LAYOUT PLAYABOUT

Got to have a good play around in Adobe InDesign today, where I will be creating the grid for the PDF layout, to come up with a good resolution for a layout which...

• Has a consistent identity.
• Has a space for a sizable personal statement.
• Is stylish.
• Utilises space so lots of work can be put in, but also work well for those with few images.

Please click to enlarge! These are screen grabs so mind the pixels!

Although the text area is small here, I found it made the rest of the space quite awkward to use. The immediate focus on this page is the work, but the green highlighting the student's name diverts focus, allowing the text to be more of a starting point. This would be in the same colour and position on each page.

The space for the images on this layout is large but an awkward shape. To keep things aligned, images shouldn't go any higher than the bottom rectangle. I like the text in two columns.

Out of all the layouts I have come up with today, I feel this one works the best. On the right hand side there is a large space which can be used for just one image, or a few. I think the space for the text works well as it sits amongst the smaller thumbnails. I don't know if thumbnails is a requirement for the students work. I could do with finding out.

Although I like the idea of having the text in a nice big coloured circle like this, I think that flicking through the document it could get a bit old. Its used mostly as a way of starting a feature when you see it in magazines. I like that it still allows for lots of images. Richards images work particularly well with this idea. I'd be interested to see if it work as well with other's work though. I would also need to work on getting the text to fit neatly in the circle! Awhoops!!

I think this layout works well for photography based work as it fits landscape and portrait. This is mostly down to the text area being the size and shape it is. This could be a problem as student's statements might not be so big and the area could look rather empty. I could try less text to see how it looks.

Working with Richard's work again. His work fits well with this layout as his images are not in block format. The text are is a good size and the alignment works well. Could be a keeper!

I really need to speak to someone about these layouts. I can't trust my own judgement and need some outside opinions. I will ask my classmates who's work will be put into this PDF and also Sophie in my final crit of doom tomorrow!

P.S! I want to try doing a layout with a hand drawn feel like in 'Museum Paper'. Y'know what I mean?