Design and content management for a Newspaper
Grids play a massive role in design; it is an essential element
that dictates the rhythm of any graphic work. Understanding
when to use specific grids is important for a designer.
“The grid system is an aid, not a guarantee. It permits a number of possible uses and each designer can look for a solution that is appropriate to his or her personal style. — But one must learn how to use the grid; it is an art that requires practice.” – Josef Müller-Brockmann
Goals
While newspaper print could be bigger to accommodate more readers, its a balance of economy and practicality as they run on tight budgets. A process of critical inquiry into the use of grids, type, colour and image to create a well designed and considered solution.
Process
The Design Process involves the research and analysis of available newspapers locally and abroad. Evaluation of findings and the user testing of the elements before implementing the solution.
Competitor research
"24 heure"
Considering the fact that the grids are originated in Switzerland, I decided to have a look at the available online resources. I found a list of newspapers in Switzerland, selected two options that stood out to me most.
24 heures (“24 Hours”) is a Swiss regional Swiss-Frenchlanguage daily newspaper, published by Tamedia in Lausanne, Vaud.
Founded in 1762 as a collection of announcements and official communications, it is the oldest newspaper in the world with uninterrupted publication.
Feature prioritasation
The Guardian
Beautiful example of Newspaper, contains a lot of detail which attracts the reader. Very organised and managed content.
Easy to read, and no matter what page you are on, you can tell what section the page belongs to due to the colour code and top of the page signage.
Typography
For selecting the best readable font-type I have carried out a test. By printing out six different examples, each page had different title text and the body text. Due to COVID and movement restrictions I was able to question mainly my family.
Title and body testing
Leading testing
Column Width
“Printed matter in normal format is generally read with the eye at 30-35 cm.
The size of a type should be calculated with this distance in mind.
Both too small and too large a type costs the reader an effort.
According to a well – known empirical rule, there should be
seven words per line for a text of any length.”
Numbers
Navigation Elements
Result
What I have learned
I have learned how to manage large content in the most efficient way. The role of the grid system in design, the selection process behind the typography, columns, leading and all other elements play the part in the design.
The design has to respond to the user and made it easy to read, with enough space around the element allowing a breathing space.
