Not Your Best American Girl
Newspaper Broadsheet Design
SUMMARY
"Not Your Best American Girl" is a newspaper broadsheet focused on type and image relationship designs, that specifically highlight three Asian women in the music industry: Mitski, Laufey, and Beabadoobee.
DESIGN CHALLENGE
How can we design a newspaper broadsheet that highlights 3 musical artists in a creative way?
ROLE
Editorial Design, Print design, Publication design
DATE/DURATION
Nov 2023 | 3 Weeks
TOOLS
Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator
TEAM
Solo Designer
WHY
School/Portfolio Project
Final Spreads
The direction I opted for with many of the designs for the spread were to try to find an equal balance between the white space, text, and imagery. I wanted the imagery to also look like standalone music posters/prints, but when placed alongside type there would still be visual cohesion with each spread. The back page to finish off the broadsheet is a custom maze design, because I wanted a backpage that was unlike other games sections of newspapers I had previously seen, and I think it was a fun avant garde approach to the idea of a games section that still fit with the tone of the rest of the spreads.
Music Poster Designs
PROCESS
Gathering Inspiration & Research
I conducted research on the artists I wanted to feature by looking for articles and interviews, which I drew copy directly from, considering the focus of the project was on design and not writing. I've included a screenshot of my sources.
Another big part of my process is finding inspiration in terms of design and art direction so that I have a solid foundation before I continue to build onto the idea. I was really drawn to a more techno-modern, retro, or grunge aesthetic for the visual design of the graphics. But ultimately I wanted the visuals to appeal to the audience of these artists who often lean on the teens to mid 20s and are usually more involved with the indie or alternative scene.
Another big part of my process is finding inspiration in terms of design and art direction so that I have a solid foundation before I continue to build onto the idea. I was really drawn to a more techno-modern, retro, or grunge aesthetic for the visual design of the graphics. But ultimately I wanted the visuals to appeal to the audience of these artists who often lean on the teens to mid 20s and are usually more involved with the indie or alternative scene.
Sketches & Ideation
After moodboarding and finding inspiration, I like to outline my project constraints and parameters and try to get down my ideas. Then I messily create thumbnail sketches of the ideas in my head and jump into the computer to experiment and play around in photoshop.
From Sketch to Final
In the process of creating the broadsheet, I first tackled the visual designs separately since I intended to make then work standalone outside of the editorial layout. I made all the designs in Photoshop with a number of image manipulation, and layering techniques that turned the designs each into engaging visual representations of the artists or their music. After creating each design, I took them into InDesign to lay them out and typeset. It still took a bit of experimentation with the typesetting but I definitely spent less time on that part of the process compared to creating the music designs.
Reflection
Throughout the process of creating this newspaper broadsheet design, I delved deeply into the realms of editorial design, typography, and typesetting, gaining valuable insights and honing my skills in these areas. The project helped me to understand the intricate balance between visual elements and textual content within a newspaper layout.
I navigated the challenges of organizing information cohesively alongside the graphics I made, ensuring a cohesive flow of spread designs that enhances the reader's experience. Typography became a key focus, as I experimented with font choices, sizes, and styles to convey the desired tone and hierarchy. Learning more about typesetting was crucial for achieving a harmonious and professional look, as I fine-tuned the spacing and arrangement of text for optimal readability. The iterative nature of the project enabled me to refine my decisions based on feedback and insights gained throughout the design process and it allowed me to appreciate the nuances of creating a visually engaging and informative broadsheet design while mastering the technical aspects of editorial design, typography, and typesetting. Overall, this project served as a robust learning experience, enriching my understanding of these design disciplines and equipping me with valuable skills for future endeavors in the field.
