Ed Henninger: Little things mean a lot

A one-hit wonder, Kitty Kallen topped the charts in 1954 with “Little Things Mean a Lot.”



“Blow me a kiss from across the room,

Say that I’m nice when I'm not.

Touch my hair as you pass my chair,

Little things mean a lot…”

More than 50 years later, it’s still true: Little things mean a lot.

I’ve often mentioned that God is in the details—because it’s attention to the details that carries a newspaper’s design to excellence.

Here’s a quick look at some of the details that make your paper better:

Baseline grid: If you’re still not aligned to the baseline, get there.

Tracking: Not too tight, please. And keep it consistent.

Word spacing: Ditto.

Type size: It has to be large enough to make the text easy to read.

Spacing between packages: To help readers navigate the page.

Lighter rules: For a classier look.

Photo frames: Use ’em.

Picas and points: They’re more precise than fractions of an inch.

Paragraph indents: Not too much, not to little.

Gutters: A pica within a package…more elsewhere.

Bylines: Big enough to be seen, not so large that they dominate.

Photo credits: Small…and tucked out of the way.

Taglines: Enough to tell me something about the writer…but brief.

Headline type: Classic. Readable. Credible.

Color: Controlled. Consistent. Classy.

Photo size: Always a dominant photo on the page.

Photo placement: Over optical center.

Drop shadows: Soft. Light. Consistent.

Those who say design is all about taste just don’t know what they’re talking about. It’s about paying attention to the details…and thinking about what we do.

FREE DESIGN EVALUATION: Ed Henninger offers design evaluations—at no charge and with no obligation—to readers of this column. For more information, check the FREEBIE page on Ed’s web site: www.henningerconsulting.com

ED HENNINGER is an independent newspaper consultant and the Director of Henninger Consulting. Offering comprehensive newspaper design services including redesigns, workshops, staff training and evaluations. E-mail: edh@henningerconsulting.com. On the web: www.henningerconsulting.com. Phone: 803-327-3322.