The editorial design refers to the creation of a magazine, a newspaper, an insert, etc. It involves the format, the page layout and the cover design as well as the package design according to publication’s demands. It is a composition of texts, images, illustrations and infographics aiming to inform, entertain and educate.
The editorial design could also be defined as "visual journalism" since the designer should actively participate in the process of organizing and managing the information in order to support it and make the best possible layout so that the publication is recognizable and also adaptable in the substract of information. The graphic designer’s work offers actual content and "character" to a publication.
Book design does not require the existence of a repetitive visual identity, unless it is a book in a series. For the book design discipline, the graphic designer uses the same tools as in the editorial design (grids, columns, master pages, stylesheets etc.) but the implementation process is different and the designer has to deal with the content using different methodology and aesthetics. The book cover design is considered essential to the success of a publication. Equally important should be the page layout for the information appearing in the body of a book, which is often neglected and results in an unpleasant reading experience.
The development of web applications in recent decades has found fertile ground in publishing. The design of electronic publications (e-book, e-magazine, etc.) is an established field in graphic design that applies either autonomously or supportively to print design. Digital publications offer innovative features to a project such as user experience, interactivity, connectivity, etc.
© Thanassis Gounaris | ΝΟ IDEA graphic design