Layouts Matter

Magazine Layouts For Beginners

This is a critique of Emma Watson’s two page magazine spread. One major strength in the two page layout is the position of the image of Emma Watson. It wouldn’t be as visually appealing if it were on the left side of the two page layout compared to the right side. If not because of her body position, then because it would be a random image and no explanation of what it was. Another strength of this layout was the use of a grayscale color, which helped emphasize the mysteriousness of the spread and the dress Emma is featured in. According to google, siren call is the enticing appeal of something alluring but potentially dangerous and it is completely evident why the title of the spread would be Siren Call. Emma Watson looks mysteriously dangerous and appealing in the image with her subtle expression. The layout of the text could’ve been designed better. There is no reason why it was necessary for the title of the spread to take up half of one page and continue off the page. The S in Siren is the first thing that captures an eye, it’s certainly not the image of Emma Watson. In addition, It was smart to have a short intro paragraph explaining Emma Watson’s transition from Harry Potter to fashion and education but It could’ve been placed beneath the title. A photo of Emma Watson during her Harry Potter days as Hermione would’ve made for a great alternative and space user. Almost like a before and after because Hermione blossomed towards the end of Harry Potter but was no supermodel. The one or two images of Hermione could’ve been a barrier between the intro paragraph and the text itself. The addition of the full page spread of Emma Watson would have emphasized her transition even more. A major weakness is the use of at least three font sizes on this magazine spread, which can cause readers to lose attention. The fonts themselves are fun and enticing. Finally, the piece is strongly designed but could’ve been even better.

Does Your Resume Have What It Takes?

This resume was somewhat well thought out and is somewhat visually appealing. However, It is evident that the designer utilized a column to continue the “I,” in Christina down as a divider between sections. This resume uses too many font sizes and Christina’s use of the bold feature was used wrong. For example, she bolded the various places of employment that she held, her college and clubs that she had been a member of. However, It would have been a better idea to bold the positions that she has held at her various places of employment, what she had majored in while enrolled in college, and her top position in clubs that she was a member of. An appealing visual may have been a good place to start because the resume almost feels empty. It is
 
definitely necessary for employers to know where you have worked but it is just as important if not more to understand what specific experience you have. One weakness discovered is that there is not much uniformity in the resume. Some jobs mentioned under work experience have just two, three or even four bullets. There are too many bullets to count under skills and its evident that there was no planned design from shortest word to largest word, things were just entered. Lastly, an address isn’t really necessary on the resume because no one will be mailing anything to anyone’s home.