I created two different styles for the magazine on opposite ends of the spectrum. I was hoping that one would be more successful and the final product could adopt features of the opposing style to create a less extreme overall design.
1) The Meredith-y Version
One thing mentioned in the initial meeting was that the magazine was to be easy on the eyes. Looking at this again, and taking comments into account, I think I went a little overboard. I can see where the brown is drab and boring and could easily be swapped for brigher colors (as suggested in class). I intended for them to be calming, but I think the palette ended up just boring. I really like the brighter colors in the first cover and might use them to replace the others.
Working within a single typeface and helped to create cohesion. I also tried to choose photos that were within the same palette.
Because it's a new magazine, the entire cover is working as an identity piece. The people and their actions work as a label for the publication.
2) The "Modern" Version
Originally I was thinking fairly stereotypically, but it was really helpful to speak with family about the design. I think in the first design I somehow equated traditional and easy to read as overly calm but ultimately I think it was downright boring. I really liked that when Kristin K. said that she hoped her mom would like good design instead of tried and true meredith style.
On that note, here I chose what I thought to be a more modern typeface, brighter colors, and illustrations. I didn't make a conscious choice to exclude photos. The majority of choices available for the age group were either ridiculously juvenile (the beach picture above borders on this a little) or one foot in the grave. I didn't use many of them.
I also liked Rob's idea to make the department pages shorter. They could definitely used some more entrance points. It would be useful to have shorter quips and also more than one story on the page.
I tried to make it easier to navigate by using the same icons in the TOC that are used for the magazine sections.
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