EYE MAGAZINE STUDY

TYPOGRAPHIC PRACTICES - EYE MAGAZINE

Audit and analysis of existing publication

The Project was asked to visual audit of a existing magazine. Consider things such as audience, visual identity and masthead, grid system, format, size, image style/typeface(s) used, headline/subhead/caption formats (typographic hierarchy), the rules of the magazine. Photo strategy, treatment of illustration, and any other elements which constitute the design of the magazine.

Improve or modify: 3 spreads

Using the same format of the publication (size, colour use, etc), design 3 sample spreads using your own text and images. Choose 3 different grid applications. i.e. opening spread (major article, minor article, contents, or other significant spreads).

Eye is a UK based magazine printed quarterly, a magazine focus on international review of graphic design and visual culture. The main targets are graphic designers, also people who are interesting in visual culture and related fields.

One unique thing about Eye magazine is that every new issue uses different typeface, since the redesign of Summer 2009, features different ‘guest’ typefaces. I think it is provide a platform for introduce various typeface.

Content of the magazine covers from graphic design journal, typeface, to design events, to designer-client relationship, that anything are relate to graphic design international wide.

Logo – concept by Nike Bell, drawn by Magnus Rakeing, melkeveien.no

Style of the magazine, clean, very structured, grid based, well printed.

Printing part, uses low-carbon, low-waste, independently audited process that reduces environmental impact using 100 percent renewable energy, vegetable-oil based inks and no industrial alcohol. Printed by Pureprint Group.

Cover: Clean, only the magazine wordmark and image of the main feature - cover story.

Publisher List: Structure keep the same over the three issues, using mix of seven column gird with four column grid. One narrow column are used to contain information about the current issue. The other four column are used for editor, art director, other information that don’t change often, almost remain the same every issue.

Style of the magazine, clean, very structured, grid based, well printed.

Printing part, uses low-carbon, low-waste, independently audited process that reduces environmental impact using 100 percent renewable energy, vegetable-oil based inks and no industrial alcohol. Printed by Pureprint Group.

One unique thing about Eye magazine is that every new issue uses different typeface, since the redesign of Summer 2009, features different ‘guest’ typefaces. I think it is provide a platform for introduce various typeface.

Guest typefaces

Issue 79 Typewriter from A2-Type, designed by Henrik Kubel, a2-type.co.uk.

Issue 80 Sueca (text) and Grotzec (headlines) both designed by Mario Feliciano.

www. felicianotypefoundry.com

Issue 81 Monotype Grotesque (text and headlines) desinged by Frank Hinman Piepont in 1926

For each issue, the Reputations feature focus on a interview of special person, and it were always printed on yellow background and heavier stock, for people right jump into the section for the reading.

Three column grid, large sub-headline. Two column for body text and one column used for caption.

Structure for features are mix using four column grid with six column grid. The percentage with text and images are more half and half. That Eye magazine are pretty much image heavy magazine.

Use mix grid, that could be seven column grid take on use for caption, and make the six column into 3, for this kind of grid, I find it has more advantage allow designer play with the structure.