Week 10: Grid System | Lang

1. Discuss the grid system in place. How well do the designs work within the boundaries, or even by breaking boundaries of the grid? This is a magazine spread from Cosmopolitan magazine that uses a 3 column grid system. This design works well with the main image and headline placed across two columns so there is nothing else that competes with it. The three column grid also works with the tertiary type because it is easier to read and not difficult to follow the story from line to line. The sidebar on the third column also works because it fit into one column and the page still looks fine without having images placed all over the page.
2. How does the grid in your example aid the reader or user? The grid allows the reader to have an easier time reading the article. The grid splits the story into three columns so when you look at it, it is not intimidating to read. This design allows the story to have a sufficient line length, where it is not difficult to read.
3. Does it engage them with its structure or lack thereof? With the main image and headline spanned across two columns it helps point to the reader where they should start reading the article. The subhead that follows underneath in the first column has the next biggest point size so that is the transition point to the actual start of the article. The subhead also uses two lines to separate itself from the story so after seeing that, it also helps lead you to the story.
4. Does it cause tension, either positive or negative? With the sidebar on the top right hand corner, I feel that it makes this page difficult to read because the sidebar has 4 images and is a different color so it may distract the reader from reading the article. I think there is both positive and negative tension. The color scheme is a positive aspect and I feel that the sidebar is a negative aspect.With the sidebar on the top right hand corner, I feel that it makes this page difficult to read because the sidebar has 4 images and is a different color so it may distract the reader from reading the article. I think there is both positive and negative tension. The color scheme is a positive aspect and I feel that the sidebar is a negative aspect.