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)