Media Solve Group
Designer’s basic check list
Most important: Have available and reference SE’s Brand Guidelines and specific asset templates and guidelines.
Access all guides here: https://mediasolvegroup.box.com/s/uvdofomch35yu9jsq7wi9sehhmjppymf
Typography
• Are you using the correct fonts
• Adjust for ragged endings (end of sentence line doesn't appear odd— too long, too short)
• Adjust for widows (hanging single words on the last paragraph line)
• Consistent leading throughout
• Check bullet point hierarchy styles, sizes, and colors
• Use consistent size and spacing throughout
• In copy, hyperlinks are SE blue, footer/image sources are gray
• Create logical line/column breaks in copy
• Run a basic spell check to catch basic errors (helps the team)
Design
• Are you using the correct color pallet
• Is everything lined up sharply, on the left side grid line vertically—on all pages
• Elements on all pages align properly on invisible grid (SE uses 5 columns)
• Are the images/graphics relative to the content? Do they make sense and support?
Images
• Be sure they are all sharp, and high resolution (300 dpi at near full size)
• Ideally, create vector based images (Illustrator eps, AI, or pdf)
• Place images in Indesign, as opposed to “pasting” artwork into Indesign
• Export interactive pdfs with the highest settings (300dpi, max jpeg quality)
• FLAG poor quality images early on so client can provide better versions
• Make sharp images important. Fuzzy, grainy, poor graphics affect the pieces negatively
• If using a rough placeholder, be sure to put “FPO” on the image
Page-to-page
• Leading is consistent throughout
• Elements aren’t too tight (right up against each other)— give them space, but not too much space
• Using correct color pallet throughout
• Consistent treatments and styles throughout— (pullquotes, sidebars, tabs, full page graphics, etc…)
• No ‘widows’ (hanging single words on last line of paragraph).
• No hanging line words (single words after period at end of line that can be returned to next line)
• Consistent bullet types, sizes, and spacing
• Consistent pull quote treatments, colors, and sizes throughout.
• Does the content seem to be too tight or spread out?
• Does the entire piece need more graphics to break up copy?
Graphical layout and treatment
• Are there more visual or graphic ways to present copy? (ask for assistance early on from Art Director)
• Ask yourself: If it was reading this for the first time, would I:
… Understand the story flow/easy to follow along top/down, left/right, page to page?
… Consider it easy to find important information/content on the page?
… Consider this good quality design—to be in a portfolio as a proud piece?
… Agree that this piece aligns with the samples provided that the client likes
Edit Rounds
• Confirm every comment on the PDF has been addressed before sending back
• (Recommend) using the "checkbox" functionality as confirmation
• Check that changing copy/or graphic didn't automatically change something else
• Run a basic spell check to catch basic errors (helps the team)
Project close out/Approved files
• Remove all watermarks
• Name all files with the provided 998-xxxxx asset number
• In the project's "Final" folder on Box save:
… A zip file of all files, including PDF file
… High-res PDF file (be sure it's NOT saved as static if functionality is built-in)