Evaluation

In my evaluation these questions will be answered in great detail

•   In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

·         How does your media product represent particular social groups?

·         What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

·         Who would be the audience for your media product?

·         How did you attract/address your audience?

·         What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

·         Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Front Cover: When designing my music magazine front cover, I researched various example of real life, music magazines to ensure that my final design looked professional and realistic. The music magazines I researched were from various genres which gave me a greater range of ideas when designing my cover. Genre's I researched included Pop, R&B, Rock and Indie. During my research I picked up on various features that were present in numerous magazine covers, such as the colour schemes used, they tended to be contrasting backgrounds and text, they were used to make the images and the text stand out to attract the readers attention. I took this into consideration when designing my front cover as the majoirty of fonts and colours I have used are extremely contrasting and do grab the readers attention. The font colourings tend to vary on the page, however the colours work well together a match to make the page attractive to the target audience. The colour of the mast heading tends to differ from the colour of the mast heading, this is doen so that the cover lines stand out and are not over shadowed by the mast heading. 

I also looked at the sizing and the location in which I would place my coverlines, mast heading and image(s) on the front cover. From the research I gathered front covers tend to use a solo large image, which has been taken mostly in either a long shot, mid shot or a close up image, they also tend to fill up the majority of space on the page, usually depicting an artist or band. These images are all relevant to the genre of magazine they are on, for example, Biffy Clyro on the cover of Q magazine. The Mast headings are usually located at the top of the page and are in the largest font. When designing my front cover I used these examples and made sure that the mast heading was the most noticable text on the page, with the cover lines spread evenly in the spare space in a less bold and smaller font so is not to draw attention away from the mast heading.

Contents Page: For my research into music magazine contents pages, I found that the majority of the pages share the same colour scheme as the front cover, also sharing similar fonts and images. My focus was to gather numerous example of music magazine contents pages in order to give me a greater understanding into what should be included in my designs. Most of the examples I gathered contained different examples of layout and colour schemes, most of which had a layout which was in a list format, this is so the reader can have a clear insight into what is inside the magazine. My main focus was mainly on the visual aspects of the contents pages (format/colours etc). For example, many contents pages used different fonts or font sizes to establish which is the most important part of the page, whilst also ensuring that some attention is directed at the smaller fonts, with more flamboyant colours. In my research I found that contents pages generally included images related to the main image on the front cover, which will undoubtabley be the main story/article within the magazine. With a smaller focus on the actual written text, the general method was to display the article/story information in the way on of an elliptical construction, which means a small amount of information is given, yet not enough to reveal all, which in turn means the reader will be intrigued to read more on that particular page.

When designing the layout of my music magazine contents I decided also to put it in a list format so that the reader is not confused and finds it simple to read, with the addition of contrasting background the text stands out and attention is drawn. I decided to use various colours for the background (red, white and black) so that the variety of colours will appeal to the reader and therefore make sure that all of the text stands out equally. I went for a somewhat unconventional path when designing the contents of my magazine, as the images I have used are rather silly, I have done this as my main target audience will be that of a younger age, ranging around 12-15. Also the images I have taken and designed are all relevant to the topic/genre.

Double page spread:
After the analysis of the front covers and contents pages I then went on to analyse a selection of double-page spreads in order to make it appeal to my target audience (12-15) and make it as successful professional as my other magazine pages. I gathered a great range of double-page spread examples and utilised them when designing my own double-page spread. 

 I began by creating the article layout, I decided to take quite a stereotypical format as many of the examples I gathered have extremely similar layouts. The layout spreading across the two pages, half on the right and half on the left. I made my main image take up a significant amount of the right hand page. The image I used is blacked out and is rather vague, this adds suspense and intrigue into my story, meaning the reader will go away wanting to find out more about the artists. In my article, I created a fun and playful tone. I chose to set my double page spread article in a question and answer format, this is because many of the articles seen in music magazines use such a method. It also gives the reader a more in depth look into the artists lives. Although with conventional magazine double page spread the colour scheme seems to alter in some ways so that the scheme isnt reoccurring and become tedius to the reader, I chose to use the same colour scheme as in both my cover and contents, in my double page spread. I decided to do this as the clour is bright and catchy, which is more likely to encourage the audience to read more, than if dark, dull colours are used. The mast heading and sub-heading I have used are both written in a font that differs from thr article (mast heading and sub-heading are larger), I have done this so that the first thing that attracts the reader is the headings.

How does your media product represent particular social groups? When creating my magazine pages I designed it around a particular target audience, that being the younger generation, mainly young teenagers ranging from 12-15, mostly directed at a male audience. During my production I ensured that i focus my attention on target audience, looking back at my music magazine I believe I have succeeded in making it appeal to the original target audience. During the analysis of my magazine examples, I believe that may focus was a male social group. I also believe that I represented gender well, although i was not displayed that clearly, the bands and artists I chose to include in my magazine were all male and would appeal more to males who are looking for a role moedl (so to speak). As well as my double page spread which was written about two male artists. I Other than that, I dont think I have represented any other social groups in my magazine pages, however I believe that I have somewhat discarded a female social group. In my double page spread article I decided to ask rather informal and playful questions mixed with a few serious ones, to ensure that enough information is gathered, but also to make sure that there is an informal register. The questions that were asked were not specific to a particular social group and in my opinion I believe they are neutral.

How did you attract/address your audience?

Before creation of my magazine pages I decided on a certain target audience whichI kept in mind throughtout and ensured that all aspects of my magazine followed the target audience. I decided to target my magazine at young teenagers ranging from 12-15 mainly a male audience. I believed I would have basic ease for me to design a music magazine my target audience because I have a rather young mind-set and can relate to younger people due to my immaturity. To make my magazine attract  my target audience I used a variety of media techniques. For  my front cover I utilised a range of cover lines that could appeal to my target audience such as including band and artists names such as 'Bloc Party' and 'Artctic Monkeys'. The cover lines I used were relevant to my target audience 'Countown, top tracks of 2011'. I used these cover lines in hope that my audience would catch a glimpsy and be intrigued to write more. On the contents page I used features that would appeal to my target audience such as elaborate fonts and bright colours (as youngsters are attracted to brightly coloured things). In my double-page spread, I used a stereotypical layout as well a single blacked out image on the right hand page, establishes a brief overview of the artists. The simple layout makes it easy for the reader to read as they will remember the layout and know where to begin on the page. Although I think my magazine pages do appeal to my target audience, I believe that there still could be a wider range of target audience for people who enjoy the bands and artists that are included.I think my overall finished appearence definatley appeals to my audience due to the bold colour scheme (reds/blacks/whites) however the problem lies that it may not attract a female audience. In the design front cover I selected a colours which have generally been used in a variety of magazines, however although some find it to be professional I still believe that my work lacks that professional edge.


What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
As music magazines are generally distributed by a large variety of media institutions, some of them tend to focus on specific genres . After the analysis of my finished magazine pages and also looking at the genre of my magazine, the decision was dificult to chose the media institute I believe that would be best suited to my magazine, I decided on a media institute that I thought was successful in the distribution of magazines following a similar genre and target audience to my magazine. The media institute I chose was Bauer Media, as they are responsible for the distribution of popular teen magazine 'Smash Hits', as this follows a similar genre to mine.

Who would be the audience for your media product?
What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
I have learnt a great deal about the technologies involved in constructing all aspects of my music magazine. Mainly that it is no easy task trying to create a successful music magazine.
Editing: I have learned a variety of skills concerning the editing of images and construction of my cover, contents and double page spread. I managed to use the program with fair ease as it was easy to find everything that I needed, I believe most people would not have too much trouble using it. I learnt how to remove the background from my images using the rubber to remove any unwanted imagery.
Camera: I found it fairly simple to use the camera equipment that was supplied (even though im useless with mos forms of technology), I learned how to move the image files from the camera, and place them on to my computer, with relative ease (although I had a problem getting the memeory card out the camera!).
Computer: I found it fairly simple to use all of the programmes on the computer as I have used computers for many years now and am reasonably compitent when it comes to using various programmes on the computer.

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
From the preliminary task I researched school front covers and analysed them before creating my school magazine cover and contents. From this learned how to research front covers and contents pages, and list a range of their features. 
In the preliminary task, the pages I created were simple designs and didnt look at all professional due to the early stages in my design work, i was able to design a far superior music magazine cover, contents and double page spread. Therefore my skills enhanced during the production of my cover,contents page and double page spread to ensure their professionalism.

 

Design Of My Music Magazine

FRONT COVER FINAL DESIGN

This is the final design of my music magazine front cover. With the addition of cover lines and the bar code, it has made the magazine look more quality and professional. the contrasting colour scheme (in my opinion) works well and draws attention to both the main image and all of the cover lines. I have taken inspiration from various music magazine front covers by using a large solo image, which is the main focus of attention with one cover line which is larger than the rest, this goes with the main image. I have made sure that I only use a small range of colours when designing the cover, as to many can cause the page to become chaotic, look really unplanned and poorly laid out. With too may colours the reader could become confused as to whats what. The fonts I have used are sans serif, and they are also very bold, this is so that they stand out and are clear and easy to read.

Feedback:

The feedback I have received from this particular design has come back with mixed results. Most believed that the layout of the page has been done well however the colours are slightly too bright. They also believed that due to the colours being a little on the bright side, it would be more suited to a younger audience. The opinions on the fonts used were generally positive, the majority said that the fonts are simple yet eye-catching, and are also bold enough to stand out, not to be over-shadowed by the main image on the page.

Jonathon Chisholm

I think the front cover is very eye-catching as the colours used are bright and attractive. I think it looks as if it is aimed at early teenagers as the text used is quite 'cartoony'. The layout is professional however I think there is a bit too much empty space. This space could be filled by more text and headings to give more of an insight on whats inside the magazine. My overall opinion is it looks very professional and if I saw this on the shelves it would certainly grab my attention.

Andrew Bews

I believe that this cover looks rather professional, however the colour scheme gives me the impression that it would be directed at a younger audience due to the colours being so bright. The overall layout of the cover is very nicely made and works well to show all of its aspects of the page. The fonts used are also quite bright and colourful so that they stand out. My overall opinion would be that it looks professional, however it would be more suited to a younger target audience.

Chris Rowland

At first glance I immediately thought that the layout is very appealing and professional, I think that the colours used are also attractive and definitely draw in the readers attention. The main image is good as it is relevant to the topic of music which also adds appeal. My only negative point is that there is not enough cover lines on the page, so there is a lot of spare space that could be used.

CONTENTS PAGE FINAL DESIGN

This is the final design of my magazine contents page, I have continued the colour scheme and font design from the cover onto this page. I have laid out my contents in a simple list format, with the page numbers on the left side and the articles just to the right of each number, to easily display which page each article is on. The colour of the text differs depending on what the background colour is. The page numbers are a contrasting colour to the articles, this gives the page an eye-catching feel. The images I've used on this particular page take a rather informal register, establishing this magazine fun and laid back. With other information on competitions and the latest on certain aspects of music lower down the page, they have a different background and font colour and shape, this makes this particular information stand out, also making the reader intrigued wanting to know more about it.

Feedback:

I was generally quite pleased with the feedback I received on my contents page as the majority gave positive feedback. Numerous individuals responded by saying that the layout is very professional and the colour scheme works well to make sure that every section of text is recognised. Some believed that the images that were used let the page down somewhat. Various people said that the image at the bottom right of the page is to silly to be included in a music magazine, however some also thought that it added humour to the page.

Chris Rowland

On this contents page there are a greater range of colours used, this works well to ensure that each story is noticed. The use of colours with contrasting backgrounds also makes the text stand out and catch the readers attention. The page numbers and stories have been laid out in a very organised fashion which makes it easy for me to read it. The image at the bottom right of the page has led me to believe that it is definitely directed at a younger audience due to the silliness of it.

Jonathon Chisholm

I think this is very professional and laid out really well, also very organised.

The use of different colour text gives the page an attractive quality, and the way in which the text has been laid out means that its easy for me to read it. The fonts also change which gives me he impression that this magazine covers various aspects of the music industry. I like how a similar colour scheme has been used on this page is the same as the cover, this shows that it is professional again.

Andrew Bews

Looking at this page it appeals to me, the layout is very organised and makes it easy to understand and read. Judging by the bright colours and picture of a boy making a humorous face leads me to believe that it is meant to been informal and not too serious. I like the use of a black box on the bottom left of the page with a contrasting white text advertising vouchers, this draws me in, wanting to get more information on what is being offered.

DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD FINAL DESIGN

This is the final design of my music magazine double page spread, as you can clearly see the colour scheme I have used on both my previous designs has been utilised yet again, some would call this unconventional, but I believe that the colouring works well. Although the colourings are the same, the layout has been altered significantly so that it doesn't become boring and similar throughout. I have laid the text out in a fashion that makes it both easy to read and eye-catching. For the mast heading I have used a colour which is contrast to the background so that it is the first thing on the page that catches the readers attention. For the image on this page I have decided to black it out, this gives the page a contemporary edge and will attract a younger audience. Due to the picture being blacked out the page is given a rather serious and formal register, however when you read the article on the page, it is in fact rather informal and contains a lot of camaraderie. The article is in a question and answer format, I have chosen to write it in such a format as I believe that it is more personal and allows the audience a more in depth look into the lives of the music artists.

Feedback:

For my double page spread, many believed that the layout was done very well however the overall colour scheme made the pages lack a professional appeal. Yet again people thought that due to the continuing colour scheme, the magazine will be directed at a younger target audience, aged around 13-15 years. They believed that the layout was professional, and the article was not over shadowed by the title and the pictures.

Andrew Bews

I personally enjoyed this piece the most out of all three of your designs. The layout is extremely professional and really looks like a real magazine article. I enjoyed the question and answer format, it gave me a good description of the artists lives. The image used gives the page a contemporary and modern feel, the black image shows to men standing back to back, it relates to me as I aspire to be successful.

 Chris Rowland

I enjoyed reading this page as it has a great amount of humour within the article, it is also laid out very well which establishes professionalism. I think that the boarders and the mast headings work well and they are very bold and stand out to grab the readers attention, the names of the artists are written in a large bold contrasting colour which could mean that the artist are very big at the moment. The only thing I can suggest to be changed is the continuous colour scheme that has been used throughout, as the reader could become bored of reading it.

Jonathon Chisholm

I very much like how this page has been laid out as it looks very realistic. It is clear to see which part is which (by that I mean what is the mast heading/whats the article etc). I believe that the colour scheme has let this double page spread down somewhat as it is reoccurring and seems tedious after a while. My impressions concerning the article, I think that the informal register of it appeals to the audience and establishes a laid back tone, also the question and answer format gives a in depth analysis on the artists lives.

This is the layout that my music magazine front cover will take.

the mast head of the magazine is located at the top of the page and will be the largest and boldest text on the cover,to make sure it stands out from the cover lines. With the main image on the page, I have made sure its is significantly large enough so that it is the centre of attention and the most important aspect of the page. I have chosen to use contrasting reds and white colourings which makes the writing stand out from images but still not taking the attention away from the image. The image has been sized so that it doesn't fill the page and so that cover lines can be placed in various positions. With the use of a bar code at the bottom right of the page, it gives the magazine cover a professional edge.

I have decided to create my contents page in a list format with the numbers displayed along the right hand side, going across the page, I have chosen to use this layout as it is clear and easy to read, and will not be at all confusing. The colour scheme that I have used stands out and makes it bright and attractive with contrasting bold text. I have also added to images, one at the bottom, one at the top, this gives it a somewhat informal register as the images depict someone who is in a laid back pose. The bordering I have used gives the page a quality and professional design. The text used for the page numbers will be bolder than that of the stories next to them, they will also differ in colour and size (the numbers being larger). This also means that it will be simple to find articles and what page they are on.

In my double page spread I have followed suite, and decided to use the same colour scheme and font that was used on both my front cover and contents page. I decided only to place a boarder on the left side of the page as the image I'm going to use will take up most of the right hand side. I have placed both the title of the article and a sub-heading on the left side as that is where most of the information and writing will be located, the sub-heading will be establishing what will be discussed. The use of musical notes around the headings make sure people realise that this article relates mainly to music, or is about a person(s) working in the  music industry. I have placed two numbers on either side of the page, one on the bottom left, one on the bottom right, this depicts what page number you are on. I have used a small font for this so that they don't conflict will the more important text on the page.

For my music magazine cover drafts, I chose to use a variety of scenarios that are relevant to the music genre. I made several decisions when designing these covers, for example, where to place mast headings and cover lines, how big should the main image be. In the end I chose the image at the bottom left as a template when designing my front cover.

For my music magazine contents drafts, i decided to use images that related to the image used on the front cover, I did this to ensure that the main image on the cover is continued on this page, so to establish it as the main topic. I decided to use the image at the top right as a template for my contents page.

For my double page spreads I chose to have my text filling up the majority of the pages to establish that the information is more improtant than the images. The double page spreads have been designed focusing on various aspects of real life music magazines. The design I have chosen to use as my template is the image on the bottom left.

Music Magazine Questionnaire

After producing a music magazine questionnaire, I then placed all of my research into graphs to display it clearly. This is what I found.

In the results of the first question I discovered that from a group of 15 people, only 5 actually read music magazines, leaving a total of 10 that don't, this could hinder somewhat the idea's I have for my magazine, as the answers for the other questions may not be reliable.

 In the second graph "How often do you read music magazines?", there was a mixture of answers given. The majority of the answers given went either to "Daily" or "Never", which meant that there is a variety of people that don't read magazines.

In the answers given in the third graph "What is your favourite music genre", I discovered that the most popular genre was pop, this gave me an idea of what genre my magazine would follow, as if pop is most popular around my target audience, then it would only make sense to produce such a magazine.

In the fourth graph it displays the results of "Why do you read music magazines", the results that were gathered consisted of "Interest" or "Entertainment". These particular answers have given me ideas for my magazine, when discussing colour schemes and fonts. By having brighter more attractive colours to add to the entertainment value.

On graph number five "What would you like to see on the cover of a music magazine", the evidence gathered has led me to believe that most people would want either a solo-artist or a band on the front cover, judging by the results the best option would be to place an image of a solo artist on the cover as the target audience find it more appealing.

In graph number six "Where should the mast heading be placed" the majority of answers given by the target audience were generally directed at the top left of the page, which is where the stereotypical mast heading would also be located. This is most likely where I would also place my mast head, although I may conform to the stereotypes and make mine more original.

Music Magazine Double Page Spread Examples

This is an example of a music magazine double page spread, you can see clearly that the text is separated to either side and does not run down the middle, this is done as if the text was crossing over the page it would not be clear and easy to read. The colour scheme for both the title and the costumes worn match and provide an attractive and appealing colour scheme. The text on this page is written in a serif font. The main image on this page is that of the popular band Black Eyed Peas, all wearing quite unconventional clothing compared to what they normally wear whilst performing, this show them as being normal and they differ to there stage persona. The front man of the band (Will.i.am) is the only band member that is in focus this gives the reader the idea that he is the most interesting and important. The colour scheme itself is nothing special, rather dull and boring colours are used, yet they do stand out as they are contrast to the back round and the text. On the right hand side there is a section of the text that has been highlighted, this has been done as it displays a more important and interesting piece of writing.



A you can clearly see the main colouring on this double page spread seems to be that of blue, black and white. These colours are extremely eye catching and draw the readers attention significantly. Looking closely at the text I can see that it is written in a mixture of both serif and sans-serif fonts. The text colour scheme generally follows the black and white simple colouring effect, with contrasting background this gives the words clarity on the page. The page itself has a rather informal tone, as the text is irregularly scattered around the page with some of the text being tilted or canted to one side. The image on the left hand side also aides the informal tone as the image displays a band in quite a laid back pose. Most of the text is written on the left hand side and the main image is located on the left hand side this is to provide information about the band on the right and displays a iconic image of them on the left.



Although I don't actually know who this band is a believe them to be quite dark due to their clothing and the setting of the main image, looking closer at the band members in this picture the faces of the individuals seems sad and glum. The main colour scheme on this page is that of black and white, two very contrasting colours which makes the text itself stand out more prominently. The text itself is written in both serif and sans serif fonts which work well together, this page is not at all flamboyant yet the colours and the fonts work well together to make the page all the more suitable to its target audience.

Music magazine contents examples

On this particular magazine contents page there is a mixture of both sans-serif and serif fonts which gives the magazine a formal yet informal context, we know this as it is a music magazine. There is a variety of colours, reds, blue, whites and blacks, all give the page a bright and attractive appearance. There are two images of people who could have been interviewed by the magazine or a story or article has been written about them. The larger image fills up most of the right side of the page which gives the idea that this could be the main subject or story in the magazine, it is a picture of a band which could mean they are rather famous or have recently shot to fame. The actual title of the magazine is just one letter (Q), and has been used as a symbol across the page or as a sub-title, for example, the Q review. As with most contents pages the information or story listings are written down one side of the page, on this particular magazine it is written down the left hand side. As most of this page has a sans-serif font, we can see clearly when serif fonts have been used, on the left hand side with the heading OASIS SPECIAL!, this stands out as it is larger than most of the other listings, a different colour and is written in serif font.


We see in this picture that the main colouring is predominantly a bold pink and there is also a mixture of serif and sans-serif fonts. Although this page seems rather crowded the contrasting backgrounds make the text stand out and its very clear to read. The fonts that have been used are rather flamboyant and give the impression that this magazine is informal and quite fun. The topics and stories have been clearly listed down the middle of the page with the first and main story being above them in a larger bolder font, there is a star shape surrounding the number one one the first story this basically makes sure that the most important story stands out more than the others, as the main story is no doubt a currently popular and successful band or solo artist. There is a large advert at the foot of the page on the right hand side, it is music related as it is advertising a voucher which entitles the recipiant to have a £2 discount on entry to a place where live music is being played.

Music Magazine Front Cover Examples

This is an example of a popular UK music magazine called NME.

The mast heading is clearly displayed in the top left hand corner of the page, it is written in bold red lettering it is an example of sans serif font. The main cover line on this page is in the centre written in a large red test this is an example of a serif font, this is the main story or interview in this magazine so that is why it has been written to attract the readers attention. The image beneath the main cover line displays a picture of the band muse, this is a very popular rock band in the UK trying to promote there new album. There are various other coverings across the page which show what stories lie within. The bar code on the bottom left of the page tells us that this magazine is for sale across the UK. The main colourings of this magazine are predominantly bold red colours which are contrast to the images which are displayed. This magazine is generally directed at those who attend festivals and have particular interest in rock music. The cover lines usually have something to do with a specific band or upcoming albums, this will attract people who find new music and contemporary bands appealing.

This is a conventional rock magazine which is sold both in the UK and in various other countries. We see straight away that the main colouring of this cover is a crimson red. The title itself is written in a bold white colouring so that it stands out from all the red cover lines and background colourings. There are several images on this cover displaying various rock bands, however the main subject is displayed as a large image in the centre of the page, this gives the reader the impression that this band is the main story in the magazine. All of the text on this magazine cover is written in a sans-serif font. The font gives the idea that this isn't a formal magazine and is directed at those who are specifically interested in rock music. This magazine has no sell line, however the bold lettering and attractive colouring make sure that this magazine draws attention and is purchased to excess. As with many of the covers of kerrang, the main picture at the centre of the cover page slightly covers the mast heading, this makes the reader focus more on the cover stories and the pictures being displayed.

As with the two previous magazines the predominant colouring is a bold red. There is a mixture of both sans-serif and serif font across the magazine cover. The mast heading of this magazine is located in the top left hand corner of the page with a bold red background and written in a white serif font, this has been used as contrast so that the mast heading stands out to its background. The cover line is located at the centre of the page it seems to be drawing a lot of attention and is written in a serif font which and extends to the foot of the page, with a large sans-serif font in bold white writing shows the most noticeable or most famous band which is involved in the story or topic the cover line is describing. The colouring of this cover varies from whites to blacks and also reds all being very bold and contrasting to one another. The band Kasabian is the main image on this magazine, one of the members is holding a guitar that seems to be in flames, this could suggest that they are a very popular band at that present time and that everyone who is interested in music want to know more about them. There are two other images either side of the main picture, they show two other popular British bands who have been interviewed by the magazine.

There seems to be a pattern emerging here, it seems with most music magazines that the main colourings are reds, whites and blacks. The mast heading itself is red with some cover lines also being red, however the majority of the cover lines are in a bold black colouring, most of the text on this particular front cover are in a sans-serif font and are written entirely in capital letters, this give the audience the idea that it wants to grap your attention yet it is not at all a formal magazine. The background of this magazine is a plain white, this encapsulates the main image in the centre of the page, making it stand out from the text and the mast heading. The text itself is contrasting to the background and the picture, so this makes it catch the eye and stand out more. The main image on the page (as with many magazines) over laps the mast heading which adds even more attention to the main image which seems to be the main story or interview within the magazine. 

School magazine contents

This is an example of a magazine contents page. The numbers are clearly displayed on the left hand side of the page and the story is just to the right of the numbers. There is a heading at the top of the page which is likely to be the title of the complete magazine, it is very bold and it is the first thing to catch the eye on this particular page. There is a large picture of a woman who is dressed quite formally, this gives the idea that thismagazine is more sophisticated. This contents page has a simple colour scheme that works well and isn't contrasting.









This particular contents page has a more elaborate colouring, however is is still very effective. Again with this contents page the magazine title is displayed at the top of the page, yet isn't the more clear, as it is similar to the font size, shape and colour of the text below. The page numbers are listed down the left hand side of this page with the stories again to the right of them. Judging by the colouring of this page I would generally believe it to be directed at a younger audience.









This contents page is different to the ones above in many ways. Looking at this page you can tell that it is specific to a cookery magazine, we know this as there is a large image of a chocolate flavoured dessert clearly displayed in the centre. The listing of the numbers and the stories are also altered on the page as they are located at the bottom, however they are well organised and in rows, this gives it a rather proffessional appearance. the colouring of this contents page is interesting to say the least, there is no particular colour scheme and there is a mix of various colours, this does not however make the page look scattered and poorly produced.

These are examples and ideas I have produced in order to help me in designing my front cover. I have produced four draft ideas for my front cover which are all relevant to the topic. I have also produced a list of examples for titles and cover lines. I have designed covers which fit the topic of a school magazine and all have pictures which are located in a school environment.

This is the final design of my school magazine front cover. I have chosen to use a red and yellow colour scheme as it is bright and attractive. With a selection of cover lines and a bold mast heading at the top establishes the seperate sections of the page.

 

This is a basic layout of my school magazine contents page. I haven't included any actual images or headings just the colour scheme (which is the same as the cover).

This is the picture I will be editing for my front cover. As it is a school maagzine I have taken the picture in a school working environment.

This is a picture I took of my friend Chris Rowland, as you can see he is having great fun working on his Harry Potter case study. By cutting out the backround the main image just shows Chris giving a thumbs up, this shows Chris is the focus of attention.



This is an example of a fairly basic school magazine and has a simple yet effective display. it shows a large picture of two students and mast heading. the colours work well together and the cover is not to crowded with too many cover lines or sell lines. The front cover does not display a barcode, this could suggest that this is a free magazine. The picture that is used shows two people that seem to be enjoying themselves this gives the audience the effect of being intrigued and interested to see why they are so happy.




On this front cover the backround picture used gives the magazine a calming and warming effect. This seems to me as a rather formal judging by the simple and bold text. I believe this magazine is aimed at those who are possibly academic, hard working and aspiring individuals. The mast heading is clearly displayed at the top of the page and the cover lines are set out below it. This magazine looks very proffessional and seems to of been well produced. The colour scheme used is not at all contrasting and is very simple, also it works well with the backround image.

As we can see from this paricular front cover it is very simple yet effective. I have noticed that the colours of the cover lines are similar to that of the main picture on this page, this gives it an appealling appearance. All of the text on this cover is written in a sans-serif font which gives the impression of an informal context, the text is bold and the contrasting colour work well to grap the readers attention. The picture on the cover shows a student at work, this indicates that this magazine is most definatly direct in the area of education. The mast heading is located at the top of the page as with many other magazines and is written in the boldest text on the page. The cover lines on this page are written in contrasting colours to that of the mast heading, the colour pink has been used to contrast to the blue used in the title.

Preliminary Task

My preliminary task was to design the front cover of a college/school magazine. I have gathered research from various sources, such as previous magazine covers and magazines specific to schools and colleges. This research has given me inspiration and ideas for the design my front cover, which I will produce on microsoft publisher.