Exercise #6: Design Success and Failure

I chose to pick two examples that intersect with magazine design because I'm very interested in magazine layouts. In my opinion, I feel that black and white layout displays a good use of the syntactical guidelines. It succeeds because the positive and negative space creates a balance and a strong relationship between the active and passive. There is not too much white or black, they are both equally contributed. In the Lifestyle magazine, I feel it does not put in a good use of the syntactical guidelines. The basic composition of the layout is very cluttered, imbalanced, and has nothing that stands out. There's no stress or hierarchy in the text colors or size except for the title of the magazine. It's attempt to be sharpened is not fulfilled because it does not have your eye focus in the direction of the graphic because of the large text and colors on the opposing side.

Photos found at:
http://www.lostateminor.com/2008/06/19/canvas-magazine/
http://home.exetel.com.au/lindaweil/book_magazine_graphicdesign_page.htm