Looking at the before and after of the Yakima Herald-Republic classified section, it becomes very clear how much good design matters. The top image is the former design; it is cluttered, colorless, and confusing. There is so much text that your eyes don't know where to look, especially towards the bottom. The upper right corner features a series of numbers and letters that, after a few glances, the reader can figure out is actually three different phone numbers. As we were warned by our professor, the use of multiple typefaces can be confusing, and this is a prime example. The "509" area code is especially confusing; it is so much smaller than the rest of the phone number, and because of where it is, it just seems float purposelessly. There is so much information in such a small space that, in my opinion, it makes the reader not want to read it at all.

The "after" design is a breath of fresh air. The color definitely makes it more attractive, but its design is what really draws the reader. It looks clean and organized. All the contents are neatly listed to the bottom right, and all the pricing information from the original design has been eliminated. Only the necessary information is left, which allows the reader to actively seek (rather than be bombarded with) the information they want. The bottom design is visually pleasing, and therefore, inviting. And that is very important for a section like the classifieds. A successful classified section will attract readers and sell its contents, so when readers are turned-off, that could mean the end of that section, as so many papers have learned firsthand.

What do you think of the before and after? What are the benefits of a well-designed page? What do you think about the trend of newspaper classified sections coming to an ending?