Works in Progress: Counterpoint Magazine

Counterpoint is a quarterly (neo)conservative-leaning periodical at the University of Chicago. I don't necessarily agree with everything in the publication of record, but I saw designing a restrained publication as a worthwhile challenge. The hypothetical redesign employs two-, four-, and five-column pages throughout, depending on the context. I used a slightly modified 1:2 modular scale for the copy, and everything's set in either American Text or Adobe Garamond Pro (with the exception of the cover story, which uses Trade Gothic instead of American Text). PSD Graphic Arts over at the University is prepping a proof, which should be ready any day.

Sample table of contents. A "contributors" page at the end of the publication is similarly demarcated using a light gray background fill.

Sample "reportage" opening spread.

Typical inside spread. I oped for large pull-quotes to break up large chunks of text, as illustrations and other images would likely have been rare.

Sample cover story opening double-truck spread. Illustration by Tom Tian.

Cover story: First spread.

Cover story: Typical spread.

Typical "review" spread.

Candid Assessments: The Point

Old cover is on the left; my quick reinterpretation, laid out in Illutrator CS5
using Trade Gothic is on the right. Copy unceremoniously borrowed from
The Point's website, so pardon any mistakes.
Cover features City (Westward) (2008), by Jason Salavon.

I recall looking over a classmate's shoulder once in an art history lecture to find him "designing" a cover for what turned out to be the first issue of The Point. The publication of record is a seldom-released but well curated, reputable (and widely distributed) small-scale journal that attracts good writers owing to its close connections with the University.

Problem is, that's not the impression most people would get upon seeing said magazine for the first time, and the haphazard design is to blame.

The masthead is plagued by the loose leading between the words "THE" and "POiNt," the iffy kerning between the letters "N" and "t," the unsettling disproportion between the counter and bowl of the letters "P" and "O," respectively, and the unnecessary tension between the word "THE" and "POiNt," which, though of disparate size, are equally heavy. I also take issue with the inconsistent use of upper- and lower-case glyphs, which quite frankly just plain contradicts the professionalism of the content within.

As for the teasers, I really can't say much except that I'd prefer it be set flush left, and that the two tiers of teasers could either be set in separate columns or at least use a more generous paragraph break.

I have no idea what the inside pages look like, but the cover's indecisiveness (is it a journal or a magazine?) inspires doubt. I do, however, like the fact that it's printed on something that resembles a standard trade paperback/ISO A4 instead of ANSI A1, which ought to make it slightly easier to read.

Good content deserves good design. Let's hope that changes soon.

On an unrelated note, here's a doodle I made of a happy lumberjack: