Here are some tricks you can use to make your variable data design more interesting:
- Pay Attention to What Doesn't Change
Don't only pay attention at the elements that change, pay attention also to those that don't.You have a title that says: "Admire the beauty of Big Ben". Big Ben probably won't change even if you translate the sentence. Unless you need to move around the word "Big Ben" due to the syntax of the foreign languages, you can change the colour of "Big Ben" or apply some fancy effects to it, while leaving "Admire the beauty of" in black. Result? Noy only have you maintained your black plate change, you have also given emphasis to the word "Big Ben".The same holds for people's names. If you use somebody's picture and then put his/her name as a caption, you can make the caption any colour you want.
- Use Interesting Backgrounds or Graphic Elements.
Use colourful backgrounds, if they integrate with your design without making your text hard to read. Use additional visual cues such as rulers or end signs..
- Break Up the Text With White Space or Frames.
You need to give some breathing room to your reader. Use abundant white space between different articles. You can also use coloured boxes, frames, lines to separate your articles.
Make sure that the elements you choose when you design your flyer, ad, magazine, et al, do integrate with each other. Frames can give you a boxed in looked when overused. Too many elements on a page can make it look crowded and make it actually more difficult for the reader to receive your communication. Use your judgment. You are trying to save money, but first of all you are trying to get a communication across to your reader. That's where your graphic design skills come into play.
