Magazine design workshop
Time: 18:00 - 21:00
Location: Keeley Street
Nowadays, there are plenty of apps that will do the design work for you. But, this course will teach you the design principles underpinning these softwares, empowering you to innovate and create original formats that aren’t yet ubiquitous.
Take a deep dive into a specific process, media or tool, with our Visual Communication Workshops.
Workshops throw the spotlight onto niche areas of the visual communication field, enabling you to hone higher-level skills and gain deeper insights.
Workshops tend to have a practical focus, with little or no conceptual or contextual elements, although this varies by course.
Choose a start date
- Course Code: VZ521
- Dates: 13/11/24 - 11/12/24
- Time: 18:00 - 21:00
- Taught: Wed, Evening
- Duration: 5 sessions (over 5 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Rebecca Thomas
Course Code: VZ521
Choose a start date
Duration: 5 sessions (over 5 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
‘Magazine design’ could equally be termed ‘layout design’ – quality content is of course important, but the success (or failure) of a magazine largely rests on its layout - that is, the arrangement on the page of text, illustrations, photographs and other graphics.
You’ll learn how designers use Emphasis, Alignment, Contrast, Repetition, Proportion, Movement and White Space to create compelling magazine layouts.
You’ll also study historic and current trends in magazines, and how these can be used to inform your own work.
Armed with this knowledge, you’ll use Adobe InDesign to create – from scratch - a cover design and several page-layout templates which you’ll be able to take away and populate with content for your magazine.
What will we cover?
• The 7 principles of effective layout design
• Research historic and current innovations in magazine design
• Develop original ideas for your magazine’s cover and several page-layout templates
• Adobe InDesign skills (e.g. import, edit, and arrange images and text according to layout principles and your own design)
• Online magazine ‘publishing’ and hosting options
• Formats for physical printing of magazines after the course. For example, preparing files for Risography printing.
• Critical evaluation of your own and others’ work will be facilitated throughout the course.
• Examples of relevant works by historical and/or contemporary creatives will be drawn upon at strategic points throughout the course.
* Please note: City Lit has very limited printing facilities available. This course is focused on design.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
Use the specific process, media or tool you have been studying – at least to a competent skill-level.
Specifically:
- Use the 7 principles of layout design to create original designs
- Use your research to create original designs
- Use Adobe InDesign to create a cover design for a magazine
- Use Adobe InDesign to design several templates for page layouts
- Decide which online and / or physical ‘publishing’ methods you will use to create and distribute your magazine. How to prepare files for these.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Intermediate learners (with some experience of visual communication) will get the most from this course, but computer-competent beginners are welcome to try their hand.
English-language competency is required: you should be able to follow verbal and written instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You may need to take short written notes for your own use and take part in group discussions.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
- Presentations
- Demonstrations
- Practical work
- Individual and group tutoring
- Group discussion
Additional/extension activities may be set for you to complete at home or outside of the course hours. Completion of additional tasks is encouraged to help you get the most out of the course. Where required your tutor will discuss these with you.
This course is supported by Google Classroom as a Virtual Learning Environment. When you log on you will be able to access course material, presentations, and handouts etc. and may be asked to complete learner progress records. You can find help via the student help centre on the City Lit website.
Please note it is important that you sign up and log in to your course Google classroom prior to the first session. Joining detail will be sent to you via email (check your junk/spam folder).
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
At City Lit, access to basic materials and resources are available as part of this course. We advise you to bring a A5/A4 sketchbook for the recording of ideas and an A3 folder to transport work to and from City Lit. Additional materials required as part of the course will be discussed by your tutor if required.
Need art supplies? Our partner London Graphic Centre has everything you need from pencils to printing services, at 15% off.
To get 15% LGC discount, you will need to show proof/ confirmation of enrolment and being a student at City Lit. You can apply in-store or by simply emailing info@londongraphics.co.uk with a scan or photo of relevant confirmation. Student discount does not apply to products that are already discounted or on offer. More information can be found here- https://www.londongraphics.co.uk/student-discounts/.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
We recommend looking at our range of programmes in graphic design, illustration, children’s book illustration and graphic novels.
For more information about any of the courses on offer, please visit our website.
For more information about any of the courses on offer, please visit our website.
Becky Thomas (beckyismyname) is a graphic designer and illustrator with over 20 years industry experience in local authority, the private sector and freelance. Alongside her current freelance business Becky established Margate’s first post-graduate course in Visual Communication at The Margate School and launched the Margate Festival of Design. Becky's work spans industries including charity, fashion and construction. She has a passion for typography and clear modernist design, believing strongly that the epitome of good design is human centred and easy to understand. As well as teaching at City Lit Becky runs screenprinting workshops in her home town of Margate.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
