FIVE LAYOUT DESIGNS (contemporary)

A MAGAZINE #1 a biannual publication, exploring the creative sphere of a selected designer each issue. They invite a guest curator to develop "innovative, personalised content that expresses their aesthetic and cultural values" (according to their website). The magazine takes such a different approach to other fashion-based magazines. Each cover simply features the A, repeated at the same full-page scale, but the curator has maximum freedom with imagery - I thought Margiela's was the most innovative though as the A is physically constructed. So simple, but really, what more do you need on a magazine cover? Flick through the issue!


PARTICULES N°19 designed by HEY HO This is actually a spread from an art journal, the pages of which are structured like a newspaper with four columns, and printed in mostly black & white. However, this spread can also work as a poster - the article title, printed vertically, becomes the content. The sans serif type and the scale work to convey the message about POP. Decorative elements have been avoided, allowing the typography to play the central role.

Cover of an exhibition catalogue book published by jrp/ringier. Slanted, bold title text is overlaid (using a grid!) with small black boxes housing the names of the artists involved in the exhibition. The effect is such that the main text is semi-obscured - this, plus the slanted angle, visually communicates/echoes what the text says, it's as if someone is trying to muffle the title's 'scream'.

Poster for the Helvetica documentary, designed by Experimental Jetset. The playful but sophisticated poster references classic movie poster catchphrases from the 1960s/1970s, but refers specifically to typography. It is so clever! The fact that it relies on typography makes it a very objective poster - the layout is clean and strong but not boring. Very Swiss-influenced in its use of grid, heirarchy and colour.


Dutch annual report designed by Toko. The information is legible and displayed systematically. Each page works with the same grid system to communicate data - yet the graphing of this data takes on the form of an artwork, and as each page is different it does not become repetitive. It makes for an amusing, unique way of communicating what would otherwise be dull.