Visual Techniques

Contrast

Asymmetry

Complexity

Simplicity

Boldness

Stasis

Transparency

In this magazine layout there are six techniques that stood out to me. The first is the contrast of dark and light in the photo and the colors of the title. These two contrasting features focus the eye on these two parts of the layout. Then there is Asymmetry of the picture coming across the center barrier. The complexity of the house that is shown makes one look at the house for even longer. There is boldness with having a single multiple page picture that hangs off the border of the page. There is stasis within the house itself, there is no wind captured or anything moving, it is just there. Lastly there is transparency in the title, the two boxes overlap and give a three dimension effect. 

Contrast (Color)

Balance

Symmetry

Repetition

Simplicity

Activeness

Boldness

Depth

In this layout there are eight techniques at play here. The first is Contrast with color, there is one accent color that is taken out of where the sun should be in the black and white photo. Balance within in the colors of the black large structure of the watering mechanism in front of a light gray sky then diagonal is the stark white bold title. The symmetry is with in the text on both sides of the layout and colors in the picture. Repetition is used with the watering mechanism triangle shapes, and that is also creating depth. Boldness is once again used with using a full layout picture, and also is seen in the title. 

Contrast

Contrast that works:

Typography Hierarchy, Color, Grid, Negative vs. Positive Space.

In this example many of the contrast concepts are working together to achieve a purpose. The typography hierarchy and the negative vs. positive space work so well together that is all makes the main slogan "Yes We Can" jump out at us. The Grid layout of the smaller and bigger words give a sense of structure that is key to contrast working so well. There is a feeling of tension but also of unity. It all sharpens the idea of the slogan "Yes We Can" by incorporating the unity and tension in the "We". There is also the contrast in color. There are shades of gray arraying the whole gradient scale, but the same blue is used only twice. The contrast from the grey, to the bold blue brings forth the two most important messages. 

Contrasting the fails:

This is an advertisement for a tv show that has been cancelled already. The contrast is trying to make this ad interesting to look at but it becomes more of a hassel to read as you keep looking. They try to contrast it with the opposites of black and white. This may work but in this case the woman's black parts (her clothing) are just about the same size as the letters. I don't know if there is another letter i am not seeing. There are the letters themselves contrasting in size but are tough to read. The fox symbol and times as the bottom are nicely hierarchied but the rest of the contrasting features aren't sharpened enough.