Tuesday, 26 October 2010
Saturday, 23 October 2010
Contents page analysis
My magazine will be targeted at readers who enjoy Rnb/Hip Hop. Therefore, I have looked at various contents pages so I have an idea of what reader will expect to see. I have looked a variety of magazines with different genres.
Thursday, 21 October 2010
Music magazines research
Before Designing and producing our music magaazine, me and my colleague will carry out research on three well known music magazines. They are KERRANG!, NME and Q. The reason for researching into the current market of magazine is to see the competition and know what to include in our magazine in order to make it aesthetically appealing to the reader.
I have shown my research in a simple, yet effective Powerpoint presentation using Microsoft Powerpoint 2007
Me and my partner have brainstormed ideas of our target audience, the name, theme and house styles:
I have shown my research in a simple, yet effective Powerpoint presentation using Microsoft Powerpoint 2007
Here is my Powerpoint Presentation:
Me and my partner have brainstormed ideas of our target audience, the name, theme and house styles:
Preliminary Task
Before starting my unit 1 foundation portfolio in Media Studies, I will be undertaking a preliminary task where I have been asked to produce a front page of school magazine using desktop publishing and editing software. The majority of the magazine will be created within school on a programme called serif. At first, getting to grips with programme seemed a challenge because the interface and tools were new to me, although i soon realised serif is similar to photo shop, therefore it did not take me long get used the software. I am currently working with a colleague, therefore we can both have an input on the aesthetics of the magazine.
Me and my colleague have only just started our magazine cover. We will make alot more changes and I will note each step down in this blog.
Firstly, I captured various images using my Blackberry smartphone. Before me and my colleague decided on which image would be suitable for our magazine cover, we picked three potential images that caught our eye and stood out from the others.
This was our first choice, showing a wide shot type. the subject, being our classmate is standing formally, not looking directly at the camera. This is because we wanted the reader to focus more on background which includes the 'Hitchin Girls' School' main entrance board. The purpose of the board is to inform and attract the visiters attention, therefore we thought it would portray the same message across to our magazine readers. There is also a plant pot, which will attract the readers attention by being colourful and vibrant. However, overall the image is not busy enough and looks rather plain, therefore both disagreed on not including this image on the front cover of our magazine.
After debating over the previous three images, me and colleague chose a suitable image that would be featured on our front cover. The image shows four of my classmates placed in a diagonal line. There are three boys and one girl. The female, who is placed second, attracts most of the readers attention because the ratio is 3 boys to 1 girl. The shadow of each person emphasis's the size of my class mates. The image creates the illusion of distance because of the each person stand behind each other. It is also busy and the facial expressions of each person is vibrant and happy.
However, whilst designing my front cover I realised the chosen image needed to be cropped, so it is detailed enough to see whilst being able to include the essentials such as background, shadow and people.
Draft cover:
The name of our magazine is 'Consortium' come from the fact that our magazine will consist of pupils from Hitchin Boys' School and Hitchin Girls' School, which is the consortium. My colleague and I realised that the title did not stand not enough. I filled the text black and used the embossing effect to create a unique look.
There are various articles that I could include in my magazine such as:
- Staff reviews, which would interest parents.
- Fashionable styles, which attract sixth formers.
- Information on the school disco, appealing to the younger pupils of the school.
- Photos from recent school trips, attracting the younger pupils so they have an idea of what to look forward to.
- Exam results, informing parents on their children's achievements
My magazine will be mostly aimed at school pupils aged 11-18. Although their will be a market for parents and teachers who are interested in the school.
The articles will be coordinated, written and edited by me and my colleague.
The articles will be coordinated, written and edited by me and my colleague.
Me and my colleague found out that we could not have our chosen front cover because, although it looked suitable, the brief states that the front cover image can only be medium close up.
Realising that we had made a mistake, we both came up with changes that were to be made to our magazine. Firstly, the chosen photo was wrong, therefore we will take a new photo that will meet the brief specifics, i.e medium close up.
Looking at our magazine now, it is blank. there will be more text needed, in order to attract the readers attention. we will used brighter colours then our original cover, because it is dull and in order for the magazine to stand out, there needs to be contrast. The text will be a speech bubbles and shapes filled with colour in order to grab the readers attention.
'Lures' are needed in order to inform the reader what the content in this magazine will be. It tends to be smaller then the front cover image because it is not meant to keep the front cover busy. We already have one, showing a sixth former who is struggling with there work.
We wil also include a competition which will be targeted at the whole school. Students will get the chance to win a brand new iPhone 4. It will cost £1 to enter and a the winner will be decided by a lunch time draw. Having a competition throughtout the whole school will bring in more money for the school and alot more people will be interested.
We will have bright bold text around the picture, which willl attract the reader and make them want to open the page.
We will also keep the masthead 'Consortium' because the magazine appeals to all three schools. To represent that further, we will place images of all three school bagdes.
The target audience is 11-18 year olds because they are the pupils of the school. It may also attract parents.
We will also keep the masthead 'Consortium' because the magazine appeals to all three schools. To represent that further, we will place images of all three school bagdes.
The price wil be 50p because it is cheap and will help the school raise funds.
Draft cover 2:
When we realised that our chosen image could be used, we decided to first play with the other images we had taken. The image of three students at the top, could not be used on its own because it was to big and became pixelated once stretched. Therefore we decided to also use the original image and the new image, however crop them in order to match the brief. The overall outcome of this magazine cover was not good. Me and my colleague both thought it was too busy and did not look professional. the masthead was covering one of students head. it did not look professional.
After deciding the contents of the the front cover, me and colleague needed a new image that matched the brief, which included a medium close up of a student. We used a picture of one of my peers, which was taken quickly and effectively.
Final Image:
This photo is effective because it uses a plain grey background which does not distract the readers attention and the image also uses a attractive young lady, Whos facial expression is happy and welcoming. This makes the reader want to find out more the magazine, therefore opening the next page. This girl is also popular amongst her peers therefore, students in the entire school will want to know the story behind her being on the cover.
Looking closer at this image, we realised once again it is not quite a medium close up shot. therefore me and my colleague cropped the image, to make it suitable.
Final cover:
As you can see, we have kept the masthead, because of its originally. It will give us brand identity.
We have also used 'Lures' which attract the reader. Cleverly, we have also added text going above the image reading 'Work getting you down' in a size 14pt font size and pearl white. Then having the last word, being 'Down' which goes down the side of the image, this emphasises the fact that sixth former's head is down in her books, symbolising she is struggling.
The next image is a competition, asking if readers are interest in receiving a new gadget, iPhone 4. This little picture will attract alot of readers attention because they have a chance of winning a new product. The image shows another one my peers from Hitchin Boys' School holding and iPhone 4, clearly showing what is up for grabs and has a cheerful facial expression. There is a speech bubble, filled in white to stand out on the page, with purple text asking if this person could be you. By aiming a question at the reader, they become more involved. Purple text on a white background works well and really compliments the whole front cover. We have used capital letters in the 'YOU' because it will catch the eye of the reader.
Me and my colleague chose to add all three badges of the consortium schools because that is who our magazine is aimed at, hence the masthead being 'Consortium'. They each had a white background, however we used the transparency tool to remove the white background.
Lastly, we included the price, in purple text which was situated within a white filled star. Keeping the same scheme as the image above. Readers will become familiarised with the consistency.
After completing this task, i have learnt that there are various aspects to take into consideration when creating a magazine front cover. I used lures in order to attract the reader however there is not enough detail overall. I have left alot of blank space because i wanted the readers eyes to be attracted to the main image because this magazine is targeted towards high school kids. Therefore, having an image of a young girl with a happy facial expression will give off a warm, happy vibe to the readers.
When creating my official magazine cover, i will consider my target audience and use more detail.
Me and my partner also created a contents page. It was a quick draft:
Me and my partner wanted to create a simple yet effective page, meaning it would stand out and attract the reader. we used large images and a question, engaging the reader. We also used slanted text to identify page numbers, which made it aesthetically appealing for the reader.
Draft cover 2:
When we realised that our chosen image could be used, we decided to first play with the other images we had taken. The image of three students at the top, could not be used on its own because it was to big and became pixelated once stretched. Therefore we decided to also use the original image and the new image, however crop them in order to match the brief. The overall outcome of this magazine cover was not good. Me and my colleague both thought it was too busy and did not look professional. the masthead was covering one of students head. it did not look professional.
After deciding the contents of the the front cover, me and colleague needed a new image that matched the brief, which included a medium close up of a student. We used a picture of one of my peers, which was taken quickly and effectively.
Final Image:
This photo is effective because it uses a plain grey background which does not distract the readers attention and the image also uses a attractive young lady, Whos facial expression is happy and welcoming. This makes the reader want to find out more the magazine, therefore opening the next page. This girl is also popular amongst her peers therefore, students in the entire school will want to know the story behind her being on the cover.
Looking closer at this image, we realised once again it is not quite a medium close up shot. therefore me and my colleague cropped the image, to make it suitable.
Final cover:
As you can see, we have kept the masthead, because of its originally. It will give us brand identity.
We have also used 'Lures' which attract the reader. Cleverly, we have also added text going above the image reading 'Work getting you down' in a size 14pt font size and pearl white. Then having the last word, being 'Down' which goes down the side of the image, this emphasises the fact that sixth former's head is down in her books, symbolising she is struggling.
The next image is a competition, asking if readers are interest in receiving a new gadget, iPhone 4. This little picture will attract alot of readers attention because they have a chance of winning a new product. The image shows another one my peers from Hitchin Boys' School holding and iPhone 4, clearly showing what is up for grabs and has a cheerful facial expression. There is a speech bubble, filled in white to stand out on the page, with purple text asking if this person could be you. By aiming a question at the reader, they become more involved. Purple text on a white background works well and really compliments the whole front cover. We have used capital letters in the 'YOU' because it will catch the eye of the reader.
Me and my colleague chose to add all three badges of the consortium schools because that is who our magazine is aimed at, hence the masthead being 'Consortium'. They each had a white background, however we used the transparency tool to remove the white background.
Lastly, we included the price, in purple text which was situated within a white filled star. Keeping the same scheme as the image above. Readers will become familiarised with the consistency.
After completing this task, i have learnt that there are various aspects to take into consideration when creating a magazine front cover. I used lures in order to attract the reader however there is not enough detail overall. I have left alot of blank space because i wanted the readers eyes to be attracted to the main image because this magazine is targeted towards high school kids. Therefore, having an image of a young girl with a happy facial expression will give off a warm, happy vibe to the readers.
When creating my official magazine cover, i will consider my target audience and use more detail.
Me and my partner also created a contents page. It was a quick draft:
Me and my partner wanted to create a simple yet effective page, meaning it would stand out and attract the reader. we used large images and a question, engaging the reader. We also used slanted text to identify page numbers, which made it aesthetically appealing for the reader.
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