News design is essentially the procedure of organizing content on a paper page, in accordance with visual and editorial guidelines and objectives. Main editorial objectives in news design are the arrangement of news items by category, while visual considerations consist of balanced, unobtrusive inclusion of relevant advertising and readability. The ultimate object of news design is to inform the public about events and topics pertinent to the larger public interest. It must therefore appeal to as many potential readers as possible within the given limitations.
This can best be illustrated through the use of graphics. Graphics and infographics present visual cues that readers can relate to, which in turn enables the news design to communicate effectively with the reader. For example, newspapers often employ cartoons or other figure-based illustrations for news reports. This is because cartoonish news designs provide a unique opportunity to express emotions in a way that is not possible with text-based news designs. In addition, a well-designed cartoon or other figure would probably stand out from the background of the actual content and thus deliver important information to readers in an attractive manner.
A prime example of this can be seen in the New York Times website and its news design. The york times website features cartoons that appear at the side bar of the website next to the section on sports, along with headlines and other explanatory text. The reason for this is that the design team at the New York times sought to reproduce the aesthetic qualities of cartoons found in popular children’s television programs such as Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. The result is an attractive website that appeals to a wide range of web users while communicating appropriate information to each target group. The design provides a smooth interface for browsing through news articles, which further encourages visitors to spend more time exploring information contained there.
The New York times web design also exhibits another interesting example of an innovative web design. The site utilizes a large preview window to provide a “gut feel” for what the final web design will look like. As the user types in a search query on the browser’s address bar, the browser displays a “gut feel” preview of the page, allowing visitors to get a feel for how the page will look once the “guts” have been written. This innovative design enables the user to select specific elements of the large preview window, allowing them to customize the final page even more than they initially intended. This is useful because it allows the web design company to construct the page in a way that best meets the needs of the target audience.
There are other notable examples of innovative web design. A case in point is the Washington Post web design, which is impressive because of the large preview window provided when a user hovers over the home page. When a person searches for a keyword, a preview of the page is opened so that they can see the entire article without having to scroll down the page. Along these lines, the Wall Street Journal web design gives the user the ability to view the entire piece without taking a tour through the content.
Newsletters are always written for various audiences, and web designers must constantly think of new ways to reach their target audience. It is important that news design incorporate various styles of media in order to reach as many people as possible. In the case of newspapers, this can mean using photographs and charts. In addition, news designers should be open to different creative ideas from their clients, as well. Many newspapers are now working with freelance designers in an effort to make sure that their news letters are informative and interesting.