Photo Magazine Design

Forums

5 replies [Last post]

Submitted By: Larry Berman

Location: Pittsburgh

Joined: Mar 7 2005

Posts:

Photo Magazine Design

Posted: February 18, 2006 - 6:04am

Like many photographers, I (used to) subscribe to all the mainstream photography magazines and briefly go through them each month looking for interesting articles and bits of information. I just recently subscribed again to Shutterbug's two largest competitors and are surprised at how non intuitive their layouts are at presenting information without fighting your sensibilities.

This is one contest that Shutterbug wins hands down. The information is presented logically and in an easy to read format, black text on white pages.

Maybe it's my experience at building logical web sites, but I think that information should be presented in a way that allows the reader to get what they need in the shortest period of time, without having to fight the layout. #1 competitor has a jumbled layout, so distracting that I can't seem to give the information presented as much credibility as it might deserve. Each page has a different layout that looks like the articles have been thrown up into the air and published where they landed. There are no logical columns and the bright bold background colors fight the information on every single page, reminding me of looking at a comic book. How much credibility can that give the information? #2 competitor uses graduated background colors that match example pictures in the articles, so it's not clear where the articles end and forcing the viewer to put on reading glasses part way through the articles as black text goes from a light color background onto a dark background on the same page.

Everyone can learn from good web design here. Information needs to be presented in a clear intuitive format. Pages should remain the same through the magazine and viewers eyes and sensibilities shouldn't be challenged each time they turn a page. And magazine publishers wonder why everyone is turning to the web for information.

Getting back to Shutterbug again. The smaller size format and clear legible information will give it a better chance than it's competitors at remaining a good resource for photographers in this current information age.

Submitted By: ronk

Location: Quensbury, NY

Joined: Mar 15 2005

Posts:

Re: Photo Magazine Design

Posted: February 18, 2006 - 12:56pm

Larry, I toyally agree on the black text on white bgnd.
My only beef with SB is the continuation of articles in the back of the magazine; better all continuous pp., IMHO.

Submitted By: David B. Brooks

Joined: Apr 19 2011

Posts:

Re: Photo Magazine Design

Posted: February 18, 2006 - 1:23pm

Ronk,

The ideal of having articles run continuously is very difficult to achieve when advertising pays for the great bulk of the cost of producing a publication. Advertisers place demands on a publication in terms of placement of their ads, and because they are underwriting most of the cost of publishing, their interests must be accommodated.

The only magazines in which you will see the ideal of design with articles printed contiguously without being broken up are those magazines with very few ads and a relatively high issue price and subscription fee.

I doubt if there is a magazine editor that would not like to design the layout with all of the articles running contiguously and not broken up and continued in the back, but sadly the reality of accommodating competing interests does not allow it, and I am sure readers and subscriber would not like to pay the price for an ad free magazine.

Submitted By: Bronislaus

Location: Northern Indiana

Joined: Mar 28 2005

Posts:

Re: Photo Magazine Design

Posted: February 18, 2006 - 4:02pm

Mr. Brooks,

One of the reasons for getting the magazine, for me, is the advertisements. Howsomeever.......contiguous articles would be nice. Just a thought, but how much does "author ego's" get involved in article placement?

Bron

Submitted By: Larry Berman

Location: Pittsburgh

Joined: Mar 7 2005

Posts:

Re: Photo Magazine Design

Posted: February 18, 2006 - 4:22pm

Neither the author's ego, or reader's requests play any part in article placement. It's all determined by economics. Without advertisers there are no magazines to read.

Or how about this scenario. I'm an author and I'm willing to PAY the magazine to run my article, so the magazine doesn't need advertisers to cover printing and distribution costs. Does that sound more like what you would like to see?

I started this thread on the readability of photography magazines based on the color of the page background, not the fact that magazines have always had to break long articles up because of space limitations.

Submitted By: David B. Brooks

Joined: Apr 19 2011

Posts:

Re: Photo Magazine Design

Posted: February 18, 2006 - 4:58pm

The actual page layout is the responsibility and function of the Managing Editor. And from my staff experience with magazines it is usually challenge enough just to get the layout to work within the very short time frame there is between ad closing and actual production to even consider individual feelings or preferences. And with a magazine like Shutterbug with all the contributors spread out all over the country and the world coordinating any individual considerations would be close to impossible and nightmarish at best if it were a possibility.