Columnist confesses: 'I Read the National Enquirer!'

Energetic design
Did I say “energetic”? Maybe I should say “messy” or “crazy.” Whatever you call it, the Enquirer’s design is a kind of frenetic Times Square in print. Here are some of the ways it plays out:

● Hot and contrasting colors. Strong yellows and reds, especially. These draw the eye and create a sense of heat, motion and importance. That’s what gives the Enquirer its signature lowbrow look. The visual cacophony it creates probably is inappropriate for most nonprofits. But the tasteful, muted colors favored by nonprofits these days have the problematic feature of making them so visually dull that it’s hard for readers to be interested in reading them.