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.
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