Feedback on contents page

This feedback will help me develop my contents page to a higher standard because I will take on board some of the feedback given such as 'should edit the bottom right image'. I will edit the image to make it fit in with the other picture on my contents page which will hopefully give a more professional appeal to it. I was going to change some things on my contents page but since the feedback stated that it has a 'good layout' and a 'professional style' I will not rearrange it because the people who gave me feedback fit in with my primary audience, so if they like the layout and it appeals to them, I have succeeded in attracting my chosen audience already.

Feedback on Double page spread

The feedback I got on my double page spread has helped me think of news ways I want to design my double page spread. When I come to do another version of my double page spread I will consider adding an introduction to it which will give a little information about the model appearing in my magazine. I will also add more text to the page so that it is packed with interesting information that people would want to read about.

A praise that I very much appreciated was 'Great image! Love the 'A' for the headline'. I liked this because since my magazine's primary audience is aimed at teenagers over 16, and 16-17 year olds were giving me feedback, it showed that my primary audience age range really liked the way I designed it.

If I were to do my magazine again, in a totally different way I would have used an idea that someone else in my class used which I thought was an intriguing idea. They had an original ablbum on the double page spread of the model in the picture that they had produced. I thought that idea was very creative, and it's what you would expect to see on a professional magazine so therefore it made their magazine look professional.

Music magazine analysis of existing magazines

Front Cover Analysis

From analysing front pages of Rolling Stone, Q and Vibe I have learned about the little things included on a front cover to make it look professional and complete. I have used these three because they're all contrasting magazines so that if I take inspiration from each, my magazine will be unique. When analysing Q magazine I found that I really liked the one lettered masthead. It was small yet very effective. Since I really like this idea, I will take some inspiration from it and add to it so that I'm not copying Q magazine, but I am taking inspiration and multiplying it. I really liked the colours on Q magazine. They changed the colours from red to pink and yellow yet still kept some basic red on the front cover to match the masthead. Although the colours pink, yellow, red and black are very odd they work well together creating a unique sense of style. For my magazine, I will include colours that haven't really been put together before, but colours that actually bond well together and make my magazine look unique and stylish. When analysing Vibe magazine, I really liked the red and black colours they used on their front cover. Although their's is very masculine, I would alter my front cover to be unisex so it will attract both genders. I will include a female artist, which is smiling, so it looks like she is very inviting to both genders. The masthead on Vibe magazine is very large and bold. Since I want to attract both genders I won't make mine as masculine and bold, I will make mine smaller and will include colours red and white so that both genders will enjoy it. Finally, when analysing Rolling Stone magazine, I really liked the use of colour, and the way they had done the cover lines. They have used lines to separate each cover line which is really effective as it allows the audience to clearly see the cover lines without them being too close together. I will take this inspiration and make the lines bigger to fit the size of my cover lines. 

Double page spread analysis

For my double page spread page research, I analysed 2 double page spread pages from Q magazine and one from NME. My favourite of the two types of magazines I analysed was Q magazine. Simply because it was sophisticated and stylish, and fitted my kind of style the most. My favourite double page spread from Q was the one I analysed on Lady Gaga. I liked that layout the most because the main image was situated on the left hand side of the page. I will take inspiration from this, and put my main image on the left hand side of my double page spread because I really like that style. I also like the really large 'L' covering the whole of the right hand side of the double page spread. That gives the magazine a really unique kind of look. I will take inspiration from this and use a large letter at the beginning of my text. However, I won't make it so it fits the whole of the page, I will make it so that it's large but not the whole page kind of large. The design for this double page spread is very simple, yet very effective. I want my double page spread to be simply yet effective too. I really like it how Lady Gaga on the left hand side of the page has been grey-scaled, it makes the image fit with the house-style of the colour. For my magazine, I will ensure that my image fits with the house-style of my magazine.

Contents page analysis

For my contents page research, I analysed 3 existing magazine contents pages. I took inspiration from each contents page because I thought they were all unique and inspiring, and they are all along the basis of what I'd like my magazine to look like. The inspiration I got from Vibe magazine was the title 'contents' and how it was placed underneath each other. I will take this example and use it as a base for my magazine. However, instead of actually copying it, I will come up with something unique. I will do this by using different fonts for the title. When analysing Q magazine, I liked the idea of how it was set out. I will use some of these ideas and expand them to make my ideas original and unique. I will keep my house-style throughout the contents page so that it allows my magazine to look professional. I like the way Q magazine have put their magazine logo in the top left of their contents page to keep reminding the reader that they are reading their magazine, and to show originality of the information throughout. 

Flat plan of double page spread and explanation

I have chosen to put my main image at the left hand side of the double page spread because readers read from left to right, so the image is enough to catch people's eye, and to realise that it dominates the page, however, once they have looked at it, they can then read the text on the left-hand side of the page too. Putting my image on the left hand side allows it to be seen first so it doesn't take too much focus off the text on the right hand side.

I am keeping my masthead (Motif) and title 'contents' at the top to keep it very traditional. Although it's traditional, my house-style colours will liven it up so that it looks original, and will attract the audience' eye. Following the colours, the first letter at the start of the text will be bigger than the rest of the text and will be red. This is to pull the audience in to read the text. My text within the double page spread will be black to match the house-style of the magazine. Also text looks more professional in text as other magazines have showed.

I am including a pull quote in the middle of the text which is aimed to attract the audience. I will put the pull quote in red so that it stands out even more, and also fits in with the house-style of the magazine.

Flat plan of contents page and explanation

Flat plan of front cover and explanation

I have chosen to design this flat plan of my front cover because it follows the standard of a typical magazine. It has the basic title along the top, pugs, cover lines and banners at the side and at the bottom and the barcode at the bottom too. Following the standard magazine type, it means that it's easy for the audience to read. However, the colours, the cover lines and the masthead will all make my magazine original and unique which will attract the audience' attention. My background image will be the main focus of the magazine. This is because I want my magazine to follow a simple layout, yet I will ensure that the picture is enough to attract the audience' attention so that it stands out from other magazines.

My Prezi

http://prezi.com/skbhp3lvhk4e/present/?auth_key=vx2k8q0&follow=puhomzs4s4oe&kw=present-skbhp3lvhk4e&rc=ref-60287487

Feedback on magazine front cover

Version 1 of my magazine front cover

Analysis of existing magazine (Contents page)

Analysis of existing magazine (Double page spread).

Analysis of existing magazine (Double page spread).

Analysis of existing magazine (Double page spread).

Analysis of existing magazine (Front cover).

Front page conclusion

From researching a range of different front pages I have got some inspiration from them for what I want my magazine front cover to look like. I have learned that for a magazine to look professional it needs to contain things such as barcodes, a main image that takes main focus of the front cover and the celebrity's name appearing on my front page needs to be very large so the audience know how dominant and superior it is. I have learned that each of the colours on these professional existing magazines all follow a house style, and it flows throughout the whole of the magazine which makes it attract the audience' eye and also looks very professional. When I come to do my magazine I will choose the colours red, black and white because since my blog wants to attract both male and female, those colours usually do attract both genders because they are unisex colours. 

Analysis of existing magazine (Front cover).

Analysis of existing magazine (Front cover).

Current music magazine institution

Research on Q magazine

Images for my magazine & explanation

I took these images with a fujifilm camera in front of a white wall in my bedroom. I ensured I dressed the person in the image in black and red to fit the house-style of my magazine. I also placed the person in the images on a red flowery bed spread and asked her to do a pose lying down with a guitar to emphasise that it's a music magazine and to show that she is a music artist. I chose to take the pictures in front of a white wall to make them look professional. If my images look professional there's more of a chance that my magazine will look professional. I took these images in October 2013. 

Word definitions

Definitions

Representation – The description or portrayal of someone or something in a paticular way.

Stereotype – A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing: "sexual and racial stereotypes".

Target Audience – Is where you design something for a specific group of people. For example, if a magazine is designed for 16-19 year olds. Primary audience is the first audience something is aimed at. For example, the film Toy Story is naturally aimed at children so that would be the primary audience. Secondary audience is the second audience something is aimed at. For example, the secondary audience for Toy Story would be young adults and adults.

Language – Every medium has it’s own combination of languages that it uses to communcation meaning. For example, television uses verbal and written language as well as the languages of moving images and sound.

Institution – A society or organization founded for a religious, educational, social, or similar purpose.

Genre – A category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter. For example, in music the different genre’s would be rock, indie, pop, classical and many more.

Conventions – A way in which something is usually done, esp. within a particular area or activity.

Denotation – The literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests.

Cover lines – Are short statements found on the cover.

Left side third – A lot of important information designed to attract potential readers is placed in the left-hand side vertical third of the front cover.

Masthead – The title of a newspaper or magazine at the head of the front or editorial page

Puff – A piece of writing, as on the jacket of a book, containing often exaggerated praise, used for promotional purposes.

Pug – A commendation, especially an exaggerated one, of a book, an actor’s performance, etc.

Sell lines – Something on the magazine that would entice the audience to buy it. 

Connotation – An idea or feeling that a word invokes for a person in addition to its literal or primary meaning.

Questionnaire Results and analysis

How do you listen to music?
Radio - 0
Mobile phone - 17
Youtube - 5

What is your age?
Under 12 - 0
12-15 - 0
16-20 - 18
21-30 - 0
31-40 - 0
41-50 - 0
50+ - 0

What genres of music do you like and why?
Pop - 5
Rock - 2
Hip-hop - 2
Jazz - 1
Indie Rock - 13
Indie - 1
Classical - 1

What magazines do you read?
NME - 9
Rolling Stone - 7
Kerrang! - 4
Vibe - 0
Q - 15
Blender - 0

How much time do you spend listening to music a week?
Once a week - 0
Everyday - 8
Less than 3 days - 1
More than 3 days - 1



Questionnaire results  
In my results, 17 people said they listen to music through their mobile phone the most. 5 people said youtube. So for my magazine I will ensure I give links and websites where fans can buy the artists songs onto their mobile phone. I will have a direct youtube website channel where fans can also view through youtube. 

Age - Every person who did my questionnaire has ticked the '16-20' age box. This would fit into the D audience code. My primary audience would actually be the 16-20 year olds, so I will ensure my magazine attracts a younger audience' eye. My secondary audience would be for people over 20 and up to 30. For my magazine to attract a wide ranged audience I would ensure that it consists of colours that attract all ages. 

Genre - I got a lot of varied results back for my genre question, but the one that got the most votes was Q magazine. In second was NME, and in third was Rolling Stone magazine. I will ensure that my magazine has quite a few characteristics that those magazines have. For example, those magazine genres are indie rock and pop, so for my magazine I will include indie rock and pop artists.

Existing magazines - The most popular existing magazine that most people who did my survey read is Q magazine. After studying the most popular magazines in my survey which turned out to be Q, NME and Rolling stone I found out that they all had a genre of indie rock and pop which is what I want to base my magazine around. 

Music and timing - Most people who answered my survey said they listen to music everyday. To ensure that people can access my music everyday I will make sure then can buy it onto their phones, and I will produce a large range of music for fans to listen too.

Magazine Proposal

What genre of music magazine will you make? Why?

The genre of music I will choose for my magazine will be Indie rock and pop because when I did the questionnaire most people ageing from 16-20 said that they listen to Indie rock and pop music. My primary audience will be people ageing from 16-20 year olds, but my secondary audience will be people who are 20+ up to 30 years old. This is because Indie rock and pop are both mainstream genres which has a more varied age range listening to it.

What will be in the magazine you make?

Each magazine issue I will choose an artist of my choice to appear on the front cover, and included in the magazine will be an article on that artist informing the audience the latest news on the artist. In this magazine along with the special guest, I will include their new single that hasn't been released before, giving information on how the artist came up with the new single and if the artist is collaborating with any other artist. 

What images will you have in the magazine and where will you get them from?

I will take my own pictures of someone either at a medium shot for my front cover or a close up. Along with the front cover picture, I will take long shot pictures of the person featuring in my magazine to go on the double page. 

Who will be your target audience?

My target audience will be 16-20 year olds who are male and female. My genre of music appeals to male and female because the variety of artsits/bands are male and female and don’t cater for a specific gender. I know this because of things like their album covers. They have unisex colours on their albums such as black, red, green, and many more. Since they are young adults they will fall into social economic groups  E; ‘Students’, D; ‘Semi-skilled and unskilled manual workers’, C2; ‘Skilled workers’, C1; ‘Office supervisors, junior managers and nurses’ and B; ‘Middle class’. Since I have a wide audience age range, wore skilled workers can buy my magazine. If I were to price my magazine I would price it at £1-£3 so that people in higher economic classes can afford it as well as people in a lower economic class.

What makes your magazine original?

My magazine will be original because the title of the magazine has never been used before, the artist included has never been in another magazine before, the colours I will choose will probably be either red, black, grey and could also have other colours like yellow, purple, blue and pink which will make it original. 

How will you ensure it looks professional?

To make it look professional I will include a barcode, a masthead, a puff, a pug, a subheading and a contents page. I will make my magazine follow a house style so that there isn't any odd colours to make it look unprofessional. 

What research will you carry out before making the magazine?

I will buy other music magazines to have a look at their layout and the things they include in it. I will also look on the internet for examples of magazines. 

What will the name of your magazine be? Why?

The name of my magazine will be called 'Motif' because 'motif' means a distinctive feature or dominant idea in an artistic or literary composition. So the name 'Motif' relates to music just like my magazine does. 

College magazine analysis

For my Sunderland college magazine, I chose to use a picture of myself holding up an A-Level English Language book from the library. The angle of the picture is a medium shot of half my body/shoulders and face looking directly at the camera. I chose to use this picture because it shows the audience the very good facilities the college has. I was smiling at the camera to show how good the resources are that Sunderland college obtain. 

I chose to put the header of my magazine at the side which was a risk but I made sure it stood out so people could still see it clearly. I made 'Sunderland College' bold dark blue writing with 'Cable' underneath ranging from the 'C' being dark blue to the 'E' being a very light blue to give it effect. I decided to do this because as it needs to attract young adults it can't all be boring, so I added lots of different shades of blue to entice the audience to view the magazine. I named my magazine 'Sunderland College Cable' because the use of the alliteration would also attract the audience' age range. Although cable is a very old saying, I've used it because usually on cable shows you find out the latest news so you can never miss out. This is what my magazine is like, the latest news for all students. I made the background white behind the header so that it also makes the title stand out above everything else.

Around the left side of my magazine I included information that will be appearing in the magazine. I put the titles in a blue colour as it fits with the house style of my magazine. Since my magazine has a house style of blue and white, I put the information that went under the titles in white so this also fits and allows the magazine to follow pattern. I picked the colours blue and white because the Sunderland College logo is actually blue and white so it actually fits with the house style of the college too. I added a range of exciting information around the side of my magazine so the majority of the students who attend the college will find it interesting and will read on. 

I added the Twitter and Facebook logo sign to the front page of my magazine to show the audience that they can get in touch and find out more of the latest news via internet. The colours of those logo's also fit in with the colour scheme of my magazine. 

On the contents page of my magazine I included a large header saying 'Contents'. I made this blue to match the colour of my magazine. I included a picture on the contents page to show the audience about other resources the college has and how important they can be to them. 

Sunderland College Magazine (front cover & contents)

Flatplan

Expectations of a College Magazine

A college magazine should initially include information, news and events that would be occurring at Sunderland College. Since it's a college with different people who have very different interests and it caters for people of a higher education, it should include a number of varied things that may interest everyone. College magazines usually include information about the staff, pupils and the college itself so that parents and students are up to date with the college they/their son/daughter are attending. Due to it being a magazine about the college the pupils attend to, it's important that the magazine is free to all students and parents.

There will also be enrichment information for people who are interested in taking part in events that the college will organise. This will include days when you can meet in a certain place to talk about which activities you could participate in. Along with enrichment, there will be charity events students can take part in and news about exam and each subject lesson they have taken. So if the pupils have any questions, they can pick up a copy and the magazine will do as best as it can to answer each question.The information included will be useful and informative to all students who attend to ensure each student understands what's going on in the college that they attend. 

The font throughout the magazine will be clear so there's no difficulties understanding the text. The colour and font will both be unisex so both females and males can have an interest in this magazine. There will be pictures included so that it's not just informative but it is also interesting for students to read. 

In conclusion, a magazine should be informative, understanding, clear, interesting and the front cover should include information that will be included in the magazine so the pupil has a good idea what it's about.

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