Learner Survival Guide

Research

Why Typography, Graphics, Colour and Photo- Imagery are used in Editorial and Graphics Design

03/11/14

In order to make a product draw in more attention, or to make it more entertaining, a series of devices are used to draw in more attention and to make a product look a little less boring and a lot more appealing.

The first being Typography. No one would look at a poster or packaging with a boring typeface and remember it. A more interesting typeface makes something a lot better to look at, and is sure to stick in the minds of those who look at it. A typeface that relates to the topic or product is even better, as it then draws in even more attention. For example, most know the hilarious Rom-Com Horror that is Shaun Of The Dead:

The hand within 'A' of dead can easily be recognised as something zombie related, and so makes the product stick a little more in the brain than a boring font would do.

The type of font used can also portray the seriousness of a product or can appeal to different genders and ages.

Secondly, graphics are used to create an identity for a product. By using  simple yet easily recognizable graphics makes the product stick in the brain. Who doesn't remember the Golden Arches that are symbolic to MacDonald's, or the Colonels face on the red background. Who is likely to forget the Olympic rings?

These fast food chains or games wouldn't be so iconic if it weren't for the simple yet fantastic graphics that has us automatically link them to each thing like we were born to do it.

Next on the list seems rather obvious yet is extremely important: Colour. While something is so blaringly obvious when it comes to a products packaging or a logo, the importance of it cannot be under-stated. The colour of a product projects a lot of information, whether it be the aimed gender of the product, the aimed age the product is intended for, the genre (In terms of Films) and seriousness.

Something that is supposed to be important will hold little or next to no colour, so that it cannot be under-stated, where as something that is meant to be a little less serious or engaging will contain quite a bit more colour. The colours used will also project the age range and preferred gender of the product, as well as, in the case of films, the seriousness of the content.

No one wants to look at a blank packaging, as it will deter them from buying the product it advertises.

Lastly, Photo-Imagery is used continuously throughout editorial and graphic design, and is where an photo is changed a little so that it portrays the correct mood and wanted message. Without this, small things on a photo could turn the imagery from something positive to something negative.


All in all, each of these different devices are used to convey different information and to catch the attention of those the product is aimed at. If the audience doesn't like the product's aesthetics, the attention it gets will dwindle to almost nothing, which then makes it rather useless.