Discussion point 3 - Micaela Alcaino

TYPOGRAPHIC CONVENTIONS AND TRADITIONS

I think that typographic conventions and traditions are always going to be relevant in contemporary publishing, in order to draw attention to its viewer. Nowadays most publishing areas such as magazines have aimed for the clean, simple, and minimal look, where the use of negative space becomes our friend. Most people are familiar with the tweaking of simple columned grids, so that the reader finds a sense of familiarity in reading different magazines or newspapers. Most magazines and journals are recognized for their "look" and "style" seen and repeated in each issue. Magazines like Frankie is known for its simple spaced out type, and pale colours, while In Style is known for its white backdrop cover with a bold coloured heading. 

My example of Eye Magazine shows the use of bright block colors, a simple two column grid, and san serif fonts to achieve this miniminalism in order to capture the readers attention to the basic nature of the magazine. They pride themselves as the "world’s most beautiful and collectable graphic design journal, published quarterly for professional designers, students and anyone interested in critical, informed writing about design and visual culture."

The simplicity of its conventions allows the color and headings stand out from what would otherwise be a clutter of words. Its organized chaos. 

The simplicity in spacing and grid is effective when asking for a clean look for professionals, yet the block coloring screams out to students. Legibility is consistent, and easy for the eye to follow. I do think that design journals and graphic magazines do push the boundaries of chaos in the order than simple reading magazines do, but they never seem to lose the sense of familiarity to others like themselves. 

References

http://www.eyemagazine.com