Nora2

Deadline #1:
Honestly, I wouldn't say that this spread was my favorite. Yet, I did try something new which was the collage. I hadn't done that in any of my other pages and I think it gave quite an effect to the spread. That is probably what I like best about this spread. I feel that it's quite exciting and works well with the layout. Also, I like the sidebar with the use of the different fonts, sizes, and colors. But I don't like how everything is spaced out and the fact that the sidebar takes up a lot of space. I also realized that I repeated In-Hyang twice but I had to rush this spread- so it bothers me. The title with the subheading intriuges me as well. It's the first time that we played with the newspaper theme and I love how it looks. I also used the purple in "your" in both of the headings- yet it looks simple and I love the font... making the spread look a little sophisticated. I learned quite a bit while working with this spread. It was the first deadline using the new theme so I tried playing around with the sidebar, color, pull quote, and subheading. Overall, these techniques work well with a spread but I was rushed doing this one for the first time and I think that lowered my standards. So, I learned that I needed to work with the layout as soon as possible and make sure that everything fits well before the last class. Even though I don't usually run into this issue, I was worrying about getting pictures of people before worrying about the spread design. The risks I took include the collage and the sidebar. Once again, I took a risk with all the different fonts in the sidebar-- being different than the title. In addition, I took a risk with the colors in the sidebar including the "light purple background". With the collage, I took a risk with photo sizes- but thankfully it worked out well and I could fit everything into a perfect box. I would definitely change the bottom of this spread if I had the choice. I'm extremely disappointed with the spacing and photos. I would have taken more photos to add at the bottom and perhaps add more "goals and ideas".



Deadline #2:
I was really proud of my work on this spread. First of all, I love the sidebar. The title is different- leaving only one or two words for the interviewees to say. Also, I like the font I used for the title of the sidebar. In addition, I liked the stroke effect I used around the pictures. It added cool shaping to the pictures. Also, the title and subhead are interesting because I used alliteration! Overall, all of the words (used in the pull quote, titles, and sidebar) add a very spirited feel to the page. The pictures I used as well have many exciting stories within them, making this year seem extremely spirited! While working on this spread, I took 800 pictures during Spirit Week. I know I always have to have a lot of pictures, but by taking that many, I had the opportunity to use excellent pictures for the spread. From then on, I learned to always take an exaggerated amount of pictures to get a quality spread. In addition, I learned that to have such a complicated layout, it becomes difficult to get a horizontal eye-line. Unfortunately, I could not fix that problem. I still think the spread looks great, but an eye-line may have helped the spread a little because it has a lot going on. I also learned that it can be difficult to get every person in the picture to face the center of the page instead of looking off of it. I accomplished that, thankfully, but by switching the two pages of the spread around. I took risks in this spread by not adding a horizontal eye-line. I think that made the spread look extremely busy, but I believe that the dominant photo brought the two pages together. Also, using the 3 or 4 different fonts in the title and subhead was a little risky. I wasn't sure if it would look good or too tacky, but I think it turned out alright and brought some spice into the page. I wasn't sure if having the dominant photo crossing the gutter would have a good feel to the spread, but it really did bring the two pages together and turned out to be quite effective. Overall, I'm happy with this spread, and if I wanted to change it I think that I would move some pictures around to try to achieve a horizontal eye-line. Besides that, I wouldn't change anything. I'm really proud of it especially because everyone looks spirited and I think it makes every grade look extremely involved.



Deadline #3:
This deadline required a couple of dividers. Meggi helped out, so I had a lot of input from her- but it was still difficult coming up with the whole layout idea. What I like most about this spread is the layout. I'm proud of the way that it turned out! I like the Sudoku puzzles- they add a lot more to the spread. In addition, I like the headline along with the "Egyptian Gazette". My favorite part for sure is the "Table of Contents". I took that idea from another newspaper and I think it works well with the page. Taking bits from stories throughout the yearbook worked really well because they made each section sound extremely exciting. I like the flags being photoshopped as well, it emphasizes the importance of unity in our school and "Standing Up Against Poverty". The most important thing I learned while doing this spread was coming up with the layout. A divider can be really easy if you want it to be, but the newspaper theme required a little bit more. I discussed it with Shisho and Meggi for a couple of classes and thought I had a finalized idea. It was really difficult to do, and was willing to go through with it. Then at the last minute, Ms. Scholz and I came up with another idea which worked out a lot better. It was a really stressful time, but I just learned to ruminate about it and give it time. I took risks with the whole layout in general. Taking Sudoku puzzles from the internet was an idea that was really risky. The sizes could have been a problem as well as having the puzzle answers. It could have been extremely easy to lose them all. In addition, the newspaper layout was a big risk with the Table of Contents, Headline, Subhead, and the "Distributed with....". I wasn't sure if it all would have worked out well in the end- I was stressed about it the whole time! Honestly, by improving this spread I don't think I would change anything. I liked all of the pictures used as well as the layout and fonts. It really looks like a newspaper and doesn't have TOO much going on.



Deadline #4:
I like this spread a lot. What I like best is the dominant photo. It was my first time to try having such a large photo as a dominant and I think it adds a lot to the spread. In addition, I like the sidebar. I photoshopped the players and coach out- it looks cool! I got that idea from a magazine and figured I could try something new. Since the spread has a whole bunch of squares, it was a good idea to spice up the spread with the cut-outs. Finally, I like the headline. Once again, it was the first time to make it so large. I like the emphasis of it and I think it looks good. While working on this spread, I kept changing my layout. I wasn't sure how I was going to go about it without a story. So I learned that it's difficult to make up for a story. Also, this spread has a little bit too much going on- and I learned that it might have deserved a story. If I'm planning on eliminating a story, I have to make sure to make up for it well. I took risks with the headline, horizontal eyeline, sidebar, and the "collage". I think the headline and dominant photo were major risks but worked out excellently. The horizontal eyelines are at the top and bottom. I like them- they add more "black" to the page as the tabs are more of an outstanding BLUE and don't work well with the page that well. The sidebar was a major risk with the cutouts but I love it! Finally, the collage was a risk- taking place of the story. Thankfully, I had hundreds of pictures from Tennis so it wasn't too difficult to fit in some pictures- but after finishing the collage, I felt that the page was a little bit too much. I didn't have time to change it. So, if I had a chance to re-do this spread, I would improve the collage and perhaps replace it with a story or eliminate a few pictures. Besides that, I think the spread turned out alright.