Monday 11 March 2013
Friday 8 March 2013
Evaluation - question 1.
Text Format:
When designing my magazine, I needed to make sure that I had both similarities and differences between my magazine and other professional ones which are successful. I needed to ensure that I could make my magazine at a high standard by following the codes and conventions of a magazine which I used as a style model.
Some of the similarities that are between my magazine and the style model 'Vibe' - Drake edition, is that the masthead is at a similar font, which is just bold and standard writing. I did this to ensure that I am not distracting the attention from the rest of the magazine by using a fancy and over the top font. I feel like this has worked to be advantage because I haven't taken the attention away from my image which is quite unique and isnt at a usual style.
The differences are that I haven't put my image behind the masthead like Vibe has. I haven't don't this because I felt that the way my image is placed, means that it would be taking up too much room over the end of 'Generation' and if it wasn't placed in the right place, it could look odd and unprofessional.
For a magazine to be successful in the making and with their target audience. They need to make sure that they are following the codes and conventions. This can include the masthead similarities, sell lines and format of the overall magazine.
I have placed my model in a similar place to where the model on another style model was. I thought it was important for me to be following the codes and conventions of the placement of my chosen image, because it would benefit me when I was going to place my sell lines, and the arrangement of the rest of my front cover. I put the image on slightly more to the right side of my front cover, as I saw the model in 'mixmag' was doing the same. I thought it would be a good positioning as it allowed me to work with the space around which outlined her face. As mix mag is already a successful magazine, I thought I would plan around it to ensure that I am going to make my magazine at the same standard.
The colours that I have used are also based on the magazine of 'mixmag'. I wanted to ensure that I was targeting my target audience as well as making it a successful and appealing magazine. To be able to do this, I looked closely at how mixmag had laid out their sell lines and how they have linked them with house style. The fact that I have used a pink sell lines, and so have mixmag, it means that I have followed the codes and conventions as I now have similarities between my own magazine and a successful one. Not only this, but the texts are all written in a bold colour which creates a statement for the magazine, this is reflected within the image that they have used as the cover model. This is covered by the bright pink jacket that she is wearing. I have also done this as in my image of my model Emily, I have used a background of a bright colour which is blue. I did this because I wanted the same statement to be made when looking at my magazine.
The fact that I have used a close up differs from the style models of both 'Vibe' and 'mixmag'. Both of the successful magazines have used mid shots of the artists, but I decided to use a close up of my model. I wanted to go against the codes and conventions of the magazines because I didnt think the picture that I originally used as a mid shot stood out enough. I wanted to make a statement which catches peoples eyes and really made people want to buy the magazine. Due to this decision that I made, I changed my image and made it as a close up which I thought would be more appealing for my target audience in particular. I considered what people had said within my audience feedback, and incorporated it when making my decision and my changes to the image.
With my contents page, I needed to ensure that I caught onto the main aspects of my magazine and that I have got similarities to my style model. Even though my magazine is an R&B, I used a rock magazine as a model of the layout that I wanted to follow. I liked the layout of a Kerrang magazine, therefore, I used the format and layout that was shown in Kerrang to ensure I created a specific double page spread. I have included several of the same aspects within my contents page that kerrang did. The main part of this were the subtitles which are used to introduce what will be featured within my own magazine. For example, 'news' and the 'reviews' section. With this I have followed the codes and conventions as I have done a similar thing with my text. I have used the box around the text and made it bold so that the reader and buyers can see it is a segmented section from the other pieces of text.
My contents page has several different aspects to my model magazine though. The colours which I have used are different. I chose to use different colours because the yellow doesn't suit my magazines genre as well as it would if it was rock. I didnt want to go against the codes and conventions but I felt like I needed to do it, to ensure that my magazine turns out how I wanted too. I think the colours of pink, white and black would stand out and would meet the needs and wants of the buyers. It means that I am taking note of what is actually wanted from my target audience.
My double page spread was similar to the style one that I have used. I made sure that I was including a range of images which would help me to follow my codes and conventions. I wanted to ensure that I had my similarities and differences between my style model and my actual magazine. This was because I needed to make sure I had a few aspects of my double page spreads which were similar to my magazine I used to follow the different codes and conventions. I made sure I also had differences within my magazine. I had three double page spreads which all contained different ones, but the one which I am focusing on for this particular post, is the one where Beyonce was starred throughout. I felt like this page was really successful, purely because they have used such powerful images and it is laid out in such a way, to make the reader look at the pictures properly in detail. I wanted to create the same effect on mine. My last double page spread within my magazine contaianed range of fun pictures, which are similar to the style of Beyonces poses.
Throughout my drafting process, I changed a lot on my double page spreads. I wanted to make sure the codes and conventions would suit what ideas I was going for. I decided to lay out my images in a way that I can put the rest of my article on the rest of my space available. It turned out that I had got to put some text onto the second page. It is similar to my style model which is the one with Beyonce because of the way in which the text has been laid out on the right hand side. This follows the codes and conventions of the other magazine because it is all set out in the same way, therefore, it looks more professional, and is structured in a clearer and neater format.
Furthermore, the pull quotes from the style model is written in a larger and colourful font. I felt like this was a really effective way for the reader to notice the importance of a pull quote. To make sure that I have an effective aspect within my magazine, I put a similar pull quote. I added a background to a box which was grey, with pink text. I feel like this fit the codes and conventions because the bright colours really bring the attention to an area of which people might normally forget about. It also highlights the fact that it is a bold pull quote which is meaningful.
Thursday 7 March 2013
Evaluation - question 3.
Text Format:
What kind of institute
might distribute your media product and why?
The institution company I
choose to distribute my magazine would be one who doesn’t yet have a successful
magazine of my particular genre or style, so that it would attract a new target
market and would have an interest and a higher demand. It would attract new
audiences for people who read similar magazines to the ones already distributed
by this company. I wouldn’t want to distribute my magazine with the company who
have distributed Vibe as it I have used one of the vibe magazines as a style
model for my own magazine. I would want to find a distributor which is looking
to distribute their first music magazine to make it a success. An example of
this is hearst magazines.
For me to be able to
distribute my magazine in a successful way, I would want there to be a company
which is looking for something different, something which has a high demand,
and that is something which I can provide for them. One of the main reasons
that I would chose to use hearst magazines to distribute my magazine is because
I know that I would get a larger financial agreement on the terms of releasing
my magazine and getting it well known. To make sure that my magazine is
publicised, it would need a huge marketing campaign which would catch the
attention of all of the possible readers and buyers.
Working with hearst
magazine will benefit me, because they already distribute magazines such as
Elle, cosmopolitan, company and reveal, which are all well known existing magazines.
However, these are all fashion magazines, none of which feature any of the
topics which my magazine is offering. I want to make sure that I am catching
the attention of new buyers by introducing something new to them, from a
already known and trusted distributor.
The company would like my
magazine because I am offering a new product to widen their target audience as
an overall company. This is because I am targeting both genders, therefore,
their market share will increase. I think that hearst magazine would benefit
from my magazine being distributed by them because of my larger target
audience, it could lead to them buying into other magazines that they
distribute, and can cause more of a buzz for the different genre of magazine
offered.
Evaluation - question 2.
Text format:
My magazine is representing a
certain social group where people favourite the music genres of R’n’B and hip
hop. Within this the social group, through the research that I have done, I
found out that the age range that I am mainly targeting is mainly16-23 year
olds who are in education who have an interest in upbeat music which has a
similarity to their personality and talents, talents such as dancing, singing
or partying with friends. Also from the research I have completed, I found that their hobbies are
heavily influenced by the music, the environment that they are in and what sort
of clothes they are wearing, whether this being a festival, rave, parties or
concerts. As my age range is such a young and fresh group of people, they are
all influenced by each others fashion and the A-list singers fashion; this can
be a stylish look with a twist of sexiness to it. I have included this in my
own magazine with my pictures as it makes it more appealing to the eye for both
female and male readers. To make sure that my magazine is appealing to them I
used questionnaires/surveys to ensure that my magazine to suit their likes. To
represent my social group in particular, I had to choose my models
appropriately ensuring they fit my social group themselves, making my magazine
look as appealing as possible. I had to ensure that I focused on my own genre
throughout the whole of my magazine, as it was a clear message I wanted to
portray towards my audience, for example indie or rock. I avoided both of these
by keeping my model wearing ‘street wear’, a casual look for her to match my
genre, instead of having denim jackets for an indie genre, or maybe a studded
top for rock.
On the front cover I had
model on her own, conveying to my audience that the main focus of my magazine was
on her. My model had long brown hair which was styled in a messy ‘stage look’
which gave off the message such as she is wild and her personality shines
throughout her work. Furthermore, I feel that this connotes power with the
colours in which she is wearing. Bright colours such as the pink, blue and
yellow on her top, prove to the audience that she is an artist who is going out
of her comfort zone to make herself successful and noticed. Her makeup was
quite heavy within the eyes; this was really effective as it made her bright
blue eyes stand out which had an overall enhancement on the picture. Overall
her facial features and clothing represented the more feminine side of my
audience profile as she was
quite glamorous but slightly rebellious. Her body language was highlighting the
fact that she wanted to be noticed. It also conveyed the high confidence level
in which she carried throughout the magazine. The pose in which she has done on
the front cover suggests that she is confident and is looking directly at you
due to the way in which the camera is set up.
This is very appealing to
makes and females as the social group do not like to be overshadowed by others
and like to be confident. My model definitely portrays this, enhancing the idea
through her clothing, body language and makeup. She has got her top slightly
down from her shoulder which is showing more of a mysterious side to my model,
this gives a sexier vibe off of the magazine and looks bold when you look at
it. This suggests that she is comfortable with herself to be expressing herself
in such a way to an audience. I think that overall, my model is a good
representation of the sort of artist my audience is going to be interested in.
my reasoning’s behind this is that she has a very confident look about her
which catches peoples eyes for the good reasons, it also highlights confidence
which is normally attractive in a woman.
The locations in which I used
for my photoshoot’s varied. As my house colours for my magazine were blue pink
and black, I wanted to keep it consistent throughout. Some of my pictures were
taken against a blue textured fence, some against a brick wall, and some
indoors. I chose to take the ones against the blue fence because it kept with
the theme of blue which was on my models top. I chose the brick wall to make a
collage of images, so that I could break it up from the more serious images I
had already placed in my magazine. I thought I should mix it up a bit so it is
more relatable for my social group as the group I am targeting is all about
freedom, fun and social events. The images I took outside, give more of a
social event feel to them, therefore, I feel like my audience will be able to
connect with my magazine at a higher level.
Finally, my representation of
my social group throughout my magazine was suitable for the age range I was
targeting. The front cover and contents page, I made several references to well
known artists who are high in popularity for the social group targeted. It
makes my audience profile aware that I am making the magazine how it is due to
their likes and interests. Furthermore, as previously mentioned, my particular
audience are at the age of experiencing new social events. In my contents page
I made columns for referencing the gigs lined up, such as ‘reading’ and ‘V
festival’. This way, the audience can relate well to this as it is one of the
events where most people come together and listen to the certain genre of music
they enjoy. From putting these columns in, available to my reader, it will show
interest as I have applied knowledge of what would look appealing for them to
read.
Model release
The model release is to prove that my model has agreed to take part and be included in my magazine. It shows that she is happy with me using the images of my choice which were taken during one of the two photoshoots that I carried out.
Drakes front cover of Vibe
These two magazines were my main inspiration of my magazine. I really liked the way that they were set out, they were the two magazines which caught my eye when looking through different ones. Even though Kerrang is a rock magazine, I felt like the structure and format of the contents page which is shown above, it a powerful way to make it look successful and really crasp the readers attention. Vibe's edition with Drake was appealing to me personally because I am a fan on his music. Looking beyond this, I felt like the image was a statement on it's own. The fact that it is such a simple image, but it set inbetween such powerful text was the part I enjoyed most on this front cover. The colours really appealed to me and I think it fits in with the genre and mood of the magazine they were aiming for. It fits well with their target audience also, as Drake is a popular choice for the target market.
Last minute photo
This is an image that I chose to take of Dominic, who is in another media class. I took this picture last minute for my magazine as I got feedback from my teacher that I had too many pictures of my original model on one double page spread. I thought it would be a good idea to include a picture of a boy as it shows that my magazine is targeted at both genders.
Wednesday 6 March 2013
Last minute photo - edited
Continuing on from my previous picture of Dominic, I also used this image as the black and white affect looked good against the colours that I had used in my magazine. I liked the clothes which he was wearing on this particular day, as it has more of an urban twist to it and it isnt as formal or dressed up. The image doesnt look to posed either, which I think looked good when I put it in my magazine as it made the page look more relaxed and broke up all of the colour nicely.
Thursday 28 February 2013
Audience Feedback
The audience feedback which I carried out with Hannah was done during class time in a small room. We did this to ensure both of us know what other people think of our magazine, so we can make changes on it and hopefully improve. The audience feedback was done with Hannah because she is part of my target audience. As I targeted ages of 16-25, I thought it would be appropriate to use someone who is at an age between those, and get feedback on what she thought was good, or what could have improvements. From my audience feedback I did make changes to my magazine, and I feel like it benefited me because it made me feel a lot happier when I handed in my final piece at a higher standard.
Friday 22 February 2013
Thursday 14 February 2013
Friday 25 January 2013
Project log - 25th January 2013
In my last lesson, I was working on my front cover for the whole lesson. After a talk with my teacher and some of my other class friends, I didn't feel like my front cover was as eye catching as I was aiming for. After doing my audience feedback I realised that all of my colours need to be brighter. Therefore I added a blue to the text. I colour picked from my models top so it looks so much more effective and bold.
Thursday 24 January 2013
Contact sheet
My contact sheet contained all of the pictures I had taken of my model. They are showing which images I had to chose from and shows them all laid out in a neat and organised way.
First Draft
Wednesday 23 January 2013
Project log - 23rd January 2013
In today's lesson I am planning on continiuing with my magazine second draft. As i have been experiencing some difficulties with scribd, I cannot upload some of my work, therefore I am waiting for my teacher to tell me whether to leave it or not. in the mean time, I am going to finish my third double page spread to make it look more effective and stand out more. I want it to be at a hgiher quality as my feedback was to make the page look more professional and use different ranges of images. As I have been told this, I re-done my photoshoot and I took them outside. Now I feel like I have more of a range images that I can use. I think this is more effective in comparison with my last image used on this page because it isnt as serious, therefore I feel like I am relating to my target audience more.
Sketches
The sketches in which I have designed are my initial thoughts of how I wanted my magazine to look. It was a rough idea of what my pages could potentially look like and how I could imagine myself making my magazine look. For certain aspects, I got inspiration from previous years magazines as I thought some of them were very eye catching and to me, stood out from the rest. As these were my first ideas of the layout itself, I wasn't 100% sure if it would go to plan or not. Therefore, I had to do the trial and error method. This really benefited me though, because I am new to the course and making mistakes allowed me to learn new techniques along the way of designing.
Thursday 10 January 2013
Project log - 10th January
Today I got my feedback on my draft magazine. I was told a lot of feedback thats going to benefit on my 2nd draft. I started changing and improving my magazine today, and I will continue at home, in my free periods and during lessons. I have 2 weeks to complete my second draft therefore I decided to do another photoshoot. I am going to take some pictures outside so there is more if a variety in my magazine. I am going to do my photoshoot tomorrow.
Contents Ideas
My contents ideas was done to plan out what I wanted to include in my contents pages. I had a rough idea of what I wanted to have on there anyway, from looking at other magazines such as kerrang and vibe. I have noted down the features I would want to include in a prezi document, which have all my inspired by the professional and successful magazines. As described within my document, I plan to elaborate on a lot of my points and fill out my contents ideas. These were just a few of the initial ideas I had.
Monday 7 January 2013
Project log - 7th January
Today I am going to carry on developing new ideas for my magazine and learning new skills on indesign. As this was homework for Christmas holidays, I do think that it has helped me learn the easiest ways of doing certain things, for example cutting out someone from the background. Knowing this and carrying on to develop my skills will allow me to work quicker at school.
Project log - 7th December
Today I am going to carry on developing new ideas for my magazine and learning new skills on indesign. As this was homework for Christmas holidays, I do think that it has helped me learn the easiest ways of doing certain things, for example cutting out someone from the background. Knowing this and carrying on to develop my skills will allow me to work quicker at school.
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