Slanted Margaritas in Black and White.

Magazines & Models in Black and white. 

Upon first seeing this ad, many things stood out. First, the large s draws the attention of the reader to the center of the page up the character to the dot of the I next to it. This  leads the reader to the title of the article, as well as a description of the subject matter. Making it clear to the reader what the topic is and what content is being portrayed. This technique is followed by a series of strategically placed lines that are used as barriers to separate the two different columns of text and the tagline. Not only do these lines create structure and aid in the understanding of what is being read, but they also create separation and definitive boundaries adding organization to the overall design of the article. The image of Emma Watson to the right of the text also  plays a large part in the core design principles at work. The picture chosen is of Emma Watson gazing into the camera, locking eyes with the reader, enticing and enchanting the reader to not turn the page and read the article. Also, the title of the article “The Siren” and the image work hand in hand to create a metaphor on a mythological scale. In greek mythology, the sirens used the prowess of  verbal communication to entice the sea men of the Aegean, In this article, Emma Watson uses her eyes to entice the reader to read the article instead of turning the page and moving on. 

Slanted Resumes in Margarita Vision. 

After the mythological mayhem of the Emma Watson article,  the next subject of  analysis is the resume of Christina Jones. Initially, attention is brought to the way the text has been slanted, kitty corner to the page. This adds creativity, something that will make it stand out to a potential employer instead of finding itself in the circular file cabinet. Space also plays a role in what this resume is trying to communicate, the double column system used adds structure and organization, utilizing the space on the page in order to cohesively fit the most relevant information on the page in the most eye grabbing of spots. This use of proxemics goes hand in hand with the length of the I in the name and the dual purpose behind it. Not only is it an I but it also acts as a timeline for education, skills and work history. This line will either draw the eyes of the viewer to start at the top of the page, where the name and contact information of the applicant is and down the timeline, or vice versa. Either way, it is a very effective method of visual communication to utilize when attempting to force the gaze of the reader to a certain part of the page. The font of the print is also something that stands out, due to the content of the resume and the field in which it is involved, the hollywood, almost nightlife esque font makes the content pop and highlights all the parts that matter.

When analyzing anything visually, one must remember that design principles can work hand in hand using one thing to draw the eyes to something much more significant as far as the content is concerned. This doesn't just apply to the subliminal, but the literal as well. From imagery to the text structure, everything that is put on a page is communicating something,  and it is up to the author to make sure that what is being communicated is as enticing as a siren is to a greek sailor.