Designer’s Note

By Joe Johnson
- Designer, The Capitol Hill Times -

As a young designer, the temptation to write about myself when given the opportunity is powerful. Thankfully, I think The Capitol Hill Times says enough that I don’t need to.

The mandate given to me was to create something that aspired to more than the omnipresent news-grid, to explore possibilities, and, ultimately, to make a long-suffering and tired newspaper relevant again.

So the new team at the Capitol Hill Times started from the ground up. One thing you may already have noticed is a refreshing amount of white space in those columns and features. In the dwindling time and space that newspapers have to report their news, most have elected to treat their publication roughly, using every last crevice to jam more content in front of you in the hopes of competing with the internet and cable news channels.

Not every piece of content is worthwhile. Not all investments are good.

So, accordingly, the new CHT will no longer “fear the white space.” This is just the first of several design decisions that focus on the ergonomics and aesthetics of newspaper publishing. Some of our additions and modifications are more subtle.

Others are much less subtle. The new calendar soaks up that white space and sometimes threatens to overwhelm it. It’s bold and big and demands your attention. We’re pretty proud of it and we hope you find something fun in there too.

Our team has spent countless hours working to make the new CHT worth your time and ours. We’re certain that it’s a good investment, but like any other venture, it will have rough edges and flat spots from time to time. Those uncertainties keep things fresh and exciting. We hope you enjoy the new Capitol Hill Times and we look forward to setting high standards for neighborhood publications.