Whenever I work on magazine redesigns, or newspaper redesigns (or sections) that might lend themselves to exploring a more magazine-like direction, I wallow in the joys and challenges of designing covers. Here are four areas where I tend to concentrate my work, that may provide lessons for editors and designers struggling to create magazine covers [...]
Magazine redesign and cover design: Some basics
Posted by Ron Reason on October 16, 2011
http://ronreason.com/designwithreason/2011/10/16/magazine-redesign-and-cover-design-some-basics/
6 things the news industry can learn from the Chicago Reader (print edition)
[ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 40TH BIRTHDAY] Last year I wrote an admiring post here on Seattle alt weekly The Stranger, praising the paper (as well as its integrated, smart and funny marketing and digital efforts), and pondering: This is a paper I’d really seek out if I lived in Seattle. What is it about [...]
Posted by Ron Reason on October 13, 2011
http://ronreason.com/designwithreason/2011/10/13/6-things-to-learn-from-the-chicago-reader-print-edition/
A business newspaper redesigns
‘from a position of strength’
[The first live edition of the redesigned newspaper. From the logo to the body text, all type was reconsidered. For the first issue, a more magazine-like centerpiece was planned to grab attention. See additional design variations in prototypes below, and compare the new look to the old look from recent issues.] [LITTLE ROCK] Arkansas Business, [...]
Posted by Ron Reason on July 28, 2011
http://ronreason.com/designwithreason/2011/07/28/a-newspaper-redesign-from-a-position-of-strength/
Will newspaper tabloid conversions finally take off?
It’s not quite a tab, but a new smaller shape is being considered by several U.S. publishers of broadsheet newspapers, reports Poynter Online this week. This report has caused a bit of a stir and led to a number of inquiries asking: is now the time when we move closer to tabloid in the States? Of [...]
Posted by Ron Reason on June 10, 2011
http://ronreason.com/designwithreason/2011/06/10/will-newspaper-tabloid-conversions-finally-take-off/
‘Only got a mugshot?’ Fear not!
Impactful designs are possible
CONTEST ALERT! SEND IN YOUR BEST “ONLY GOT A MUGSHOT” COVER AND WIN A BEAUTIFUL HARDCOVER COPY OF THE INSPIRATIONAL PHAIDON BOOK, “A SMILE IN THE MIND: WITTY THINKING IN GRAPHIC DESIGN.” (DETAILS BELOW) Two things got me thinking again this week about creating impactful designs when you’ve “only got a mugshot”: A plethora of [...]
Posted by Ron Reason on May 6, 2011
http://ronreason.com/designwithreason/2011/05/06/only-got-a-mugshot-fear-not-cool-designs-are-possible/
Osama Day 2 front page: Dissecting
St. Pete’s mastery of editing, design
Today’s second-day front by the St. Pete Times is a standout. Here are three reasons why. I may be an average consumer of news about the Osama capture/killing – viewed the press conference, and listen to NPR in the morning, spend 20 minutes or so surfing stories on the web, follow Facebook/Twitter feeds and review [...]
Posted by Ron Reason on May 3, 2011
http://ronreason.com/designwithreason/2011/05/03/osama-day-2-front-page-st-petes-mastery-of-editing-design/
Chicago Reader redesign:
‘Will it get me to pick up the paper?’
“READER Week” continues, heralding the April 28, 2011 relaunch of the Chicago Reader. This post previews key changes that aim to make the print edition more appealing to readers and advertisers. There are dozens of smaller improvements to navigation and new content, but below are the biggies. In editing this post, I decided to address [...]
Posted by Ron Reason on April 26, 2011
http://ronreason.com/designwithreason/2011/04/26/chicago-reader-redesign/
Chicago Reader redesign:
A new music section to flip for
[Prototypes for covers of B Side: Chicago's Music Magazine, the new music section of the Reader. Click to enlarge] Welcome to “READER Week,” a series of posts looking at the April 28, 2011 relaunch of the Chicago READER, the alternative newsweekly celebrating its 40th year. To kick things off, we look at what may be the [...]
Posted by Ron Reason on April 25, 2011
http://ronreason.com/designwithreason/2011/04/25/chicago-reader-redesign-a-music-section-to-flip-for/
Chicago Reader redesign: Questions, background about the paper and project
I’ve been fielding questions about the Chicago Reader since formally beginning consultation on its redesign in September 2010. Below are a few questions about the redesign since it launched, as well as some basic background and links relating to the paper as of April 2011. For more about the relaunch of the paper on April [...]
Posted by Ron Reason on April 24, 2011
http://ronreason.com/designwithreason/2011/04/24/chicago-reader-redesign-quick-facts-about-the-paper-and-the-project/
Tampa Bay Times name change:
getting the message out
Lots of emotional discussion last week, at least by alumni of the St. Petersburg Times staff and some readers, about the decision to change the name of the paper Jan. 1, 2012, to Tampa Bay Times. As Times Publishing Co. Chairman and CEO Paul Tash explained thoroughly in a letter to readers, the change is being [...]
http://ronreason.com/designwithreason/2011/11/07/tampa-bay-times-name-change-getting-the-message-out/