TOC Mock-ups, Process, and Final Choice

    This article will be about the table of contents (TOC) that I will be creating for my magazine. Included in this blog will be mock-ups that I have created for my TOC page, as well as the editing process/final choice on which layout to use. I will also include analyzation of how they are good or bad, explain the process, and make a final decision on which TOC I will be using in my magazine. 

Mock-ups

     Everything included in this mock-up was made using Canva.

     This TOC was the first mock-up I made. This mock-up includes a "Table of Contents" title, seven subheadings with articles/page numbers, and three sectioned main images. As can be seen, the main images are each sectioned evenly, taking up about 1/3 of the content page; it is also on the left-hand side of the page. The differentiation between the main images draws the reader's attention towards the content page's text (content), while being on the left so there is still room to place subheadings, articles, and page numbers without them completely overlapping. The positive of these images is that, although they are the same photo, each one is edited differently; this creates a very satisfactory and appealing/cool look. The "Table of Contents" line is at the top center. Next, we have the subheadings, with articles and page numbers. All seven of the subheadings, including page numbers and articles, are spaced apart in a column running along the middle/right of the page. The negative of this is that the placement kind of makes the TOC page look like a restaurant menu. The only colors that may be used during editing will be in the subheadings, "Table of Contents" line, or the background (white space) because TOCs are made to tell information about the content within the magazines, not to draw attention towards the color or main image. The font is also very plain other than the sizing and subtitles in bold, due to the same reason as the color scheme; however, I may italicize the article titles (or vice-versa) to create differentiation in the font so as not to be too plain. 

    Everything included in this mock-up was made using Canva.

    This TOC was the second, and final, mock-up I made. This mock-up includes a "Contents" title, publication date, fourteen subheadings, with articles/page numbers, and a main image. As can be seen, the main image is smaller, taking up only the center of the contents page. The small, centered main image draws the reader's attention towards the content page's text (content), while being in the center so there is still room to place subheadings, page numbers, and details around it without them completely overlapping. A positive of this is that the effect of surrounding the main image with subheading articles/detail and page numbers provides a cool look and inclusive feel for the image. The "Contents" line is in the top left of the page, with the publication date below it. Next, we have the subheadings, with articles and details. All fourteen of the subheadings, including page numbers and article details, are close together in a "dog leg layout". This spirals around the photo, creating a cool effect on the main image and more inclusive for the reader, making not only the main image, but the text, pop as well. The negative of this is that the amount of content on this page may become distracting to readers or harder to find what they are looking for. The only colors that may be used will be in the main image and possibly on the subtitle, "Contents" line, or background (white space) because TOCs are made to tell information about the content within the magazines, not to draw attention towards the color or main image. The font is also very plain other than the sizing and subtitles in bold, due to the same reason as the color scheme; however, I may italicize the article titles (or vice-versa) to create differentiation in the font so as not to be too plain. 

Editing Process

    In this section, I will be showing the edits and why I have edited them, as well as the original mock-up to show the comparison between the two.

    Everything included in this mock-up was made using Canva.

    On the left is the TOC which was the first mock-up I made. This mock-up includes a "Table of Contents" title, seven subheadings with articles/page numbers, and three sectioned main images. As can be seen, the main images are each sectioned evenly, taking up about 1/3 of the content page; it is also on the left-hand side of the page. The differentiation between the main images draws the reader's attention towards the content page's text (content), while being on the left so there is still room to place subheadings, articles, and page numbers without them completely overlapping. The positive of these images is that, although they are the same photo, each one is edited differently; this creates a very satisfactory and appealing/cool look. The "Table of Contents" line is at the top center. Next, we have the subheadings, with articles and page numbers. All seven of the subheadings, including page numbers and articles, are spaced apart in a column running along the middle/right of the page. The negative of this is that the placement kind of makes the TOC page look like a restaurant menu. The only colors that may be used during editing will be in the subheadings, "Table of Contents" line, or the background (white space) because TOCs are made to tell information about the content within the magazines, not to draw attention towards the color or main image. The font is also very plain other than the sizing and subtitles in bold, due to the same reason as the color scheme; however, I may italicize the article titles (or vice-versa) to create differentiation in the font so as not to be too plain. 

    On the right is the TOC which is edited based off of the first mock-up I made. This mock-up includes a "Table of Contents" title, seven subheadings with articles/page numbers, and three sectioned main images. As can be seen, the main images are each sectioned evenly, taking up about 1/3 of the content page; it is also on the left-hand side of the page. The differentiation between the main images draws the reader's attention towards the content page's text (content), while being on the left so there is still room to place subheadings, articles, and page numbers without them completely overlapping. The positive of these images is that, although they are the same photo, each one is edited differently; this creates a very satisfactory and appealing/cool look. The "Table of Contents" line is at the top center. Next, we have the subheadings, with articles and page numbers. All seven of the subheadings, including page numbers and articles, are spaced apart in a column running along the middle/right of the page. The negative of this is that the placement kind of makes the TOC page look like a restaurant menu. The only color that I have edited is the background (white space); I changed it to a light brown rather than white, because it is easier to see as well as contrasting with the rest of the page, and TOCs are made to tell information about the content within the magazines, not to draw attention towards the color or main image. The font is also very plain other than the sizing and subtitles in bold, due to the same reason as the color scheme; this was not changed because when I tried to italicize the articles, it looked odd and did not fit into the TOC very professionally.

    Everything included in this mock-up was made using Canva.

    On the left is the TOC which was the second, and final, mock-up I made. This mock-up includes a "Contents" title, publication date, fourteen subheadings, with articles/page numbers, and a main image. As can be seen, the main image is smaller, taking up only the center of the contents page. The small, centered main image draws the reader's attention towards the content page's text (content), while being in the center so there is still room to place subheadings, page numbers, and details around it without them completely overlapping. A positive of this is that the effect of surrounding the main image with subheading articles/detail and page numbers provides a cool look and inclusive feel for the image. The "Contents" line is in the top left of the page, with the publication date below it. Next, we have the subheadings, with articles and details. All fourteen of the subheadings, including page numbers and article details, are close together in a "dog leg layout". This spirals around the photo, creating a cool effect on the main image and more inclusive for the reader, making not only the main image, but the text, pop as well. The negative of this is that the amount of content on this page may become distracting to readers or harder to find what they are looking for. The only colors that may be used will be in the main image and possibly on the subtitle, "Contents" line, or background (white space) because TOCs are made to tell information about the content within the magazines, not to draw attention towards the color or main image. The font is also very plain other than the sizing and subtitles in bold, due to the same reason as the color scheme; however, I may italicize the article titles (or vice-versa) to create differentiation in the font so as not to be too plain. 

    On the right is the TOC which is edited based off of the second, and final, mock-up I made. This mock-up includes a "Contents" title, publication date, fourteen subheadings, with articles/page numbers, and a main image. As can be seen, the main image is smaller, taking up only the center of the contents page. The small, centered main image draws the reader's attention towards the content page's text (content), while being in the center so there is still room to place subheadings, page numbers, and details around it without them completely overlapping. A positive of this is that the effect of surrounding the main image with subheading articles/detail and page numbers provides a cool look and inclusive feel for the image. The "Contents" line is in the top left of the page, with the publication date below it. Next, we have the subheadings, with articles and details. All fourteen of the subheadings, including page numbers and article details, are close together in a "dog leg layout". This spirals around the photo, creating a cool effect on the main image and more inclusive for the reader, making not only the main image, but the text, pop as well. The negative of this is that the amount of content on this page may become distracting to readers or harder to find what they are looking for. The only color that I have edited is the background (white space); I changed it to a light brown rather than white, because it is easier to see as well as contrasting with the rest of the page, and TOCs are made to tell information about the content within the magazines, not to draw attention towards the color or main image. The font is also very plain other than the sizing and subtitles in bold, due to the same reason as the color scheme; this was not changed because when I tried to italicize the articles, it looked odd and did not fit into the TOC very professionally. I have also decided to insert some lines to separate the multiple subtitles/articles from each other in a more organized way.

Conclusion

    In conclusion, I will most likely end up using the edited version of my second mock-up. This is because in contrast to both original, non-edited mock-ups, the color of the background is pleasing to the eye and contrasts perfectly with the plain black text/main image. While my first mock-up is also good at this contrast, the feeling it conveys is not that of a magazine, but more of a restaurant menu.