Response: CRMA judging

Yesterday in class we were Preliminary Design Judges for the City & Regional Magazine Association for Spring, 2012. I really enjoyed doing it because I tend to be so focused on the same magazines that I'm used to reading that I can forget about all of the other beautifully designed magazines that are out there. I learned I loved Los Angeles Magazine. It is definitely one that I am not familiar with but one that I would want to read more of now!

Judging these magazines made me appreciate all of the hard work that goes into just one issue of a magazine. There are so many aspects to a magazine, whether it be the type of design used, the color schemes, the writing style, the variety of stories, so much hard work and time goes into every single page. After my judging experience, I decided that in order for me to improve my own designs, I need to read a more variety of magazines rather than my go-tos. I think as a designer I can get myself into a design slump, where I tend to use elements of design that I've previously used before. To get myself out, I think it would be beneficial to look at all types of design, regardless if it is my own style or not, and be able to build off of other ideas.

I'm sure I'm not the only one in this situation, but I have rather high anxiety about getting a job when I graduate this May. After my judging experience, I came to the realization that there really are a TON of magazines out there that I would never even think of. We looked at quite a few city magazines, but there are so many other kinds of magazines available that I regained confidence that I will find a job.