The Pioneer is known for its design. It is neetly produced newspaper. When Vinod Mehta redesigned this paper a one and half decade ago it was much talked about media discussion. In fact it was a visual treat. Vinod has a keen eye for design and set new design standards. In Indian media context he is considered guru of design. Recently he redesigned Outlook, the magazine he has been editing little over a decade.
While announcing the redesign the present editor Chandan Mitra says : "In fact, The Pioneer was the first national daily to
use colour pictures on the front page. It was also the first to have a colour masthead, an idea recently copied by a venerable publication from the South, which replicated even our colour scheme!"
Chandan has employed Subrata Bhowmick, a designer currently teaching at MICA, Ahmedabad, to undertake his first foray into newspaper designing. Basically he worked for advertising agencies.
He has changed the masthead, logo, folio and other elements. When you effect a change it needs sometime to adjust to new look. Reader has to train his/her eyes. He has to familiarise the course of the reading which he has been doing for many years.
The Pioneer redesign has succeeded in evoking little interest in its new look. It has a very few elements of design worthy to mention and awfully lacks variety. All the elements are strangely vertical which strain the eyeball to roll from top to bottom. Hitherto The Pioneer's editorial and op-ed pages were the main attraction. Unfortunately, the new design has marred them.
Chandan, you better take a second look!
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