Creating my double page spread layouts using in-design

After having a tutorial in in-design I have begun creating my double page spreads. At the moment they don't have much context, and make use of the Text filler option, rather than saying something which is justified.

I chose to place a white circle around the image of the t shirt because the darkness of the image blended into the background, so I feel this breaks up the layout well. 

This page will contain less type, more images, and a smaller main image, in the future.

After the crit, I have chosen to go for a 4 column on each page style, and have changed the design from a black background with white text, to a dark desaturated photograph, but stuck with the white text, I feel this combination works well and the background doesn't distract the audience's eyes from the images or text due to the opacity being reduced.

The Background relates to Christianity and it very beautiful to look at alone, but I have reduced the opacity on the image so that it doesn't confuse the viewer.

I have included lines along the bottom and top of the page which act as borders and an indication to where the margins of the page are. This is informed by my research into magazine layout. 

My initial page developed from being on a black background, to using the chosen image as my background, and making use of 4 columns per page, as was suggested in my feedback.

At this stage, my pages are just a rough layout of what I intend for them to be, they will not have as much text as is present at the moment, and will contain statistics and more photographs. 

Whilst creating these spreads, I had a piece of A3 paper infront of myself so that I could consider how big the images would be in scale to the double page spread. 

Layout Design Final crit Feedback:

In preparation for the final crit, I printed off an almost completed double page spread which involved Christ the Redemeer, a black background and a lot of lorem ipsum body text.

 I asked certain questions to prove an answer which I could build my design from, I asked:

1.The final spread will be in B&W, do you think this/the black background works?

2.Aerial is my current font, any recommendations of 'Christian'/nature fonts to use?

3.Should I stick with this style/trend in my final design?

The questions I asked I feel cover all the elements of this page, the Black background, the B&W imagery, the font, the layout and the style of the piece. 

 Feedback:

1. Like the white text on top of the black background, give a serious tone, it works. 
2. Aerial is simple and functional, works well for large bodies of text
3. Style is serious and informative, would benefit from colours and more white space. Large bodies of text are overwhelming.

1. White on black is nice. Colour elsewhere, in the photos. Too monochrome atm.
2. Font works. Contemporary and clear.
3. More black space and switch up the layout..

1. More minimal for maximum effect.
2. Times new roman reflects christianity, old fashioned.
3. Grid system could be changed. 4 columns per page.

1. White and black gives it a formal tone.
2. Traditional font which represents Christianity would work.
3. Colour somewhere else. Text is overwhelming.

1. The black is too dark, surely choose white. Doesn't fit the topic.
2. Play around with spacing and margins.

1. Text stands out, make the images stay good quality.
2. Try a roman font.
3. Requires subtle changes such as text placement, image composition.

1. The black will need consistent balance with white images.
2. Feeling of non-bias and learning.
3. Black and white links good + evil, contrasting opinions, it works with Christianity.

Conclusion

From the criticismal feedback I have received, I have discovered that the audience feel my Black and white layout works well, aslong as I keep a theme of using bright white images, or even using colour images in the publication.

I have been informed by some that the Aerial font works, it suggests non bias and learning where others claim a Roman font would represent the cause better, something I could experiment with.

The layout must be changed from 2 columns to 4 per A4 size as this will break up the large body of text.

I feel I have benefitted from this final crit, and the questions that I asked have given me the knowledge to create a series of double page spreads which work effectively as a set, and explain the cause to a respectable level.

My choice of font has been questioned, but that is something I can further experiment with in an attempt to make the product as fit for purpose as it most possibly can be.