Experimenting with initial publication layouts

 

Experimental publication layouts

Despite just having received all of our letter submissions, I wanted to explore colour further by applying it to the context of the MoodGlyph publication. I feel like using colour is more appropriate to the context of the project, as it fits with the theme of emotion and would make it more playful. However, this element of the design needs to be successfully done, as using colour could distract from the typefaces themselves. Due to this, I wanted to create some initial double page spread experiments in order to have some stuff to show Spencer for our meeting; this will help us decide on what kind of visual language to use for the final publication. Once we have decided on this theme/ visual language, we will then be able to split the workload evenly. 

A quick experiment I tried was to create a textured gradient for a double page spread; the red correlates to the A and the orange for the B, informed by colour psychology. This idea would be quite interesting, as it would mean that the whole publication could be one full gradient, as the user flicks through the emotions/ letters. This would be cool in creating a playful and more immersive user experience, as well as generating a gradient that reflects the full alphabet. The only limitation of this is how we would make sure the type would stand out amongst the gradient, as it could visually distract from the letterforms. Also, if we did this we would have to create a colour key for each letter so that we could eye drop the gradient so that it would be continual across the whole publication. 

In order to make the colour theme. more subtle, I decided to create a little bar at the bottom of the double page spread; this is the same gradient concept as the previous design, just condensed into a smaller space in order to place emphasis on the letters. 

This outcome uses block colours instead of gradients, which are broken up with a gradient in the spine. I don't really like this concept as it feels quite flat and the colours don't blend into one another. I think this would also be an issue if the colours next to each other didn't go well together. 

To further inform the publication design and the use of colour, I think Spencer and I need to look at some visual inspiration to inform the visual language and direction of the project.