Layout Fix #1: Part 1, Title & Contrast

Wow...Great work Catherine, Marisa,...observers and the Catherine on her redo, taking into account Marisa's direction and tip.

First let me say that I found myself having to open the window twice, so I could see the before and after while I was reading the comments left by folks. I LOVE how Marisa walked us through her steps and reasons as well....that what I was going for when I ended up opening 3 windows, the last was Catherine's own redo.

I think what she eventually did was what I had in mind. Marisa helped her think of popping or "contrast"...I to thought the first step was to strengthen the Title. Both Catherine and Marisa did this not only by increasing the sizes, but with contrast as well.

I leaned with some of the others and loved the purple paper, but that was just personal taste. The other thing that many went one way or the other on was when Marisa moved the flower up. Many including Marisa commented on the "weight" and size of the space when moving the paper flower to the top. But I think it was more that just weight and size, (heavy on the bottom, and also a balance) - I think part of why Marisa moved it up was because she was balancing the white. When she introduced it with the title, it needed to be separated and balanced on the page with the paper flower. Which leads me to my 2nd thing...after the title.

I would have loved to have been able to introduce a slight white shadowing behind the crowned emblem, if I could have...and then we have Catherine's redo. She switched to the white for the pop, using it in the title, and mats of the photos, and even the Love tag. If I would have stayed with Marisa's dark pop/contrasting, I personally would have probably double matted the photos with some of that purple paper.

Thanks Catherine & Marisa, for making us think about why we do some of the things we do, and giving us a place to chat about it!

I like the black background with the lighter foreground. I think it makes the black around the pictures stand out more, which in turn draws your eye to the pictures. I also like the title change. However, I liked the flower at the bottom rather than at the top.

Love all the comments that you all wrote! Makes it hard to write mine ;) I like both layouts! But the change of alpha gives it more body. I don't know if I would have taken the black paper in because now it looses the focus on the pictures (in my opinion, because my eyes get drawn to the black). And I would add a little bit more shadow. Designer rules or no rules at the end you just have to create something you love with the colors you love. Just playing around and stick to a idea makes you grow.

Button = bottom (stupid auto correct)

I do like the orange paper on top of the black....it picks up the orange in the dot paper and lets the orange tshirts take the stage.

I think it would be fun to have more than one person take the same photos and do 3 different looks and explain what they were thinking. I would love to be part of that team. I have taught classes like this before. There is no right or wrong, but you learn so many different things. You did a good job of explaining your changes.

This is a great idea, Marisa, and something everyone should try. The way you have explained each change is helpful in understanding the reason behind each one, rather than just posting a before and after. There is much to learn from exercises such as these because, well, they make you think about the whys! I know you say it is intuitive for you, but there is still a LOT of thinking that happens on the right side of the brain - and being able to explain why you have made the change proves it...which is why there are art/design rules in the first place. :) This exercise reminds me of art school when we would all bring in the same 'solution' for a prescribed advertisement poster or album cover - and each would look so different - all good, but a few exceptionally so. I'll be watching this experiment and maybe even be brave enough to submit one for a critique fix! :)

Hi Marisa, Cat =) I like the idea of the black paper, it really made the layout pop, but I´d put it on other position - maybe on the background or on the bigger banner. I don´t like this position that much, prefer the way the pink was "growing" to "become" purple on the third square paper, and it was one of the things that made the LO special to me. I´d also downsize the flower sequin. Love the title work - but, with those big letters. don´t you think that the horizontal scrap of paper behind it isn´t necessary? Also love that the button on the big flower isn´t partially hidden by the photo anymore, but I like the crown stamp - I´d probably find out a form to keep it shown, even if partially hidden somewhere. I agree with Mersija about the tab with staples... I like both layouts.

I liked all the changes you made up until you changed out the raspberry paper & moved the elements. I think changing out that 1 paper to black, and changing the alpha on the "Sisters" title were fabulous - it really made everything "pop" more. But I'm no designer either. ;) JMHO...