Design

Design Fundamentals

These are some key elements to good newspaper design:

• Dominance: Every page needs one dominant, visual element -- up to twice as large as anything else on the page. Ideally, that's a "centerpiece" story/photo combination. It also can be a good photo or graphic.
• Contrasting shapes: If the dominant visual element is horizontal, look for a vertical shape to contrast it (photo, story, graphic, etc.).
• Consistency: typography, internal and external margins, style. But, don't be so consistent that you don't have any fun.
• White space: Use it as a design element. Don't cram a page with material. Let it breathe. Think of white space as a spotlight that shines on the page's content.
• Simplicity: Use a limited number of elements on a page. Minimize the number of typefaces available. Two or three families are all you really need for good design. Don't use gratuitous shadows and type effects if they don't help the reader understand the content.
• Bells and whistles: graphics, glance boxes, icons, etc. Are they functional or do they just clutter the page?
• News placement and presentation: Good design prioritizes the news. Good news judgment plays a crucial role in design.
• Balance: For instance, the page shouldn't be photo-heavy on top and text-heavy on
  the bottom.
• Story lengths and jumps: Never jump less that 6 inches of a story. Never use less than 6 inches of a story before it jumps. That is reader abuse. Also remember that few readers follow jumps … so keep them to a minimum.
• Ethical concerns: Pay attention to juxtapositions of unrelated stories or photos, where the effect could be unintentionally funny, insensitive or embarrassing. Design should accurately reflect content, not mislead.

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