of visualization that best serves the ad idea, such as collage, photomontage, drawing, or any media.
4. With your idea as the driving force, design a composition with a clear visual hierarchy. What do you want the viewer to see First? Second? Third? To ensure a visual hierarchy, use size, the positioning of the graphic elements, color, etc. Make thumbnail sketches of different possible compositions. Form a composition through experimentation. Do not use any formal structuring devices such as the golden section.
5. Choose two sketches and turn them into roughs.
6. Refine one rough and turn it into a final composition.
Please submit both sketches and the final comp. Why did you end up choosing one sketch over the other?
----------------------
I choose SLAM Magazine, which is a basketball magazine, and wanted to focus on their “Roster" section. This section showcases the main stories in the magazine. My first sketch was copy-driven while the second was image-driven. I chose the first sketch because there would be a greater visual hierarchy involved. My challenge was to find a way to make the type stand out over a powerful image. Sometimes I read GQ magazine, and I used different elements that I like from past issues and incorporated them into my layout for SLAM. I used the shapes and bold type to draw the viewer to the right side of the image instead of the left. The black and white background to makes the words pop and also brings more attention to the player.
Sketches
-------------------------------
Visual Persuasion & Promotion (MPDC-610-101) from Georgetown University's Master's in Design Management & Communications