Editorial Design refers to the design which is incorporated into newspapers, magazines and books for the presentation of images and text along with the other elements. Graphic design holds an important role in any newspaper and magazine company. It is the graphic designer’s job to realise that a proper understanding of the typography, layouts, grids and composition and specific arrangements of these various elements may convey the desired message in a different way — something to be mindful of when creating the layouts. Magazines are the perfect example to demonstrate how elements of a design come together and help convey a message to the readers in an efficient and effective manner — also known as the Gestalt theory, which we won’t go into too much detail here.
Editorial design demands constant creativity and reinvention, as it is an ongoing project — especially for magazine design — there is a little more freedom and scope for constant experimentation. However, most newspapers follow set rules and style guides, due to the fact they have to accommodate comparatively to large volumes of news text. Yet at the same time, both newspaper and magazine designs should aim at achieving clarity, easy navigation and pace while accommodating the arrangement of text and photography.
As more and more information is posted online, on news sites, editorial design can be influenced by the internet. When people read news stories online or on their iPad, they are provided with a small introduction, so that they can get an idea that what is the story about. Once you click on the chosen article, it will open to the complete story, including imagery — a creative interactive design, rather than static design — many of which magazine and newspaper companies are beginning to utilise quite cleverly.
In the end, it can be stated that editorial designs are used by the newspapers and magazines for the arrangement of the various elements combined in a specific way to convey, enhance and achieve the intended message for the readers in a effective and efficient manner.
Designz by Jamz Creative Director has designed for magazines such as Campaign Brief WA, Asia and National, OffSpring Magazine as well as The Sunday Times newspaper in Perth and understands the fundamentals of expressing and showcasing stories to convey the message for the desired impact.
