I wanted to create a basic PDF layout early in the process, as I left this too late in the last module and ended up struggling to get it how I wanted it by the deadline. This time, I aimed to set up a clean, structured foundation at the start, giving myself more flexibility to refine the visuals as the project develops.
To support this, I’m planning to carry out a small, focused body of research to gather inspiration—enough to inform my design choices without taking up too much of my time. This research will help me define the visual tone and direction early on, allowing me to move forward with more confidence and clarity.
This book is a well-known and respected resource in the field of layout and publication design, offering guidance on key principles such as column systems, grids, typographic hierarchy, image placement, and pacing across spreads. Although I don’t yet own a copy, it has been on my reading list for some time. What initially drew me to the book was its front cover, which left a strong impression and acted as an unexpected source of inspiration for the early stages of my layout development.
The cover features a clean, grid-based structure, with confident use of bold typography and a sharp, minimal colour palette—primarily red, black, and white. These choices contribute to a sense of clarity, balance, and visual strength, which resonated with the direction I wanted to take in my own PDF layout. In particular, the way the title dominates the page without overwhelming it made me reflect on how typography can be both functional and expressive.
Inspired by this, I aimed to apply similar principles in my own work: using bold typefaces from Google Fonts, embracing strong contrast between headings and body text, and allowing generous space for content to breathe within a clear column-based structure. I also reserved space for vibrant colour to be integrated later, as I already knew I wanted the final visual language of my project to feel punchy and confident—much like the energy conveyed by the book cover.
While my design is not a direct replica, the influence of Editorial Design’s cover helped me to set a visual tone early on, allowing me to establish a bold yet structured layout that will evolve as my project develops.
After a recent lecture, I revisited the work of Morag Myerscough—an artist and designer whose bold, colourful style has always resonated with me. While I didn’t directly base my layout on her work, I definitely kept her approach in mind during the design process. I’ve always been a big fan of bold colour and graphic design, and I admire how her visual identity carries consistently across everything she creates, especially her website. That sense of vibrancy and visual confidence is something I see as a long-term design goal for myself, even if this particular project doesn't fully embrace it yet.
One idea that stood out to me while looking at her site was the use of animation and movement in presenting her work. It made me wonder whether adding motion elements to my own PDF layout could enhance the viewer experience. While I don’t think it’s possible to add interactive animation in a standard PDF format, this exploration raised a bigger question for me: do I have to submit my final outcome as a PDF? Would creating a simple website or interactive presentation format be acceptable for the module?
This is something I’ll consider discussing with my tutor, as it might align better with my design direction and allow me to explore animation and web-based presentation in a way that a static PDF can’t.
After setting up the document, I decided on the page orientation, column structure, and margins. I then populated it with placeholder text to begin visualising the overall flow and layout. To keep the design bold and impactful from the start, I used strong typefaces sourced from Google Fonts, favouring bold type foundries that align with the direction I want to take this project in.
I’ve also left space for bold use of colour, as I already know that vibrant, confident visuals will be central to the final aesthetic. For now, I’ve used a temporary red and black colour scheme which will evolve once I’ve settled on a full design style and palette.
To help plan ahead, I added temporary images that can be replaced later, and included designated areas for my name, the course title, and module headings. This gives me a strong, flexible foundation to develop as the project progresses.