The medium determines the composition / layout
What medium?
hidden for layout purposes
One of the biggest differences between print and electronic publications is how people view them. Holding something physical in your hand — a piece of paper, a folding brochure, a book — is a much different experience than viewing something on a screen. There is some crossover, such as digital magazines that are laid out in the exact same way as their printed counterparts, but generally, the physical versus digital experience is a pretty clear dividing line between print and web design.
The same applies to the kind of print or digital media you are creating, due to the different purposes they may serve (think newsletter vs. trifold brochure). Where and how designs are viewed plays a big role in the decisions you have to make.
- Just like with copywriting, when starting a project, you need to ask yourself not just who your audience is, but also, how it will be distributed.
- Unless you have design expertise or a design degree, there is no shame in finding some templates or examples of what others have done and make them your own.
- Because trifold brochures are not the same thing as a print newsletter or a mass email, you cannot expect to simply copy-and-paste one layout to the other.
Therefore, the same information in different formats could look like this:
The Rule of Thirds still applies, no matter what the medium. The above is simply an overview. Please also refer to our Toolbox for more resources.