  A check-up for your newspaper's design Not sure if you need a redesign? Want a fresh look at how your design serves readers? Critique can help guide the way | |||
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If you have a question or comment about critiquing services, send it to me here at any time. Articles index. Home page: www.ronreason.com A critique may point out significant suggestions for improving your paper for your readers which your staff might not come by naturally, or quickly. |
By Ron Reason
A good first step toward planning for a redesign is undergoing a thorough critique of your existing format.
Under the most common option, a daily newspaper will send me 3 copies of their weekday edition and one Sunday edition. A weekly paper will send 3-4 editions. I will review and provide an analysis of the effectiveness of your design and editing strategies, including logo, type, color, and architecture of your format. Clients often wish to include copies of their competitors' newspapers, market data, or other background information.
Cost may vary with the complexity of your newspaper's design (number of distinct sections, total number of pages), your circulation, the number of specific questions you have for me to address, and other factors, but generally the service has been regarded as quite affordable. Email me here
to get the ball rolling! Clients also have had me analyze other aspects of their design culture, including budget forms, graphics requests, staff structure, design stylebooks, or design strategies and mission statements.
Want a second set of eyes on any in-house prototyping efforts your team has done toward a redesign or a new design launch? Please email me to inquire about special terms for this service, which could end up saving your staff lots of time and energy and even money (in the form of salaries that could be misspent on internal prototyping gone awry!) The investment will be well worth your time. Said one satisfied critique client, T.R. Hanrahan, publications manager at Missouri Southern State University: "Ron's suggestions for news packaging were taken to heart and resulted in immediate improvements and frequent compliments from readers. I would recommend the service to anyone."
Finally, here's a bonus for those who may wish to consider critique in advance of redesigning: any payment made for critique services may be deducted later from the cost of a redesign contract.Back to top of page |
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Updated: July 2007. Email me here
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