The first two images are a sample of what each chapter spread would look like. A image on the left to represent a moment in time with a brief description relating to the chapter topic. The following images are what the rest of the chapter would potentially look like.3 Questions:
1: When designing spreads using quotes, I sometimes feel that the pages look empty. But when I add an image it gives the book more character. Should I continue to have a mixed variety, some pages with images and some without? Sometimes a single quote on its own is powerful and does not need an image?
2. I have taken out the quotation marks around the quote itself because I feel when reading the quotes the quotations are sometimes distracting. Is this a bad idea? Or should I leave quotation marks around the quotes?
3. When typing out the quotes I have not listed the name of the person who said it. For one, many of the quotes I have kept over the years I don't no who said them. But I have also kept quotes where I do know who said them. Would it be wise to create an index / directory keeping track of who said what quote within my book? If so, any suggestions on how that could be organized?
1. Tara, I think it's beautiful as it is! I think you should continue with a mixed variety because it gives a chance for your layout to breathe and it also is a nice change. I agree, I think a quote on its own can be just as powerful as any image.
ReplyDeleteI don't think your spreads look empty with just quotes. I think you're embracing white space and more importantly, emphasizing the concept and tone of your book (it being reflective, and a calm, simple and inspiring piece).
2) I think leaving out the quotes is a good idea. when possible, I like it when punctuation is left out. if you have a voice for who said it, then put the name with it, it should be clear that it's a quote.
ReplyDeleteor are there other non-quote copy you'll be including? if so, mebe establish a character style for quotes and one for the non-quotes.
1) I think it might be a bit overwhelming if you had pictures on every page. If your book is meant to be clean and calming, I think 1 quote on a page works well. I also think you'll have better pacing in your book if you have images on some pages but not on others, and if they vary in size, as they do now.
ReplyDelete1) You should definitely use a variation of image and text. I agree with Kari on the pacing, depending on the quote, how powerful it is, it might not even need an image. Some should definitely be alone. It would also start to get dull if you have the same exact layout for each page, so definitely have a mixed variation.
ReplyDelete2) I don't think you need to have quotation marks, I feel like it does take away from the quote- and makes it like every other book out there. Good idea on leaving them out, but just make sure to remain consistent throughout the book.
ReplyDelete3) I think that you need to attribute the quotes to the people who said them because otherwise it gets confusing as it seems like copy that you wrote yourself but then the quotes could be recognizable. You can just put 'unkown' in the spaces where you don't know who said what. I also think that an index can make a nice design element. You also probably should keep the quotation marks I think, for the reasons above, but you could try to do something different with them. Maybe you could make them really small?
ReplyDelete2) I think it's looking really good and I like your use of colour for the type and the decorations. It has a real feeling of calm like ppl have said above.
ReplyDeleteFor the quotes it looks best without the quotation marks because they are very prominent on the page already and they feel like they have a voice already because of this. Perhaps you could just set all the quotes in italics to differentiate them?
I think sometimes, the quotes themselves create enough of a dialogue that the white space works. Simply a powerful quote is all you need, however, if every spread in your book is like that then it might get boring unless every single quote is so powerful that it really doesn't need images. There are other ways to add to it without images, such as typography and color.
ReplyDelete