Editorial design

Member lesson

The opening spread

Lesson 4 of 10 in Editorial design.

Lesson

An opener has one job, which is to get somebody to begin reading. Everything on it, the image, the headline, the standfirst, the first line, is competing for a decision that takes about a second and a half.

12 columns · 8px gutterspans 5spans 6
A twelve-column grid with gutters, and a block spanning five columns.
An ink drawing of a magazine open on a desk, one page a photograph of a woman rowing and the other a heavy headline bar with a small quote box, with a finger on the first line.
An opening spread with one picture and a clear way in.
Member

The rest of this is for members.

You have read the opening of this lesson. The rest of it comes with a membership.

One membership covers all four courses and Brands.

  • All lessons in the four Learn courses
  • All brand breakdowns in the Brands section
  • All quizzes, flashcards and crosswords
  • An AI teacher on every lesson, for up to 60 questions a day
  • All course material published during the membership

Price

Membership is from $12 a month on the Yearly plan, which is charged at $144 once a year. Lifetime access is $59, paid once.Membership is from ₹200 a month on the Yearly plan, which is charged at ₹2,400 + GST once a year. Lifetime access is ₹3,999 + GST, paid once.

Check what stuck

Members only

You can't take this check yet.

Members answer these 3 questions and keep the ticket for this lesson. Every lesson has one.

  1. Question 1, locked

    Which of these words means this? “The first spread of a feature. Its job is to make you start.”

    • Opener
    • Measure
    • Signposting
    • Furniture
  2. Question 2, locked

    Which of these words means this? “The short paragraph between the headline and the text. Sells the piece.”

    • Margin
    • Standfirst
    • Gutter
    • Baseline grid
  3. Question 3, locked

    Which of these words means this? “An enlarged opening letter. A device with a thousand years behind it and a narrow use.”

    • Rag
    • Leading
    • Drop cap
    • Measure

Elsewhere in the library

Hear about new courses.

Leave an email and we will tell you when something new lands. We do not write often.