Here’s a quick design tip on design from issue 43 of Before&After Magazine.
Draw the reader into your story by adding to your page a small object or two from the scene. This softens hard edges and gives your layout an inviting, human dimension.
The Jeeps are big and mechanical and coming at you! By adding objects that are small enough to hold in your hand, you’ll warm the scene by giving it a human scale. Natural objects like stones and leaves serve to soften straight, artificial edges.
For the most tactile look, remove the object from its original background, and place it right on the page! Add a hint of shadow.
CreativePro members can download original content from Before&After Magazine, a beloved resource that taught a generation of newly minted digital designers how to design and communicate effectively with the written word. See our archive here.
© John McWade/Before&After Magazine, courtesy of Gaye Anne McWade.
This article was last modified on January 4, 2026
This article was first published on August 30, 2024
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