Hello guys ! I participated in a discord journal cowl designing competitors and right here is my work. I’m a rookie on this subject and I want to know what are your ideas about this design. NOTE* the paragraph within the left nook must be collectively and can’t be scattered as per the principles.
That left paragraph could perhaps benefit from being left aligned.
I love the colors and the look, but you should really work on the typos, as they are a big no-no in this field and can completely sever your chance at getting hired.
Also, left-align bottom left text. Avoid widows and make sure you have a good rag.
Dateline looks weird, choose another sans serif font for that.
Look at the overall design. Does it look strange to you?
To me, it looks unbalanced. You have too much going on on the left. Move some of your type and keep playing w it.
could add some subtle detail to the background – sorta flat, but perhaps intentional. Even just a very subtle (VERY SUBTLE) vignette to draw the eye in towards the center.
Also “In This Months” caught my eye. first question: in this months what? secondly, months should be month’s (possessive). I’d probably just say “In this issue” instead of breaking the headling like that into two lines – people will just skim this and it won’t make sense at first glance.
probably left align that paragraph to give the bottom left corner a more stable, less floaty feeling. Also more typos in the text, but maybe you didn’t write it.
I like the brightness of the gold watch – what if you use a brighter gold as your accent (like in the date thing under the masthead, that main headline, etc to really tie them all together.
Is the “fashion makes sense” something you have to use? Is it the name of the feature story (maybe include page number, small, near it). If it’s just made up and can be whatever you want, then I think it could be more interesting. like “Undressing Fashion” or something to be punny (although that doesn’t really tie into the photo you’re using).
Thanks to everyone pointing out my mistakes. After reading all the comments i feel that i have a load of work to do become a better designer. Thanks for completely being honest and helping a brother out.
1. Fashion not fasion
2. The title font is feminine and the cover is masculine. I recommend having these more in line with each other.
3. For high fashion, I feel that an icon being used instead of a letter is not considered sophisticated. Keeping it simple would be classier.
4. I would have picked a photo of someone looking at the camera.
5. The photo is not balanced. It needs retouching to have more contrast and light.
6. Did you write the copy? It feels like a school essay and not like the hooks we normally see on covers. If you are allowed to change it, take a moment to revise it and make it more concise.
7. This is a competition. What in here is so impressive that you could win? This is ok as a layout but where is the magic, that thing that should be so wow that people would really take pause and say, that’s my favorite? I know it’s not nice of me to say but if you don’t hear it from the feedback here you will find out after you submit. Just try to do some brainstorming and some research and really push yourself.
And get someone to proof read it. We all miss typos. It’s normal. Professional people either have someone else read it too or they have habits already like reading backwards.
I smell Satori graphics’ discord
Hey X,
How’s it going?
I marked your cover and tried some other layouts for it. I hope it helps
[Critic](https://imgur.com/GKlOg9g)
Feel free to ask questions about my critique 😀
i’m a rookie too in the designing field but i have some recommendations. the fashion makes sense text, you can align it on the man’s head and change the size to fit. the paragraph below, i think it would be better if it’s left aligned? idk i see it more commonly in magazines. then maybe you could opt for a background that gives more impact? lastly, references are really helpful if you’re new in any field!
also, may i know about the discord designing competition? would love to check them out. but if not, it’s fine too!
push and pull copy using different sizes and weights of the same font.Get rid of what you don’t need:
THIS MONTHS ISSUE:
**THE TOP 5**
beard combs & how to use them
etc.
Apart from the typos and other afformentioned problems, my main thought is “what the hell do gold watches have to do with beards and linen shirts?”
See design is about function much more than it is about aesthetic, and unless the brief specifically dictated emphasizing the gold watch, then this is kind of like designing a chair with two legs… it isn’t fulfilling its purpose.
Also avoid mixing left and center aligned text as a beginner. It can be done well but it’s one of the tougher things to pull off. Also try to avoid splitting people’s heads through the neck with background designs or objects.
“month´s”
Why is there a paragraph on a magazine cover? And why is “issue” not with “In This Month’s”? And why are there so many typos? (“Months”; “Summer” written as a proper noun; “is *one* its way”.)
Why all the grey?
Why the stripe?
The title design looks unprofessional, but I can’t tell if it’s the font or the tower that’s the issue.
The date font is too thin.
There’s so much empty space on the right, yet the “Fashion Makes Sense” is so small and crammed on the left. It makes the design feel unbalanced.
The photo doesn’t really relate to the above or any of the text—it’s a man looking to the left with an anxious expression, so how does this related to fashion making sense (what does that even mean?) and all that stuff about linen?
And why oh why is summer on its way (in January?) but the design is not just soooooooo dark, but devoid of colour?
That left par either needs to be left aligned, shortened, or on a background I reckon. It could also benefit from tighter copy, and don’t run on a par from a Heading either ….
Even if it was “IN THIS MONTHS ISSUE:” then your par. It looks weird as it is and reads funny.
Also, think about cutout placement on the head. Is that “RAFFINE” or “RAFEINE”?
And this is nitpicky but the right side of his beard, the cut out is a bit rough.
It has a nice look to it but, the Title is too close to the trim line at top. white paragraph is too hard to read over the contrasted subject and background. Add a
ghosted white box and change that type to a color or black. Also Left Align. Change typeface to a Sans Serif for the date. Make use of kerning, and horizontal shift to make type bolder, larger, or more legible.
Title of Magazine needs some pizazz. Covert text to object and add an outline, and/or very subtle and tight drop shadow with blur.
Months should be possessive: IN THIS MONTH’S
As of now I like the direction needs more thought behind it. But you’re doing good things you’re thinking about hierarchy, keeping colors consistent ( I’d make the yellow gold stand out more). Left align your body text. I think all you need is some variance to break up the composition a bit more – very plain and ridged. You got the core now get creative.
Not a designer, but a photographer here. Tone the watch down. The selective color thing really grates as it was over used a lot in the early 2000’s. Not saying don’t do it, just be careful. It can be done well, but usually is very poorly executed. I think the rule that would apply here is: if you have to direct the viewer using selective color, you don’t have the focus in the image the way you need.
It’s very simple and not too complex. For most part, the color scheme is stunning, especially with the person, being in black and white, except for his watch being the color as the font text or the yellows around makes everything, the background, and the guy pop out even more!
Though, those letters that is close to the man’s left ear, It brings out the best in the whole concept! I’d definitely vote for you! Keep up the great work!! Hope you win!!
Two things that popped out to me: title font feels slightly too thin to pair with the tower graphic. Also, title feels a little crowded at the top of the graphic. A little additional space at the top might be better, I think.
Edit: I clicked on the pic and can now see there is more space at the top than the preview indicated. So disregard that comment.
Nice image. I think you’ve got a good concept – it just needs a little tightening up.
I’m going to focus on the text.
Left justify – centered text rarely looks good.
The type is a little small.
IN THIS MONTHS (next paragraph) issue – same level of type, same paragraph – that’s a header
ALSO (header)
Summer is ONE it’s way (Proofread – all you work is squandered if there are typos) (Other typos FASHION makes sense)
Don’t leave a word hanging at the end of a paragraph – (linen)
I would ditch the punctuation
Regarding the Masthead – it could use a little more AIR around it – the top margin is not generous enough. Shrink your image a bit and set that particular piece of type well – it is the most important thing on the page.
Looks really clean, great job! Some enhancements I would make to make it that much more impactful would be to increase the brightness and contrast on your main subject slightly. Think this would really make him stand out on your background. I would left align the text to the left, but that’s just me.
Why he look like someone touched his watch without asking
Hi guys ! I recently participated in a discord magazine cover designing competition and here is my work. I am a rookie in this field tbh. I would like to know what are your thoughts about this design. NOTE* the paragraph in the left corner has to be together and cannot be separated as per the rules.
The image could do with a couple of highlights and the fabric word looks like it’s piercing the guys head
His head is covering the title right in a weird way. I can’t tell if it’s “RAFEINE” or “RAFFINE”
You colored the watch, so I assume that’s your intended focus. Unfortunately, it’s too small relative to the rest of the picture. Not to mention, the eyes are where most people are going to look first. I didn’t even notice the watch until I pulled the image to full screen.
What’s discord is this apart of?
align paragraph to the left and add a yellow stripe to the bottom of the gray strip in the background, about the size of the yellow on the barcode price.
Please work on how you trimmed the photo! Looks whack in the crack at the moment.
What’s the discord, if you don’t mind me asking?
There’s a typo on the word Fashion, sadly but the rest is pretty GQ-like, the color scheme is right! I’d say the Eiffel tower in the word “raffiné” is a bit cliché though… Paris may seem refined to the rest of the world but Parisians and French people know it’s kind of a sham lol
Have a look at Chris Clark on Instagram for some inspiration. He does great editorial covers
https://instagram.com/chrisclarkecc?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
The background and your choice of colour is cool but I think the ‘fashion makes sense’ should be spaced out a little more vertically. The date will look much better when it’s on the same alignment as the ‘fashion makes sense’.
Lastly I think the bottom paragraph should be either aligned to the left or justified.
I’m actually starting too in Graphic Design, going into my junior year. I think your design is very sophisticated and appealing to the eye with small details. In this months issue should be highlighted and bolded, the pattern flows better and appeal more to what the headline of the paragraph is about.