Portfolio

Newspaper Prototype

Organization

The Metropolitan Minute

  • Front page of the chosen design

    This cover contains stories and picturees about the “Oil-For-Food” scandal at the U.N., stamp price increases, a Ford plant closing for two weeks, many promotions to inside stories, and advertisements.

    The design takes advantage of the limited space by balancing feature stories with promotions to inside content. The 11” x 13” tabloid (or “magazine”) size is the same as a folded broadsheet newspaper on its side.

  • An early draft

    The cover contains stories and picturees about high gasoline prices, a Ford plant closing for two weeks, many promotions to inside stories, and advertisements.

    This design was one of the early drafts.

Summary

A new local newspaper needed to establish an identity that would attract readers. The business commissioned this prototype to demonstrate its brand to potential investors. Because the prototype would ultimately be used for the final template, its design needed to align with its editorial and business models.

The Challenge

The new newspaper planned to target an audience interested in consuming local news quickly. However, the initial structure of the business allowed for only a small editorial and production staff. The business needed a plan for arranging its newsroom and production departments to meet market needs. The business wanted a prototype to demonstrate how a newspaper with low operating costs could still attract readers. If all went according to plan, the business would use the templates from the prototype to guide the newspaper's final production.

The Solution

For the prototype to succeed as a final template, it needed to work with editorial and production processes. These processes were not defined, so I partnered with two colleagues with newsroom experience to define the editorial goals of the newspaper. Consulting with the proprietors, we defined the most likely structure of the newsroom and fleshed out the newspaper's identity. Then I defined and designed multiple information elements that communicate the news. I created three front-page designs that feature one large story and promote inside content. I delivered color prints of the front page and provided page templates that future designers could use.

The Results

The design arranges and maximizes the limited news content that would be available each day. The newspaper is easy to carry, attractive to pick it up, and balances feature stories with promotions to inside content. The design met the newspaper's business and editorial models. (The start-up is now on hold while the proprietors refine their plans.)

Work Completed

  • Audience analysis
  • Editorial guidance
  • Content structure
  • Information architecture
  • Typography
  • Page templates