Final Conclusion

After 4 months of work on the Cooperation/Internship project, I can say I stayed quite close to my initial designs and concepts. With minor adjustments, I feel the work improved with each step in physical design layout as well as content.

         After primary and secondary research with interviews and questionnaires, each audience approved the work. For example, students, faculty and employers were used to see how they functioned around the website and publication. The audience said that the size of the publication worked well because it was not a standard 8.5 x 11 paper and that the layouts were easy and although more text oriented, the typeface and spacing made it enjoyable to read. The audience was the reasoning behind making each section a different color for easier navigation. As for the website, students, faculty and employers said it was a simple layout that was easy to navigate. None of the subjects were never lost around the site and that it not only offered what was in the publication, but even more. 

         The help of the audience improved my final design approach tremendously in helping find what the audience was looking for. Again, although I did not go far from my initial thoughts and concepts, the critiques from teachers, students, employers and faculty members made the project what it is today. 

Final Cover

For the final cover of the publication, I used a large image to take over the cover. For the premiere issue I used a photo of Angelo V, a fashion journalist who has also been an interned and a current employer. Although he is not interviewed in the publication, the image is thoughtful and provoking to garner attention to the magazine. Also, the image is a duotone to stand out against full cover images. Each issue would have all the interviewers names at the bottom so the reader knows before hand who is in each issue.

Final Web Layout

For the final web layout, I changed slightly from the previous design. I added more space and used a very simple layout. Reason being, I did not want the audience to get stuck working around the website and be unable to find where they need to go. Each section is clearly visible on the right hand side of the website for each member (student, faculty or employer) to navigate as well as anyone else can go into each section. Having a straight forward user-face makes the experience of the website easy and simple. 

Final Publication Layout

This is the final publication layout. Much changed from the beginning to the end. For the final, I wanted to create a simple layout than can be slightly altered into each section. I chose Futura as the main typeface because not only does it work well as a display type, but even in small print, it is easy to read.

Furthermore, for each section I had a different background color to make it easier for the reader to get to each section.

Student Layouts

Faculty Layouts

Employers Layout

Cover Iterations

Some cover iterations

cover 1: second to last final design

cover 2: First design approach. To plain and simple

Cover 3: Introducing a logo and branding component. Although liked, did not look like a publication. 

Cover 5: To raw and gritty. Seemed more of an art magazine. 

Covers 5,6,7,8: To much like flyers. 

Fourth Print/Web Iteration

This is my fourth publication/web design layout.

Print Layouts

The fourth iteration evolved from iteration three and was beginning to come into the final design. The text treatment changed from Gotham to Avant Garde. Adding headings and more white space were new elements introduced. The text in the body seemed to congested and was later resolved. 

Web Layouts

The website design in iteration 4, was almost the final end result. A few changes in layout and color choice were later changed. This was the easiest form of website. Teachers, students and faculty did like how easy the navigation worked on this iteration. 

Third Publication/Web Layout

This is the third publication and web layout.

Print Spreads

In the third iteration, these spreads were beginning to come into the aesthetic I felt would work for the publication. Having pages with light colors to break up the sections was one new treatment introduced. As well, I was using two column grids to see what could work as well as hairlines between columns to add some slight elements. This iteration was the one chosen and evolved. 

Web Layouts

Simply, with these web iterations, the publication and web were not cohesive. The website was beginning to take on its own visual identity and strayed away from the publication. Although liked by many, this slowly evolved into the final design. 

Second Publication/Web Iteration

The second iterations from the print publication and web layouts.

Print Spreads

In the second iterations, I wanted to create a more "newspaper" layout and focus a lot on text in visible columns. I used some pull quote ideas and bold and straight forward text such as Trade Gothic. However, although the use of negative space with the white background, each spread almost looked identical and did not offer any creativity. Although easy to read and view images, I decided to try other approaches. 

Web Layouts

For the second iterations with the website. Not much changed from the first iteration except the logo treatment of COIN MAGAZINE. I wanted to have the word-mark as the sole visible point on the site, but much like the first iteration, the site was just simply to plain. 

First Publication/Web Iteration

These are the first iterations from the project.

Print Spreads

In these iterations, I wanted to create a contrast between the name and the body of the interview. I wanted the focal point to be on the name of the person being interviewed and I felt that a Serif typeface as a header and a sans serif typeface worked well. However, after a few spreads, it looked over bearing and did not fit a style I was trying to achieve.

Web Pages

With these print iterations, the main problem was that it was just to plain. After testing this site with students, the response was that it lacked viewing power and could get lost between other sites. The layout was to boring and no lack of color. 

Further Concepts

These concepts may be a little tighter as I narrow down my designs and final outcome.

Publications

Website

Potential App

Website