Friday, 18 December 2009
Rough Final Front Cover
For my final cover I want to change the background using photoshop and maybe make the image slightly larger so it takes up somemore room at the top of the page
Thursday, 17 December 2009
IT Drafts
Monday, 14 December 2009
Costume and Props
Photos
But I have decided which I will be using for my smaller image on my double page spread. I will be using the photo where she is standing against a brown garage door. This looks like it is an earlier picture form a different photo shoot and gives an urbanised feel. This shows she has worked her way up as an artist, starting on the street and now being on the front of a magazine.
Friday, 11 December 2009
Draft 2
My contents page follows the same colour scheme except for the subscription box which makes it stand out. I have included things seen in most contents pages for example the letter from the editor and images.
My double page spread is mostly image like the ones I have analysed and I have included a smaller image as well. I haven't drawn this on in as much detail as I am still unsure about what the main image will be and the title of the article.
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
Draft 1
Thursday, 3 December 2009
Moodboard
Monday, 30 November 2009
Name and Logo
Here is my final logo design. I have used the font Agency FB for the tagline and I will continue using this font throughout my music magazine.
Sunday, 29 November 2009
Target Audience
Saturday, 21 November 2009
Analysis 3 - NME
The masthead is the title and logo of the magazine and has the biggest font on the page to stand out the most. It is in a bold red surrounded white which surrounds each letter. This emphasises and makes it stand out further. This also sets the colour scheme of red, white and black.
The main image is of the indie-electro band Late of the Pier and this photo makes them look creative, confident and fun. They are looking directly into the camera, like in my other analysis's, to engage the reader and show their confidence. The band are covered in paint which suggests they are creative and also shows a fun side to them. The paint could also show they are not afraid to break the rules and get dirty, which is reflected in their alternative music.
The main cover line states the name of the and clearly in black against a white background to make it stand out more. The individual letters on the cover line are placed separately and aren't in a straight line which again shows the band are fun and aren't afraid to go against the usual format. The introduction tells the reader what genre the band are so they know what to expect and if it appeals to them.
The other cover lines are positioned at the top of the page above the magazine title. The banner across the top is about Oasis and the font is nearly as big as the font on the main cover line. This is because Late of the Pier are a largely unknown electro band so it may put readers off. The mention of Oasis, a well known classic indie band, it will persuade regular indie fans to buy the magazine. There is also a small image of one of the main band members to attract attention to the cover line. There is another cover line with an image in the top right corner in a red box which makes it stand out from the rest of the splash. This story shows that the magazine doesn't just cover music artist but other music related news stories.
The logo is again displayed in the top left corner and the colour scheme is kept the same for continuity. The main headline is 'this week' with the date underneath. This tells us it's a weekly magazine and it is up to date with all the latest music news.
The contents itself is down the right hand side so it is easy to see from a turn of a page.It is separated by different headings which are white on a black background to stand out. But the pages aren't in order to fit into these headings which I think is a weak point in its layout. There are also blue arrows which stand out on the far right which point to the article mentioned on the cover to help readers find the articles they are looking for. There is also a band index in a red box to pull attention towards it. This makes it much easier to find the bands you like and see what page their on.
In the middle of the page there is a smaller story from the week with a small paragraph of writing and a bigger picture which is in the center of the page. The separates the contents and band index and also splits up the rest of the writing. The article is a first impression of what music artists are in the magazine and what type of stories they cover. It is set out like any article in the magazine with a headline which attracts the audience to read the article without giving much away.
There is a red box in the bottom right corner which advertises the magazine and make it seems reliable, and gives the page number of the 'UK's no 1' gig guide. Finally there is a advertisement for a subscription along the bottom. It is in yellow which doesn't follow the colour scheme and helps it stand out on the page.
The main image dominants the double page spread.The band are wearing a plain white t-shirts and jeans splattered in paint. This shows the band can be messy but creative and shows they are fun. The paint also makes them stand out from the rest of the white scene which represents that they are unique. The props are of random white shapes which show the band is random but again creative. Overall the image gives a creative and slightly psychedelic vibe which reflects the bands music.
The headline again suggests they are a unique and 'odd' band but the heading says this is a good thing. The introduction underneath builds up the band as experimental and daring. This is said to intrigue the reader and make them want to read on and see what music they are making.
The main article is on a white background to make it easier to read and also the white box attracts attention to it. Other features are the white box in the top left corner which identifies the band members so the readers can see who is who in the band. Finally there is a the band name in the top right corner which clearly tells the reader which page of the magazine they are on.
Friday, 20 November 2009
Analysis 2 - Kerrang!
The masthead is the magazine logo and has been partly obscured by the main image, this suggests the magazine is well known and popular. The logo is a bright white compared with the dark colours of the main image so stands out and will catch the buyers attention.
The main image is of alternative rock band The King Blues and for this photo are made to look intimidating and rebellious. This representation is created by the band wearing black, especially the black bandanna covering his face and the hammer prop. The hammer makes the band seem violent and rebellious which is empathised by having a broken glass effect on the splash. The band are looking directly into the camera which involves the reader and catches their eye.
The urban rebel portrayal is continued on the main cover line font. It has been made to look like graffiti and is again in black. The tag line 'Finally! A band with something to say...' suggests there is a reason the band is so rebellious and they have a message. The other cover lines fill the bottom of the page and some have smaller images along with them. I think this is because the band on the main image is a new band many might not have heard of yet whilst the bands mentioned on the smaller cover lines are more popular, so the audience will recognise the bigger bands and it may persuade them to pick up the magazine. There is also a banner across the top with more bands listed to attract fans of those bands and attract a bigger audience.
The bar code in the bottom right corner includes the price, issue number and website. All the magazine information is in the same place making it easy to find.
The title 'Contents' is in the top right corner of the page with the issue number and date easily displayed on a black background. The colour scheme is white, black and yellow and the yellow and black are used together and help make headings and page numbers stand out. The actual contents is down the right side of the page so it is easy to flip the page and see clearly what is inside. The pages are under headings to split the contents up and make it easier for the reader to find the pages their looking for.
Friday, 13 November 2009
LIIAR Spider Diagram
Friday, 6 November 2009
Analysis 1 - The Word
The main image is not placed in front of the masthead as the magazine is not a recognisable name.
The masthead is in a bold red to stand out and has two tag lines. The first 'music magazine of the year' is placed over the masthead again to stand out and catch the audiences attention so that the reader will know it is the best music magazine. The second tag line 'Intelligent Life On Planet Rock' suggests the magazine is for older readers and not the mainstream audience. This is also reflected in the price of £4.80, as it is more of a niche market the price of the magazine has to be raised so the target audience is of a middle class background. There is also a smaller image in the top left corner and headline across the top which refers to the image, to advertise what else is in the magazine, and that it covers TV programmes and not just music.
The main cover line is placed next to John Lennon's face and has the word 'Lennon' in a big white font to show who the main image is of, and underneath it says why he is in the magazine. Not a lot of the story is given away in the main cover line but advertises it as a big important news story so this will persuade the reader to buy it. Unusually there is also the name of the journalist who wrote the story underneath the main cover line, this might have been done as the writer is a successful and famous music journalist.
The also cover lines are in the bottom left corner of the splash in a smaller white font. This helps split the writing up and doesn't attract attention away from the main image and masthead. On the bottom right more music artists are named to give more of an insight to what music the magazine covers and what is in the issue and to appeal to fans of the artists mentioned not just John Lennon fans. The red and white font is used to split apart the different names and balance out the use of red at the top of the splash.
The contents page follows the same colour scheme as the front cover to keep continuity. There is a red masthead with the name of the magazine and the title 'contents page' so the audience know where the contents is. The date is also displayed bigger than it was on the front splash which makes it easier to see, so they know how recent the magazine is. There is another red banner at the bottom advertising the subscription to the magazine. The red makes it stand out and balances out the red used on the masthead.
The actual contents of the magazine is listed down the right hand side with stories mentioned on the front cover highlighted. This makes it much easier for the reader to find the stories they most likely bought the magazine for. Regular columns are highlighted in grey to make them again easy to find and splits up the contents column. The contents column is placed on the right hand side because if it was on the left it might be hard to read because it is near the canter page fold. Also if you were looking at the magazine on a rack you could flip the page and see everything that is in the magazine which may persuade you to buy it.
The images on the left all have to do with articles in the magazine and there is small print in between them showing what the page shows and what page it can be seen on. These pictures show that it is not just a music magazine and covers issues on politics which goes with their tag line 'Intelligent Life On Planet Rock'. There is also a caricature in the bottom right corner which is from one of the pages displayed in the contents. The image here splits up all the writing and references popular culture which again shows it is not just a music magazine and is up to date with the latest news.
The letter from the editor adds a personal touch to the magazine and the photo gives the reader an idea of who works on the magazine and can see them as real people who like what they're doing rather than just unknown faces doing their job. The signature at the end highlights the personal touch and the reader feels like they know the editor. This makes the reader more trusting in the magazine and believe its views on what music is good.
The headline aims to interest the audience by creating a sense of mystery, and that the article is going to include unknown things about John Lennon so fans will read the article to find out what they are and why they are so strange. The headlineand introduction is in big black lettering and take up a third of the page to stand out. The introduction is in smaller writing but still much larger than the main article. This is so the reader can read what is included in the article without readingit all. The introduction also advertises the rest of the article by giving away some of the things mentioned in it and mentions it is all in a new book which is why the magazine is covering it now.
The main article is in a much smaller font which suggests there is a lot to read, but this will appeal to its target audience of older intelligent music fans. It is set out in paragrphs to split up the writing. In the bottom right corner is the magazine website which reminds the audience that they can go on the website for more information about the book and on Lennon.
The three image to the left are old black and white photos which look like they're from a family album. This makes the article more personal and gives fans a chance to see how his life was. Next to each image is details about what each photo is and then information about who is in it which gives a further insight into his early life.
On the right there is an image of John Lennon which fills the page. In the chosen image he is looking directly into the camera to engage the reader and is unsmiling which makes him look like a serious person. The photo looks almost like a passport style photograph and his face and glasses are the only thing which is in colour on the whole double page spread. This helps him stand out and the audience can easily understand that this is the main article. The photo is placed on a side like it has been dropped onto the page, and the same can be said for the images on the other page. This makes the photos look like a collage and makes them look like personal photos. In the bottom right corner is information about when and who took the picture and information about Lennon. The photographer, Andy Warhol is included because he is a famous artist so the picture seems more important, it also says it was taken on a polaroid which gives it a retro feel.
Key Concepts
Language - the specifitic termnology used to describe the given subject, language is used alot on magazine covers for example the headline and masthead. When making my magazine I have to use language which corresponds with my target audience and music genre.
Institution - the organisation/s which produce the media texts. The institution has a purpose for creating the magazine and this will effect the content.
Ideology - a dominant set of ideas presenting peoples values and sterotypes for example that the good guys never kill.
Audience - the consumers of media. For my music magazine I must recognise the target audience, my magazine will be aimed at fans of a the chosen genre of music.
Representation - the media shows our society back to us and what our morals and values are. Magazines can tell us what we should be doing/liking and I need to think carefully about what I include in my magazine.
The Brief
Thursday, 22 October 2009
Final Cover and Evaluation
I think a strength of my cover is the colour scheme. I used the same colour scheme of other Wyke booklets so the magazine is recognisable as a product of the college. The purple can be used for bold titles and the green is brighter so can be used to highlight smaller coverlines. To show that is also from Wyke college I used the logo of a white and green arrow as bullet points to list my coverlines. I also think by using bullet points my coverlines are neatly displayed and are organised. This also shows the college expects students to be organised.
I think another strength is my main image. The student is portrayed as a model student as she is carrying books with her and looks like she is ready to learn. She is also an ethnic minority and gives an ideology of the college of that anyone can come to the college if they are willing to learn and that the college promotes diversity. In the background is a picture of the college. I chose this part of the college site as it is a key meeting area for students so will be clearly recognised as part of the college. The picture of the model and the college were taken separately and I used Photoshop to cut out the picture of the student and paste it onto the backdrop. I also changed the colours of the backdrop to make the day look sunnier by increasing the colour. This makes the image and magazine look more appealing to readers.
One of the problems of the design is where the coverlines are placed. I spent a lot of time trying to have them in the correct position so they are easy to read and doesn’t attract too much attention away from the main image. I am still not totally happy with positioning of the main coverline as I think it may be hard to read for some people as lots of colours overlap it in the background. For my music magazine cover I want to think more clearly about where the main image is placed so I have enough room for the coverlines, rather than just try to fit the text around the image.
My magazine cover compares quite closely to the two I researched as I have two colours in the title separating the two words which is used in the second magazine I analysed. I also used the left third of the splash to display my coverlines like in the first magazine, so if the magazine is stacked with others the majority of the coverlines can still be read.
I think my cover attracts its target audience of student of the college because of the use of a student as the main image and the coverlines. My coverlines are of academic and social events happening at the college so attracts the majority of students. I think it represents students by having both sides of student life and showing that is like that.
Overall I think I planned out my time well by using one week for research and planning and the last week for putting together my final design and writing my evaluation.
Contents Page mock-up
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Pictures
Last night I met up with my friend, Shaka, in town in take these photos of her for my main image. I tried three different angles then I will choose the one I think is best to further edit and cut out. So far I am choosing the first image because she is facing the front most on this picture and showing the text books she is holding clearly.
This morning I took this picture of the college which I am going to crop and edit then put Shaka infront.
Monday, 19 October 2009
Second Draft
I have chosen to use a green and purple colour scheme which I have used on all the text. This is the colour scheme used by the college for other booklets and flyer's, so I am using the same so the audience will know it is from the college and recognise it. I have the 'Wyke' title in purple as it is the colour of the official logo and put 'Bites' in the bright green as it stands out more, and separates the words. I have also included the white and green arrows facing each other from the 'Wyke' logo. I have used these as bullet points, again to clearly show it is the college magazine. My first idea was to have the logo in the top right corner but it didn't leave enough room for the full title across the top.
Sunday, 18 October 2009
Mood board
Thursday, 15 October 2009
First Draft
Friday, 9 October 2009
College Magazine Analysis 2
The masthead, 'King Ed's' is in a bold green and pink and this would be used as a logo to be displayed on each issue. This makes it easy to recognise for regular readers or if the magazine is displayed with others. In the title there is a dateline down the inside one of the letters to let the reader see how recent the issue is and it is displayed clearly. There is also the selling line 'The New Edwardian Magazine' The word 'Magazine' is in pink to correspond with the pink in the title and the rest is in a white font to stand out against the main image behind it.
The main cover line is quite small but still bigger then the other cover lines. It's in a white font to stand out and to match the colour of the selling line. The main cover line advertises that the magazine has an interview with a film director which will attract an audience of film students and anyone interested in the directors work. This also advertises the college as high profile as it can have interviews with film directors. The other cover lines are much smaller and hard to read at first. There in a black and blue font which is used nowhere else on the splash and doesn't match anything. The cover lines mention sport to show the college is active and also has the cover line 'Celebrating Diversity' which promotes acceptance of all people and that anyone can come to the college to learn, and that the students share this ideology.
Unlike the other magazine cover this one focuses more on extra-curricular activities and appeals more to the students interests rather than the interlectual side of college life.
Thursday, 1 October 2009
College Magazine Analysis
The masthead is in a different font to the coverlines as the magazine title will be its logo. The text is in white to make it stand out against the main image.The main coverline is in the top left of the splash and talks about students from around the world to highlight that Ridgewater College promotes diversity. The other coverlines are down the left hand side and don't attract too much attention from the main image, and in the bottom left hand corner is another smaller image which suggests the college is also promotes helping wildlife. The left third of the splash contains all of the coverlines so when it's displayed with other magazines the audience will be able to see the stories inside the magazine.
I think this magazine reaches its target audience of students of the college by having a student as its main image to attract attention and having its main coverline about learning and interests to the students. Overall this focuses mainly on academic subjects for the students.