Final Ziggy Stardust Magazine + Layouts

magazine cover.

intro spread.

spread 2.

spread3.

close-up of second spread, larger pull quote.

close-up of intro spread page with text.

side view of the magazine together.

This project started positively through text exercises, but negatively in layout. I struggled with designing a layout that referenced Ziggy in it. Later my issues still revolved around visual layout representation of Ziggy through the use of pull quotes. I tend to have a difficulty in giving a personality to the composition. I ended up with a much better composition than I first sketched, but I know that it can still use more work. I attempted to create a fluid movement from each spread to the next through incorporation of red and the lightning bolt shape.

I used Neutra for the whole magazine layout. I think consistency through the whole piece bring all elements together and strengthens the concept. Slowly, I am getting better at creating compositions that not only following the grid, concept, but also have small moments that defy what was established, but still beautifully enhances the overall style. In this piece I attempted to do that with the larger pull quote on spread two and three, changing the smaller pull quote size and style, to bring emphasis to the quote, but also reinforce the styles established.

This piece ended up much better than I had expected it to, including a successful incorporation of some elements from Visual Communication 2 into this project. I had initially thought that it was going to be extremely difficult to use the elements created in Visual Communication 2, because my attempt was to break down what made Ziggy’s visual appearance so striking, taking it into a different direction. My article dealt with the creation of Ziggy, thus pulling off of the specifics that I was attempting to redesign. 

Magazine Layouts Sixth Digital

cover 1 option

cover 2 option

spread 1

spread 2 option

spread 2 option

spread 3

Magazine Layouts Fifth Digital

Title with shadow

Title without shadow

spread 2.

spread 3.

Magazine Layouts Fourth Digital

Updates to my layout post-feedback from Professor Marty on directions to go towards after my third digital iterations. Hopefully I am getting closer to a more refined and in line style.

option for class spread 1.

other option spread 1.

option for class spread 2.

other option spread 2.

option for class spread 3.

other option spread 3.

Magazine Layouts Third Digital

opening layout spread option 1.

opening layout spread option 2.

I was trying to go with the shape of the lightning bolt that Ziggy sometimes had on his face and using the outside of the shape create slashes in the name.

opening layout spread option 3.

My focus was on the pull out of the beginning of the article and splitting into two columns to establish the column width pattern for the rest of the article. Stardust is aligned to the right to meet the hard line of the image. The baseline of Stardust and the rise of ziggy is the same line, possibly reading as a different title i.e. Stardust the rise of Ziggy, which plays off of the fact that stardust is weightless, thus can easily move up and down, just like Ziggy!

second layout spread option 1.

My focus on this layout was to get rid of my orphans, make better decisions about column length, add in more photographs, and add back in the pull quote. 

second layout spread option 2.

I kept my focus on changing up the pull out quote, smaller image layout and column lengths. I wanted to see what it would look like to have the quote more secluded and larger. I tried moving an image to the first page to try to break up some of the bulk text visually.

second layout spread option 3.

My focus on this layout was to bring more context into the images. I chose images that related directly to the text that was being stated. When there is the short story about Bowie's eyes bring different, I brought in a close up of Bowie's eyes. On the far right I brought in two images of inspirations that helped Ziggy become real.

third layout spread option 1.

I was trying to figure out a way to incorporate a part of the lightning bolt that helped to finish the article, but also go with the idea that Ziggy and Bowie have continued on. I pretty much followed the grid to a T on this layout.

third layout spread option 2.

I went for a different layout than the last option. I stuck with the red of the lightning bolt in the past spreads, but kept the color sold to bring more emphasis to the image of Ziggy with the bolt on his face. I feel that the image is more iconic of Ziggy, so it would be a good image to end the article with.

third layout spread option 3.

I went for a different layout for this one as well. I focused on using red for the quotes and a mostly solid white background to be the opposite of what the other spreads have been. This focus of concept is on who Ziggy became/what he looked like.

Magazine Layouts Second Digital

intro spread 1

intro spread 2

article spread 2

article spread 2

article spread 3

Magazine Layouts First Digital

This was the first set of digitizing our analog sketches into computer layouts. I struggled with trying to carry the concept that I had from my first sketch into the digital realm. Professor Marty said that I had a good concept but needed to actually portray the concept. So in reality, I had an awesome idea, but no visualization of it. I was told to try to incorporate the lightning bolt into the grid structure.

intro layout1

intro layout1

intro layout1

layout2

layout3/the rest of the article text

Magazine Layout Type Exercises

These were my test options for typeface, size and leading!