World's best designed papers?

The world's best designed newspapers were named this week. Two of the top three are German, all are big read newspapers with traditional titlepieces, serif display and have swathes of space to play with. There isn't a tabloid or compact to be seen. Equally scarce are any advertisements. The winners, chosen, from 240 entries, are der Freitag (Berlin), Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, and The New York Times. It's a real accolade for der Freitag which is a weekly with a circulation  of 12,400. Take a look at the pages in detail on Flickr on Society for News Design and let us know what you think.

Design Clinic - juxtaposition

Make sure you always see the adverts. Yes, I know ad managers and others will say it is impossible but it isn't. I have dozens of examples ... many of which are embarrassing and some are downright insulting.

Clients from hell

Thanks to designer Steve Cowell of Steve Cowell Associates for the following exchange.

Client: “We like the green, but it’s just a little too green. Can you use our green?”

Me: “That is your green.”

Client: “Oh, well it looks more limey. We want it more like our green.”

Me: “The limey green is your green. It is exactly what is used on your logo type.”

Client: “Oh, okay, well then can you change it by one?”

Me: “One what? Do you want it lighter, or darker?”

Client: “No, just change it by one.”

Me: “I don’t understand what ‘change it by one’ means. I can make it lighter, darker, more yellow, more cyan… But when I change it, it’s not going to be the same as your corporate green.”

Client: “Okay, well let’s just change it by one and have a look.”

Welcome to my world!