Design a magazine Using Adobe Illustrator for the creation below:
Design a ‘wireframe’ of existing magazine covers and spreads to study all the elements that go into a magazine. Send the illustrator file for the work.The illustrator file is When you save your file, it is an .ai file https://fileinfo.com/extension/ai. This is the editable file that Illustrator creates, just like if you work in Word you get a .doc (word file) or in PowerPoint an .ppt (a PowerPoint file).
The magazine cover and spread can be based off of an existing magazine: All spread styles, titles and story lines, will be uniquely created for the magazine from scratch, based on an interest of yours. For example, design a magazine based on art, illustration, famous people, fashion, important events, sports,….. (pick something that will provide good images to work with). Note: a wireframe is a term usually used in web design, in print design other terms may be used in the design process, such as flat plan and mock-up, each have slightly different meanings.
The body text (this is the main text in the article) can be copied from the original magazine story or something similar you find on the internet.
In your magazine wireframe you will use the text tool to annotate the different areas of the magazine by their correct name. For example, you will label each part, body text, heading, subheading, etc. This is to help you gain awareness of what you need to put into a magazine.
See here for a list of the key elements that go into a magazine spread: https://www.envision-creative.com/blog/magazine-design-tips-key-elements/
Part 1: Design Wireframe
Look on the internet or in the library for unique and interesting magazine layouts. Try doing searches for best magazine layout, best magazine graphic design or search famous designers. Find two covers and two magazine spreads (design across two pages of a magazine) to design a wireframe with annotations.
Make an Adobe Illustrator document with 5 artboards (or similar software)
Artboard 1: Your name and title of the assignment.
Artboard 2: Place your magazine cover on a layer and lock layer. design a new layer and draw on top of the magazine to recreate it.
Artboard 3: Place your second magazine cover on a layer and lock layer. design a new layer and draw on top of the magazine to recreate it
Artboard 4: Place your magazine spread on a layer and lock layer. design a new layer and draw on top of the magazine to recreate it.
Artboard 5: Place your second magazine spread on a layer and lock layer. design a new layer and draw on top of the magazine to recreate it.
Unlock the layer with your magazine, move your magazine to the side, so I can see it when grading as reference.
Annotate with text the names of the different elements in the spread, you can use arrows and place the text to the side.
Use colour to make your wireframe easy to understand i.e. all text boxes the same colour.
The layout must be accurate, all elements must be the correct size and placement.
Part 2: Design Analysis
Use the text editing software on Adobe illustrator. Use images from Part 1 of your assignment to support your answers to the questions below. You can create other wireframe drawings as needed to make your answers clear. You can take screen shots of your Illustrator document to grab images quickly (crop your images as needed).
Identify the following for the two spreads you have selected (you do not need to do the covers).
All design starts by dividing up the design space before you start the position of elements. How many columns are there? Where ‘flow lines’ used to align elements? Are the margins even on all sides or do they vary? Support answer with images.
Layout. Analyze the layout in terms of the six principles of design.
Balance: Is your design symmetrical or asymmetrical? In a spread the design is across the two pages. Explain your answer.
Alignment creates order, allowing elements to be visually connected. How is alignment used in your design.
Proximity is another way to design associations. What items are grouped together and which are separated in the design?
Contrast: Contrast creates order. Which areas stand out in your design? How are these items different?
Repetition creates a rhythm in your design, and you can actually add beats to that by using interruptions in the repetition too. Are there repeated elements in your design? Are there disruptions in the rhythm to make the design more interesting.
We can use the principles of balance, alignment, repetition, and proximity to create hierarchies in our design. Does your design have a clear hierarchy? What is the most important thing, the second and the third?
And last is space. The negative space is an element of your design. One of the gestalt design principles is that of closure, where we literally fill in the gaps between figures or objects on the layout. In a good design the space is well considered. How much of the layout is empty? What do you think makes the negative space work in the design?
Sample examples of wireframes and designs below:
