Quote:
Originally Posted by Vlad5
I finally got it together and realized how stupid I was of not knowing how to log on to these forums....
Anyways, VOTE FOR MINE
It might not look like your daily newspapers, but it's a 2D game with people eating Cheese and Donuts to be healthy, so a good newspaper image won't change a thing. 
Here is the image once again:
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Interesting.
I feel like too many (well, pretty much all) of the entries have been predictable.
This isn't exactly a conventional design, which makes me like it. That being said, there's definitely some problems. First of all, it's a newspaper and not a canvas. While creative freedom can be found within a design such as a newspaper, you also need to think about utility and target audience. It's that same kind of vibe from the Era Hotel logo, where you've got some interesting things going on with the piece itself, but it doesn't fit the actual role it is being designed for.
The textures in the background of the paper certainly add visual interest and personality to the paper, but I don't think they're being very effective right now. I think there are many elements in this paper that are overdone; but! could be turned into very effective elements in the design.
There's a little too much going on with the textures themselves. There's stains, damage, and abstract square patterns in the right corner. The abstract squares are the first to jump out at me. I don't get their purpose, they feel tacked on just to add another layer of texture, and they're really not needed at all. The same can be said for the damage. A little wear and tear or perhaps hints that this is indeed a newspaper (emphasis on paper) and not a word document slapped on our screen is good. That being said, it looks too chaotic and damaged to be any sort of real newspaper. Just because Era is based on gangs and gunplay doesn't mean the newspapers wouldn't at least start out being printed in good condition. If you found this newspaper crumpled up in the corner of the sewers, it'd look about right. And if you're not thinking of this as real "damage" to the paper and just a visual way of communicating the gritty feel of Era, I can't help but feel it's a bit cliche and cheesy.
Seeing as how I'm writing a mini-novel, let's talk about the text for a minute.
First of all, I like that you're actually playing around with creating some interest in the text itself. Most of the other entries are so entirely dull that I don't think even people in the 1940s (which is what time period most of the design schemes remind me of) would want to pick up and read them. However, once again...it feels overdone. I don't like the 3D aspect of the text. It doesn't really have a place in a newspaper. Outlines are also something you want to use sparingly when playing around with type. They can work, but they also don't work. It doesn't look terrible with the outline, but it doesn't look great either. Combine that with the flourishes and damaged parts of the text itself and it just feels like stacks of random effects that lack the necessary cohesion in a design like a newspaper.
As for the layout, that's something I like. It's not the usual PERFECT RECTANGLE, LINE DIVIDING, NEXT PERFECT RECTANGLE, blah blah boring, uninspired designs that seem so prevalent. The negative space created by those shapes is excellent. Keep that.
This goes for a lot of the designs I've seen, but I really can't stand little pictures of Era on the title "ERA NEWS" section. I can understand screenshots for the stories and such...but it just looks terrible when you're trying to set up a cohesive design, and then you've got this out of place screenshot of a game bleeding into it.
Don't take this post the wrong way, I'm not trying to single out your design and shred it to pieces. I'm giving it the most attention because I see the most potential in it right now. With a little work and a realization that often times in a design less is more, I think you could have something good there.
06-06-2009, 03:48 AM
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Linear Mode
