Design is universal in many ways. When you have the bases down, they can be applied in different areas and you will find things in common between disciplines which at first glance have nothing to do with one another. Based on this logic, we can find architecture with a composition argument similar to that of a poster or that the golden ratio can be applied, both in a photograph and in a song.
In this same plane are the concepts shared by editorial design and UI (User interface) and UX (User experience) design.
In general, editorial design could be found in print media such as magazines, newspapers, brochures, etc. However, as information has moved to digital platforms, editorial design has had to evolve and adapt to new user needs. Even still, designers must bear in mind that if the foundations of editorial design are not kept, the message that is sought to be transmitted may be lost.
Below, I share 4 important factors that you must take into account to keep the bases of editorial design in your web interface designs:
HIERARCHY AND ORGANIZATION. One of the first steps in most design processes is content analysis. Understand which ideas will have priority in the composition and how to organize the messages in such a way that the user can understand them and not lose interest.
COMPOSITION. Once you have the information organized and know what you want to transmit, composition decisions are made. You analyze if you need three columns, three bullets or if you distribute it in one column above and two below, all in favor of understanding the message.
CONCEPT. Similarly, this is an idea that many disciplines share. The concept in editorial design, as well as in interface design, has to do with the essence of the message, with the personality of the issuer (either brand or person). Here it will be decided whether to use a classic and conservative font or a simple and modern font, if we use neutral tones or more vibrant tones.
STYLES. It is important in both disciplines to maintain the styles to make it easier for the user to read, that is, preserve the font and size of the titles and subtitles, keep the same logic and ensure legibility in text boxes (optimize sizes and contrasts), this will make the reading more effective.
In addition to the previous points, we can find more examples on how the design of digital interfaces is an evolution of editorial design and how the bases of design in general are universal. If we understand that, we can make an effort to study them, understand them and apply them in the development of our projects.
At Mijo! Brands, a creative digital marketing agency with headquarters in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, we have a team of professionals in all disciplines that works to offer you solutions that correctly convey your messages to your clients. We make sure to preserve the design bases for our projects to be successful.
Leonardo Peña is a Graphic Designer at Mijo! Brands. He studied at the University Center for Art, Architecture and Design (CUAAD) at the University of Guadalajara. His passion for graphic design only equals his passion for coffee. He is known by his designer name “Tlacuilo-man” (tlacuilo: the one who speaks by painting).
He is eclectic in every way, from his design to his musical tastes. In addition to being a designer, he is an organic coffee roaster and if he’s not at his computer, you’ll find him experimenting with some type of roasting. He loves spending time with his family, including playing tea with his daughter.
