A brochure is a paper collateral that informs people about a product, service, or location. Informing with a brochure can be quick and cost-effective.
In corporate design brochures and booklets are a standard tool for promotion and advertising. They are tiny books or magazines which lay around in conference halls, offices and waiting rooms. Sometimes they contain an annual report of the company or showcase the portfolio of an artist. Brochures can also be included in CDs and DVDs; however, usually they are given away as freebies (e.g. they may contain a calendar or some poster inside).
In either case, booklets serve advertising purposes and since they are usually short (max. 20-25 pages) they need to look good and be informative in order to focus users’ attention and effectively convey the message.
PROJECT 4: BROCHURE DESIGN
Your project is to design a brochure for a product, service, or organization of your choosing. Look at examples found thru links here on the site.
Creative Brief questions: Answer these and give to me before continuing.
- Background — what is the background of the project? who is it going to be created for?
- Target audience — what do they already think about this subject? Is there anything that should be avoided?
- Objectives — what is to be accomplished?
- Single message — what is the one thing to tell the audience? What is the single thing they should remember about the offering?
- Mandatory elements — what mandatory elements such as the client’s logo, address, phone number do I need to use?
Brochure Folds
Procedure
Step 1: Research! Learn about your chosen
Step 2: Brainstorm! This can take many forms: doodling, sketching, writing lists of related words, etc. Each of these are performed with pencil and paper.
Step 3: Create the Grid that will act as the skeleton on which you build your design. Consider different layouts, images, typography, compositions, etc… all of which can have variety while remaining unified by the underlying grid. Develop thumbnails and turn the best ones into more refined comps for your layouts. Remember to utilize a GRID.
Step 4: Begin your composition in InDesign. Use what you’ve learned in your lessons to create an interesting, innovative, eye-catching, brilliant, elegant, mind-bogglingly great brochure. There will be no 8.5″x11″ sheets of paper folded into thirds. Use interesting paper-stock, torn edges, embossing, or whatever you can think of to make this brochure truly memorable.
Step 5: Print out samples throughout the design process, even if it’s at a smaller scale, just so you can have an idea of how this thing will work. Then print off samples at actual size, even if it’s cropped off, so you can get an idea of type-size, and other details.
Step 6: Show it to people. See if it works. Rework, revise.
This brochure should:
- look good and work well
- capture the imagination
- utilize creative and innovative production techniques
- clearly communicate all of the information provided
- fit in to the brand of your chosen client (company, organization, etc.)
- utilize images, color, graphics and the logo for that company, organization, etc.
Here are some interesting examples of great brochure designs:
http://www.designyourway.net/blog/inspiration/print-inspiration-from-55-splendid-brochure-designs/
http://thedesigninspiration.com/articles/30-best-brochure-designs-for-your-inspiration/
http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/galleries/brochure-design/
http://www.behance.net/search?search=Brochure+design
http://crazypixels.net/burst-of-creativity-collection-of-awesome-brochure-designs-for-inspiration/
The elements of a good brochure design
- Appropriate format
- Use a Modular or Column Grid
- White space
- Wise choice of colors
- Attention to typographic details
Brady MVCC Digital Design 