MAYA CLEMENT
Creating layouts is one of my favorite things to do in the program because I get to test my creative abilities and experiment with different things to make the page look the best visually. Watching all of the elements come together is really exciting because they start looking really cohesive instead of just a vision. I have had a lot of experience with design and I am able to use Photoshop, InDesign and Canva easily.
2021-22 Issue 3 Variety Layouts
For the third Newsmagazine of the 2021-22 school year, I had the opportunity to design the variety section spreads. While neither of these layouts ended up getting published, I really enjoyed my first experience with InDesign and Photoshop even though it was difficult to learn how to navigate both platforms. I liked getting to test my creative abilities and find ways to make all of the elements of the story look cohesive and unique.
Quest for Athens' best: barbeque beatdown
This was another layout I designed for the third Newsmagazine of the 2021-22 school year. I designed this layout from a pre-existing layout, but I got to plan and add new elements such as the pigs fighting at the top and the picnic blanket square behind the sandwich. I thought that it was amazing to be able to design something that will be published in the magazine.
CMS Owls take flight
This is my favorite layout that I have designed ever because of the use of photos. For a News layout, I was not able to utilize colors, different font or graphics like I do for my typical Variety layouts. Instead, I was able to rely on photos. The amount of text was very small for a four-page layout, so the photos both took up space and made the layout more engaging. When someone is reading through the newsmagazine, the wide variety of photos is going to draw their attention. Organizing each photo, caption, pull quote and text box was like a puzzle. I went through so many versions of the layout because I wanted everything to be perfect and unique. This layout is one that I will remember forever. This layout completely displays my passion for design.
Issue 3 Cultural buzz
This was the last layout I designed from the third Newsmagazine of the 2021-22 school year. I used a template to complete this layout, but I designed where each of the blurbs were going to go and I did the photo illustrations for the reviews. I enjoyed creating this layout because it was hard to put all of the elements in an order that made sense, but when it all came together, it was really exciting to see.
Competitive spirit
This was the first layout I did for an editorial. When I chose this visual idea, I envisioned it being in the middle with wrap around text, but I didn't expect it to be as difficult to execute as it was. It took me a long time to figure out how to work the text wrap and make it even on all sides. In the end, I was really proud that I was able to accomplish my vision and I learned a new skill on InDesign.
Cultivating a dream
This was one of my favorite layouts that I have created because I had a lot of fun picking different images and creating multiple versions of the layout to find out which one looked the best. I knew I wanted into include multiple images that were different shapes and sizes so I worked around the photos and focused on finding the best place for them. I love how this layout turned out and I am really proud of it because I designed it without a template.
On the issues: governor's race
This was one of the most difficult layouts I have designed. There were so many elements that I needed to include, but I struggled making it look good. I had a lot of ideas for this layout, but I wasn't able to execute any of them the way I wanted to. Because of this, I went through many versions of this layout. In the end, I think that the product turned out amazing and much better than what I envisioned.
Cultivating a dream
I designed this layout from a template, but I had to alter it in order to match this story. On the right page, I had to pick specific images that told the story, but also fit in the spaces without being blocked by the circle. For the left page, the story was shorter than expected so I had experiment with different column lengths and widths in order to make the story look good on the page.
2022-23 Issues 1 layouts
I designed both of these layouts for a second time during the 2022-23 school year. I loved getting to work with these templates again because I was able to see how much quicker I was able to complete everything compared to the first time. I was able to enjoy the process a lot more and was able to be a bit more creative because I wasn't focused on learning how to work InDesign.
CCHS' family man
This layout was difficult in terms of getting all of the elements to fit on the page. I knew what I wanted the layout to look like, but having to work around the photos were difficult. I had to experiment a lot with the length of each text box. I feel like some of the elements ended up being closer together than I would have liked, but, overall, I think the layout turned out well.
Tis the streaming season
I loved designing this layout. I got to be really creative with the fonts and how the stories would be displayed. I had a specific vision for these stories, but when I actually executed it, it didn't look as good as I expected. I then shifted to this layout which I liked so much more. While the first attempt didn't work out, I still enjoyed doing the design because I had never designed two stories on the same page like this before.
Winter holiday traditions
This layout was extremely difficult to create because I didn't have an exact vision of what I wanted it to look like. I looked at some old ODYSSEY Newsmagazines to find some inspiration. I ended finding a layout with colored boxes similar to the ones on this layout and I decided to base the layout off of those. Once I knew what I was going to do, I had fun designing the layout. Watching all of the elements come together was really exciting because of how challenging the creation process was.
Leaving paper behind
I helped the Editor-in-Chief complete this layout. I primarily worked on the right side of the page, but I also experimented with the text box on the left side. In addition, I reformatted the infographic the writer created so that it would fit on the page. This layout involved a lot of trial and error in order to find the best way all of the photos and captions fit on the pages. I learned the importance of planning photos with the layout in mind while creating the layout because of the problems I ran into with the visuals.
CCHS FFA week
I designed this infographic to accompany one of my News stories for the ODYSSEY Media Group website. I decided to make an infographic instead of just explaining the content in the story to make the information more clear for the reader. The infographic is simple, but it explained what activities the Clarke Central High School FFA chapter held each day.
COVID-19: Close Contacts and Testing
I designed this infographic to accompany a story on COVID-19 data collection. The infographic is meant to show how the cases get reported at school as well as the local numbers of COVID-19 cases. I struggled with trying to make everything fit on the infographic without it getting too cluttered, but in the end I think that it all works well together.
Multimedia
I created both of these infographics as multimedia for my Newsmagazine editorials for when they were posted to the website. I had a lot of fun picking the images that went on the page, but I did run into difficulties with spacing and making sure all of the information I wanted to say fit in the boxes. I think that visually, the second infographic turned out a lot better than the first infographic because of the theme. Overall, I think both of them conveys the information in an easy to read format which is the goal of an infographic.
Creative Writing Project January 2023
For the Creative Writing Project, a set of assignments with a literary arts focus, I designed my cover using Photoshop. I had used the application to cut out photos or graphics for layouts previously, but this design used a completely different set of skills that I didn't know I had. I had to edit the font, applying shadows, outlines and colors to make it stand out against the photo. I had to take the image of the eye and blend it into the waves. I had a lot of fun trying to do this and make it look like they were just one photo to begin with. While the blending isn't perfect, I think it went very well for my first time using that tool on Photoshop.
Creative Writing Project December 2023
While this design was not as intricate as the one I completed at the beginning of the year, it was difficult in other ways. It was challenging to images that fit the dimensions needed while also looking good together. I wanted them to be cohesive, but also get the idea across that the theme was focused on the main four earth elements. I think it turned out well, but I definitely could have pushed myself even further to think more outside of the box like I did previously.