GAYLE GRIN, AN INDEPENDENT DESIGNER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR IN Nova Scotia
FRONT PAGE CHAMELEONS, BREAKING NEWS DESIGN, EVOLVING DESIGN FOR CHANGING READING HABITS
Responding to changing reader habits with increasing web readership, inspiring a bolder visual focus way we told stories in all media – these are examples of how visuals can be played large in print.
The front pages the National Post, particularly the weekend editions, are CHAMELEONS. They can employ ILLUSTRATION, or a GRAPHIC SOLUTION: even a noir comic strip to illustrate a true crime story. And the nameplate colour might change to red on Remembrance Day.
Comic Book Noir illustrations by Chloe Cushman for a crime story written by Adrian Humphreys. Creative Director and Designer, Gayle Grin
Woman taking selfie at a funeral Illustration, Kagan McLeod Design and Creative Direction, Gayle Grin
Turned the nameplate red in respect of Remembrance Day. Illustration: Kagan McLeod Design and Creative Direction: Gayle Grin A winner at Society for News Design Competition
Comic Book Noir illustrations by Chloe Cushman for a crime story written by Adrian Humphreys. Creative Director and Designer, Gayle Grin
Or the front pages responds to BREAKING WORLD NEWS with photography leading the story telling. Even to the extent of the art wrapping the back and front of the paper and moving the nameplate.
This was designed in desperation. It was a time of cost savings, and we could not use American Associated Press and they were the only ones who had photos of this live event. We sent our own photographer, but he was just arriving and would not have live art before deadline. So I created a front page with dramatic typography on a black background, hoping to convey the horror of that day. Design, Gayle Grin
Design, Gayle Grin
Whe I found this image, I knew how to cover the 3rd day of an ongoing story. It inspired my design. Design, Gayle Grin
This was designed in desperation. It was a time of cost savings, and we could not use American Associated Press and they were the only ones who had photos of this live event. We sent our own photographer, but he was just arriving and would not have live art before deadline. So I created a front page with dramatic typography on a black background, hoping to convey the horror of that day. Design, Gayle Grin
Despite her diminutive stature, Gayle occupies a huge place at the centre of the National Post newsroom. Through her vision, imagination, enthusiasm and drive, she helps push all the staff to think visually as they put together every day’s paper. She is also, quite simply, a wonderful person to work with. The Post wouldn’t be the same without her.
— STEPHEN MEURICE, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, CANADIAN PRESS, MY FORMER BOSS AS NATIONAL POST'S EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, 2010-2015
A visual evolution of the look of the National Post since launch in 1998. An evolution of reading styles, an evolution of the cost cutting shrinking size of the paper, and an evolution of the newspaper's personality.
