Runners World

Design Director: Benjamen Purvis
Photo Director: Michele Ervin

 

 

Psychology Today

Creative Director: Edward Levine
Photo Director: Claudia Stefezius

 

Esquire

Design Director: David Curcurito
Photo Director: Michael Norseng

I’ve noticed on the newsstand this week the interplay between type and image on opening spreads.

When it comes to space, the church and state of headline and image have seemingly come together in a happy union, sharing the same space, rather than the type getting designed into negative space or pockets of openness here and there.

Perhaps this is a reaction, creating a feeling of depth and layering that we don’t really get so much from a printed page, or it’s a space issue with the word count, or just creative expression and a sign of the times.

Apps seem to be inviting images and text as well, you can check them out here.

Pinterest even has a page dedicated to headline design.

 

Here’s a small scene from a favorite author, Annie Proulx, in the film “The Shipping News” and is often used when describing how to write a great headline:
Publisher: It’s finding the center of your story, the beating heart of it, that’s what makes a reporter. You have to start by making up some headlines. You know: short, punchy, dramatic headlines. Now, have a look, [pointing at dark clouds gathering in the sky over the ocean] what do you see? Tell me the headline.
Protagonist: HORIZON FILLS WITH DARK CLOUDS?
Publisher: IMMINENT STORM THREATENS VILLAGE.
Protagonist: But what if no storm comes?
Publisher: VILLAGE SPARED FROM DEADLY STORM.