Evaluation

Evaluation

Final Products

FRONT PAGE

CONTENTS PAGE

DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD

Double Page Spread Construction Process

The final stages i have taken to create the double page spread is i added to columns of text  on the left side, i have done this in the style of an interview and decided to alternate the text between black and white, black being the questions and white the answers. This just splits up the text for the reader to understand clearly. Above the text i also included a short introductory line, this is a summation of the article so the rest can get a gist of what the article is about, i did this using the text tool and placed it on the top layer. other than the text the only change was that i that i added another gradient fill layer, this time i chose to do because i thought the colour was too pink and the page didn't seem as edgy as i would want, i didn't think it would appeal to audience as much either. So for the new layer i chose black and changed the opacity levels, when i placed this on top of the current one you can still see red, however just looks a little bit more rebellious being dark. The final product is also above along with the front page and contents page.

Now i am getting closer to the end of the double page process. the difference now is that i have typed up each individual word for the title using the test tool, i followed the same themed fonts as i did on the front cover, this adds more continuity throughout the magazine. I placed the same coloured banner as the strap line at the top just below it, this was to highlight the title of the page more, as i wanted to follow the colour scheme and if i had chosen to just write in white on top of the background you would not have been able to see it clearly, whereas with the  black banner you can. On the left page i have chosen to add 'before' images, these are to show the transformation from before and after on the opposite sides, this is what the story is based on therefore i thought it was important to split the two different changes on each page. For these added images i cropped the main one so there wasn't a background, i then copy and pasted it onto this page and moved on to add contrast, remove the models red eye, and also flipped the image horizontally so the the model was looking towards the page not away from it. Above this image is a smaller one of the same model, styled the same, however, i decided to make it look like a polaroid image, this just adds a bit more variety to the page keeping the readers interested. i have also added a pull quote from the interview and placed t on the right page, it states' it's a completely different feeling', i decided to place this on the right side instead of the left because it emphasizes that now she has transformed she feels different and doesn't just look different.

The most obvious change here, was my decision that i no longer liked the grey colour for the gradient effect, i decided to choose red and changed the opacity of it so you are still able to see the images below it. I then created another banner across the top of the page using the rectangle tool, i had filled it black and once again changed the opacity so it doesn't just cut off the images bluntly. In the top right hand corner i created another smaller banner and filled this white,i wrote on top of this banner advertising a competition to' meet and greet faye' using the text tool.

Here i have created a background for the left page and used the same effect over the main images, i felt that this looked effective and if thought about deeply could symbolise the artist rise to fame(from dark to light). I created this effect by clicking on the 'new fill or adjustment layer' button, here i chose the colours that i wanted it to fade into and the direction in which i wanted it to fade towards. Continuing i created a banner with the rectangle tool for the bottom of the page, this is the same as on the contents page, providing continuity. I then used the text tool to re-write the title of the magazine and the page number in the bottom left hand corner.

This was the first stages i took for my double page spread, these are the main images of the page. Here, i have combined a merge of 5 images, i did this by opening a tab for each individual image. The one main one at the back was a full body shot however, i cropped this image and re sized it just so that her face was on the page, this picture provided the background of the bricks as well. The other four images were the same process, for each one, i individually used the magnetic lasool tool to crop out the image of Faye, i then would enhance the contrast of the images, reduce any red eye and re size the pictures alternatively, this adds an edge to the page which would attract the target audience.

Contents Page Construction process

The last stages were to add text with the text tool to fill in all the sections with the coverlines, i highlighted the page numbers in a different colour to the coverlines so that they were easier to read, once again making it easier for the reader to navigate around the magazine. The last elements i added to create my final contents page was me using the rectangle tool and text tool repeatedly to place bigger page numbers ontop of the images on the page, this gives the reader a quick way to see what pages the main coverlines are on. In the editors section i also added a small signature, this is to make it seem as if hand written by the editor themself on the magazine which will give the reader a more personal feeling. This final stage is also shown in the above post names 'final products'.

For this stage i added a very small picture of me and created it to look like a poloroid snap shot, i also used the rectangle tool with a white fill colour to place next to it, this is going to be the editors section of the contents page. Below this i created another banner with the rectangle tool in white again, this was layered underneath the images but outlining the top of the album covers, i then wrote ontop of this banner using the text tool to name the section. For the other two sections i created a banner and aligned it with image as if the image was connected to it, i changed the fill opacity to also match the image, this leaves a continuous look across the page.I created these sections for easy navigation to make it clear for the readers, i have been following my colour scheme and using black white and red for all of them so far.

In this stage i added the rest of the pictures for my coverlines, these two smaller images were resized to fit inbetween the large ones, they are of two existing album covers. For both images i adde some extra contrast because it really enhances the pictures so they dont look as dull, this gives a more proffesional look to the page.I also used the rectangle tool here to create a white border round the top photo of Katy Perry, i did this to enhance the picture and make it stand out from the others and the background.

Here, i have added the two main pictures for the contens page. I have done this by opening up seperate tabs to insert the pictures on. The first picture i had edited was the one for my main coverline at the bottom. For this image i had to crop away the image to get a close up shot of the model, i then edited the contrast to make the picture seem slightly edgier. After this i transformed the colour and turned it into a black and white effect, i thought this was a good idea to take some of the attention away and let the readers look at the other coverlines aswell. The second image above didn't really need much editing, i simply cropped and resized the image, aswell as enhanced the contrast slightly more. I then copy and pasted both images onto this page. The final step was creating a red glaze ver the bottom image, i did this by using the rectangle tool with a red fill colour, i placed this ontop of the image and lowered the opacity level until i was happy with how much i could see, i think this looks really effective and fits in with the colour scheme well.

This is the first few stages of my contents page, so far at this point i have created a black to white radial gradient background, the background won't really be seen but i prefer to have a base underneath rather than a blank page. I then created 3 banners using the rectangle tool, one for the bottom of the page and two for the top i chose to do 2 at the top just to highlight the black with a lighter shade underneath so it stands out from the dark background. The next stage was to write out my masthead again using the text tool, i chose to do this and place it at the top of the page so it offers a sense of continuity throughout the magazine, i also did the same in the bottom right hand corner of the page, with the page number beside it. The last two things i had typed were the word'contents' next to the masthead and the date in the top right corner so that the readers are reminded what issue it is for what week.

Front Cover Construction Process

After this stage i had added some extra cover lines using the same rectangle tool and text tool, as well as adding a small image to go along with one of the cover lines, this just adds some more interest to the page so the readers have plenty to look at. i also added a strap line once again using the rectangle tool to create a banner as a base for the text on top of it..This is going to be my final front page done, and will be shown above under the final products post.

The added elements on this page are the cover line i have added on a white text box, the white box just makes it clear for the reader to see against the bold background. I made the box using the rectangle tool, and then used the text tool for the writing. I also downloaded a bar code font and typed with the text tool in the top left corner below the masthead, below this i changed the rectangle tools setting to make a circle for the pug, i did this to create the base for the price, and adjusted the opacity of the colours so they are not as bright.

For the fourth stage i have constructed the main cover line, the first steps i had to take was to use the rectangle tool with black fill, i then lowered the opacity so the black isn't as dark, this was the case for the artists name to stand out against the bold background. i then created individual text boxes for each of the words, this was so that the words were easily placed and re sized. The alternating sizes adds an edgy element which would attract the target audience as well as the alternating colours which fit in with the colour scheme, the only odd colour is the pink, however i used this on purpose to emphasize the word 'frills' because the point of the story is going from a innocent girly dressed woman to an edgy rock sex icon. So the font overall emphasizes this. I overlapped the words on the image because it brings more attention to it, however, i was careful enough to frame her face and not obstruct the main part of the image.

The only difference in this third stage is adding text into the banner to advertise a competition to 'Win reading tickets for you and your friends' i chose black and white and kept the font the same as the masthead to keep the continuity of the colour scheme and font. I added the text by selecting the text tool and typing what i wanted, i then re-sized the text box and rotated it to the same angle as the banner. On the list of layers i had to place the text layer higher than the shape layer so that the text was visible.

This is the second stage, the difference is creating my masthead in my chosen font of stenstreet, i did this by selecting the text tool and typing, i chose to size the font so that the mast head takes up the whole top line of the page and have chosen to do it red as it is the third colour of my colour scheme which would contrast well against the black and white background. I have also created a banner at the bottom of the page by selecting the red swatch for the colour fill and creating the banner using the rectangle tool, i then edited this by rotating the banner slightly and changing the opacity of the colour lower so you are still able to see the picture underneath it.

This is the first stage to creating my front cover product. So far in this process i have created a background on photo shop of a alternating black and white radial effect i chose these colours because its the main two colours from my chosen colour scheme. I had then opened up a separate tab on photo shop and opened up an image of my artist against a wall, i had selected the magnetic lasool tool to crop the image away from the original background. After this i had used the rubber tool and zoomed into the image to rub away any of the background that didn't get erased to make it look neater and more precise. After this i used the auto contrast tool to correct the lighting and make it clearer and used the red eye tool on my models eyes to make them their original colour. After editing the image i then selected it and copied it onto the background, i re sized it and matched it up to the bottom of the page.

Photoshoot Planning Table

Final Ideas

I now have a complete idea of how i am going to produce my magazine. The results from the questionnaire helped me to finalise my initial ideas, because i now know how i am supposed to produce a product that will most definately meet the needs of my target audience.
The questions i had asked helped me to decide that i will sell my final product once a week at the price of £3 which was the meet at which the most votes were made on the questionnaire. I have also come up with the idea of offering a weekly subscription for my magazine which will help keep a guaranteed demand, and offer value for money to my target audience.
Also i now know that the things my audience are most interested in for the magazine is band interviews, new or upcoming artist's and pictures along side these stories. This will help me keep the content interesting so that the demand for my magazine will always remain high, and be interesting enough to buy every week.
The stories for my magazine were also affected by the results from the questionnaire because i found out the majority of my audience are also interested in fashion, so being able to base some content of my magazine on the latest trends, or artist looks which they can find on the high street would create an extra unique selling point and add even more versatility to the magazine.
 The last points in which my questionnaire had finalised is the font/story/colour scheme/title ideas.
I have decided that for each of the questions, i will go with the idea that contains the majority of the vote, i won't question the public's choice because i am making the media product to meet their needs therefore what they have voted for is what they would want and pay for.
Final choices:
My main feature story: 'Faye's Frills to Thrills'
Title: 'CLASH'
Colour Scheme: 'BLACK:WHITE:RED'
Font For Masthead: 'Stenstreet'

Questionnaire Analysis

Once setting up a poll on my blog, i came to realise that the votes made weren't as efficient as i would have liked, so i came to the conclusion of giving out the same questionnaire on a handout. I then collected these in straight away and analysed what results i got to what choices i would have to make for my magazine design and production process to meet the needs of my target audience:


What Gender are You?
20 people had answered my questionnaire and out of those 20, 14 were female and 6 were male, this means i should mainly aim my magazine at females, but perhaps include stories that both males and females would be interested in. This is what i intended to do for my initial idea.


How Old are You?
1 person was between 11-15, 3 people were 25+, 7 people were in the age bracket of 16-18, and the last 9 fit in at the ages of 19-24. If i analyse this i was right to choose my target audience as an age range from 17-25, because 16 people out of the possible 20  were between the ages of 16-24. having the majority of the people that answered my questionnaire fit into my original target audience age range is helpful because i can most definitely use the information collected from this to make decisions in my production process and almost be guaranteed that it will fill the needs of this age range.


What Music magazine Do You Prefer?
In order from lowest to highest, no people chose 'Classical', 3 people like 'Mixmag', 4 people like both 'Vibe' and 'NME', and 9 people prefer Q. This result shows that my intuitions for my target audience were correct in the sense that they were slightly more mature and go for the slightly more sophisticated magazine. Also, Q magazine has the closest resemblance to my initial ideas for my genre where they would mostly focus on rock/indie culture, however also include some mainstream artists (e.g. Cheryl Cole). The results show that my target audience like a slight mix up of artists, as they have also voted for Vibe which is out of the initial genre and even Mixmag although it was a smaller proportion of the votes.


What Type of Music Do You Listen to, or Prefer?
Again, 0 people chose 'Classical', 1 person chose 'Other', 3 prefer ' R'n'B', 4 listen to 'Rock', 5 for 'Pop' and finally 7 for 'Indie'. These results show, that i was right to choose an Indie genre magazine for my target audience as this scored the highest percentage of the votes, however, including the more mainstream artists as well will benefit considering that the second highest vote was for Pop. This will enlarge my audience, as well as create versatility for my magazines unique selling point which should make it more successful.


How Often Do You Buy a Magazine?
1 person that answered this question 'never' buys magazines, an equal amount of 3 people had chosen they 'rarely' buy a music magazine and buy a magazine 'once a month' however, 5 had chosen 'once a fortnight', and the remaining 8 buy magazines 'once a week'. this result indicates to me that m,y target audience read music magazines frequently, and for me to meet the needs of my audience i must be prepared to sell my magazines weekly in order to keep their interest, this also means the content of the magazine must always have versatility and a unique selling point to maintain it's attraction to the audience.


How Much Would You Spend On a Single Music magazine?
1 person has voted that they would only spend '-£1' on a magazine, 2 voted between '£1-2', 3 voted '£4+', and the remaining 14 had split almost equally with 7 choosing '£3-4' and 8 choosing '£2-3'. The reason i believe the audience may not have  chosen the cheapest options as opposed to the dearer options is because they know that by only paying a small amount the quality of the magazine wouldn't be as high as they expected whether its the content or the paper finish used, they may believe it wouldn't be up to their standards. Also if my target audience is of a slightly older age group, they have more money to spend as opposed to the younger ones who still may only get money from their parents.


What Do You Look For In a Music Magazine?
out of the 20 people that had voted, 1 person chose the category 'Other' and another person chose the category ' Posters', as for the rest of the votes 3 people look for 'Competitions', 4 for 'Photographs', 5 for 'New albums/artists', and the remaining 6 for 'Band Interviews'. This shows that my target audience prefer the actual written content of the magazine, such as the interviews and new or upcoming artists as opposed to the posters they can receive out of it.  The photographs also had a higher vote, but these would automatically come with the stories, it just means i can use a larger amount of photo's to keep the audience interested.

What Other Types of Magazines Do You Read?
1 person comes under the category of 'Other', another person also reads 'Gaming' magazines, 2 people read 'Health&Fitness' magazines, 3 read 'Beauty', and the remaining 13 as well as music magazines read 'fashion' magazines. This indicates that not only are the majority of the audience most probably women but also are all interested in fashion, which means for my magazine including style icons would be important to sell well, and to even base stories on the way artist's are styled. This option also adds to the versatility of my magazine, this is similar to the way 'Q' magazine attracts some of their audience ( e.g. the Cheryl Cole double page spread).

Which Story Idea Do You Prefer?

• Story idea 1-'Is Faye's Solo a NO NO?'--5 votes
• Story idea 2-' Faye's Frills to Thrills'--12 votes
• Story idea 3-'faye's Change of Heart'--3 votes

Which Title Do You Prefer?

• 'VERSATILE'--5 votes
• 'RIOT!'--2 votes
• 'A.M.N'--4 votes
• 'CLASH'--9 votes

Which Colour Scheme Do You Prefer?

• BLACK:WHITE:PURPLE--6 votes
• BLACK:RED:YELLOW--2 votes
• BLACK:WHITE:GREEN--3 votes
• BLACK:WHITE:RED--9 votes

Which Font Do You Prefer?

• 'God of War'--2 votes
• 'WC Roughtrad Bta'--3 votes
• '28 Days later'--5 votes
• 'Stenstreet'--11 votes

Double Page Spread Magazine Designs



Design 1

This is my first design, which follows the conventions of Q magazine having a main image taking up the whole right page and leaving the text on the left, doing this means that the readers concentration is focused more, as well as the image being a full-body pose which can show the personality and face all in one through how they are styled and the emotions they portray. Normally a spread like this is for a more mature audience with slightly more text, however, i challenged this to fit with my target audience by adding many more images on the left side and even another on the right. The slightly younger audience would be more interested in images breaking up the text just to keep them intrigued throughout the article. The title would be mainly placed on the left side, depending on how long it is, it may over lap onto the right and go onto another line. I have also shown where i could place a pull quote from the interview on top  of the image, this gives a summary of the formality of the interview in one for the reader to decide whether they are interested. Overall, i think this spread could appeal to my target audience with the correct balance of images and text breaking each other up, whilst still looking neat and sophisticated.

Design 2

This Design also has the big main image on the right and the text on the left, however, the difference between this one and design 1 is the model has a full body shot, although it also has two other pictures below and a quote beside that, this just makes the page seem slightly busier opposed to design one. The title will go across both pages, this attracts more attention to it because it will seem bolder taking up the whole top of the page. Also on the left page there is a slightly larger amount of text as opposed to design one, however they are split into two neat columns as any traditional magazine would do. The page also includes more images and another pull quote, as well as an explanatory line underneath the title, this gives the audience a quick definition of what the article is about, when they may be flicking through the magazine. Overall this design is slightly busier and may appeal to a much younger audience than my target audience, the amount of images isn't the problem i just feel that where they are placed could be distracting.

Design 3

In this design i have taken some elements of the other two, i have chosen to put the title all on the left page, and work downwards if it is too long, this is because when the reader is flicking through the magazine the title being on the left will mean it would be the first thing they see, so they are automatically intrigued by it. Beside the title on the left page will be 3 images running vertically down the side, and the text columns will be neatly aligned through the rest of the page. On the right page will be either a whole image of the model/artist or a merge of images from the same photoshoot taking up the whole page, on the top layer of this side i will embed a pull quote from the article, this is a summation of the formality of the article for the readers. The layout of this double page spread is neat in the sense the columns and images are all very aligned however, so the audience cannot get bored from this, the excessive amount of images i will use keeps them interested.

Contents Page Magazine Designs

Design 1

In the top right hand corner of the page is a small banner with the title of the magazine and the date beside it, i have chosen to put the title so that they are constantly reminded what magazine they are reading, however i have done it smaller because it isn't the main feature on the page, the date is there so the readers know what week it is that all the contents of the magazine are situated on. Underneath the masthead is another banner with 'CONTENTS' written this is the title of the page and is slightly larger to get the readers attention straight away. Below the title is a small Polaroid image of the editor associated with the whole editors section, where they will write a small amount of text introducing them self and the magazine. This makes the readers build a slightly more personal relationship with the magazine. finally, below the editor note is a image of the main feature of the magazine, this would be a picture of the model used on the front, however, at the same scale  size as the other images on the page, as the magazine are trying to advertise the other stories as well as that one. The page is sort of cut in half into two columns, with smaller sections within them, they consist of 3 sections, named;album reviews, features, and new, this makes it easier for the reader to navigate where they want to go throughout the magazine, they are clearly cut off and close by to all of thee sections are another 2/3 images that would relate to other stories in the magazine. this keeps the audience interested and makes a busy page to seem as thought the magazine is filled with lots of content, the audience will then anticipate they are getting more for their money.

Design 2

In this design i have placed the masthead in a small banner across the top of the page, beside it is  the word contents slightly smaller and on the other side is the date even smaller, the reason i have put them all in a banner is to use the banner to highlight the whole title but it is small enough so that the readers can concentrate more on the text and images below. The page is completely split into two columns, one side with the editors section at the top and another 2 or 3 images down the column, and the opposite side with a banner at the top which states the masthead and 'this week' next to it, to emphasize what magazine contents your looking at and the issue numbers contents for that particular week. Below this in the column is 3 smaller sections named; features, news, and album reviews. Having the sections makes it clear for the reader to view and navigate. Below these is one more image of the main feature, with the same artist/model as the front page.This keeps the continuity from the front page to the contents page.



Design 3

This design is slightly different to the other two in the sense that there is no banner with the word 'contents' in, instead we have a banner which is placed a third down the page stating the masthead and 'this week', again suggesting that its whats inside this particular magazine this week. Above this i have placed the editors section, with a Polaroid image of the editor next to it, and beside that a puff which could contain a competition for a chance to win a prize, with the page number. Now below the masthead banner, the page is split once again into two columns, on the left side is a column of two to three images, one of which being the main feature's image, all roughly the same size this is so that the reader's attention isn't just drawn to one image, and indicates that all the stories are interesting and important. In the right column would be the three sections again, titled Album reviews, features, and news, with page numbers beside them for easy navigation around the magazine.



Front Cover Magazine Designs

Design 1

This is my first idea for a front cover design. The main image would be a long shot of the model/artist situated on the right hand side of the magazine. This leaves space on the left third to place all the coverlines and tag lines for the content of the magazine. The long shot is quite an unconventional choice for a usual magazine, however, in this case it is useful because then the reader is able to see the way the model is styled, gaining a bigger response to their personality from what they are wearing to the props they may be using. placing the image on the right hand side leaves space for the cover lines on the left third, this results in leaving the focus on the main image instead of it being obstructed by writing. The masthead is situated in the top left hand corner, which is one of the few places most magazine titles are placed, it would depend on the font and size of the masthead to make it stand out from any others, but it will be easily identified once placed in a cliche position. Next to the mast head would be a puff containing another sub story which isn't as important. Above the masthead would be a strapline containing names of artists that are in the content of the magazine, this can reveal to the reader whats inside so they can get a taste of what they may be interested in. The last small elements that would be on the front cover are a pug which would contain the price of the magazine, and a barcode which would be in the bottom left hand corner of the magazine, slightly hidden from the reader.



Design 2


This is my second idea, the main image is a medium close up shot of the model/artist, this is shot is useful because the models face is still close enough to express their emotion and the eyes are still centered to captivate the readers attention which is important to draw the audience in. The mast head is situated across the top of the magazine however, placed on the layer behind the image of the model, this highlights the importance of the model and their story, however, this also shows that the magazine is so well known that it is still identifiable when being obstructed with an image. The main headline story would be in the left third of the magazine, which is a common place to be, however, it may overlap the main image considering that the story is based on that model, it also makes the cover seem slightly busier to fit in with the indie genre, this will attract the audience. Underneath the main headline will be the other coverlines in a neat column, with colour filled text boxes behind them, this makes it clearer and easier for the audience to read, instead of struggling to read off of a busy background, this also makes it easier to the eye and may introduce extra colour to add vibrancy to the magazine. other elements that will be included are; a banner at the bottom of the magazine, on the top layer to advertise a competition that the readers can get involved in, this attracts the readers in because they have a chance to win a potential price. There will also be a pug placed on the top layer, next to the image to highlight the price of the magazine.Another selling point for the magazine will be the strapline at the bottom of the magazne, which will say something like 'your indie fix'. Underneath the mast head i will place the barcode in the corner, this will be done because it isn't a pleasant sight on the cover and would be well hidden underneath the more interesting masthead.



Design 3

This is my third idea, the main image is a close up shot of the model/artist, using a close up is useful because the reader can be drawn in by their facial emotions and connect with the model, this makes them feel more of a part of the magazine. However doing this means that the audience can't see the models clothes or pose, which is a big influence on their personality and hints towards the story as well. The masthead is situated in the top left hand corner of the magazine, again this is a very cliche position, so would be easily identifiable to an audience. The main headline will be situated on the left third of the page, but not overlapping the image in this case because the image is a closeup, any part it would cover is an important part of the models face. Underneath the main headline will be an explanatory line for the story, this gives the reader a quick insight to what the story is about and the formality of the story, so they are able to decide whether their interested or not. below this will be a list of  the other sub stories and coverlines, with a few Polaroid images associated with the stories beside them. On the right of the image would be a list of artists within the magazine, this give the audience a chance to see what stories are inside the magazine, and if any artists they they listen to are featured. Other elements would include a barcode in the top corner of the magazine to be hidden away without obstructing any images. \also a banner at the bottom to highlight a competition with a chance to win, which will appeal to the readers, and a pug to highlight the price boldly, this means they would be able to quickly see the value for their money.

Initial Image Ideas

On the cover

• For the image on the cover, i think the most eye catching option would be to use a close up shot of the model, this has been shown to be effective on Q magazine for example, however this shot would only be successful if the artist is well known and is based on a story you know for sure the audience will want to read about. The close up shot would need to be centered on the middle of the cover so that the eyes are the main attraction, leaving your audience drawn in by the intensity they give off.

• The next option would be to use a medium shot of the model, this exposes more of the body allowing the audience to see more of their personality, however, this shot would still be close enough to see the intensity and expression on the models face therefore still attracting the audience in by it, this shot would probably be the best option because the idea of my story is to show how our artist has changed in the way she acts and the way she looks therefore this shot would be able to show how she is styled and the expression on her face.

• The last option would be a long shot, this offers the audience an insight into the full body of the model, revealing everything she is wearing. This shot doesn't allow you to see facial expressions as well as the others, however, it offers the chance to use props which could accentuate the models personality more.

On the contents page

• As research shows, a typical convention on a contents page is to use another image of the model used on the front cover, this keeps the attraction of the story, so the audience are compelled to read it.
• Also, i will have to include secondary images for sub-stories in the magazine, this is to promote reading the whole magazine which would show i contained many more interesting headlines. These images could include -pictures of new album covers-pictures from artists live tours-pictures of the audiences at gigs and festivals-or pictures of other artists.

On the double page spread

• On the double page spread i will use a larger amount of images previous to the other pages, most probably one main image, and then 2/3 smaller ones, some of which could be poloroids or thumbnail layouts. This gives the reader a variety to look at, aswell as, decorating and keeping the page interesting.

Initial Font Ideas

One of the most important elements for a front cover let alone the whole magazine is the mast head, the masthead of a magazine distinguishes it from all others, and needs to be noticeable enough to attract your target audience and any other consumers in general. So, here i have analysed 4 possible fonts in the name of my magazine:

This Font is called 'God of War'. It is a very simple font and lacks any major design elements. It can fall under the genre of Rock in a more mature status, because it is structured, however, it seems to hold quite a gothic style, which wouldn't really fit in with my magazine.

This font is called ' Wc Roughtrad Bta', this font fits in more with the alternative rock theme because it looks as if its been drawn on looking slightly more rebellious. However, with this font, i still think it looks too structured, and even slightly comical, also, i dont see a sense of design elemets which could be used to carry a theme throughout the magazine which is important.

This font is called '28 days Later'. This font is alot better than the last two, because it fits in with the indie/alternative theme because it looks worn away and slightly ruined in a sense, this gives off a rebellious look, i also think it's very eyecatching if it was placed next to other magazines on a shelf, which is good because it will attract the consumers. However, even though this is almost perfect i still don't think there is any element of Style which could be used in a theme, the font is still all very structured.

This font is called 'Stenstreet'. This font is similar to the last one in the way it looks worn out and ruined, however, i feel this one looks like a stencil of graffitti, which is more rebellious than the last, it is still structured, however offering a style element with the splats that can be carried on as a theme. If i was to see this on a magazine i think it would catch my attention, as it would with my target audience, even though i am going for a more glossy sophisticated look, it needs to broken up with elements that look more 'off the rails' such as the mast head. It would be dependant on the the way the rest of the magazine is styled to see if the look can be achieved.

Initial Colour Scheme Ideas

The majority of the magazines i had analysed previously show me that the colour scheme of a magazine is very important to attracts the audience's eye firstly, and then is used to associate the genre of music the magazine is aiming at with the colours used. here are the possible options:

BLACK:WHITE:PURPLE:This colour scheme follows the conventions of any rock genre magazines with the main use of black and white, and then the highlights of a contrasting colour. The colour purple could be a good option because it is a slightly more unisex colour so can appeal to both men and women, feel the colour scheme would appeal slightly more to women which is the same as my aims for my target audience, however i don't feel the purple is as bright as i would like to actually stand out and catch a consumers eye when its present on a shelf with many other brightly coloured magazines.

BLACK:RED:YELLOW:this colour scheme is along the lines of NME magazines, the black and red is another typical convention that can be used for rock genres, however i feel the yellow contrast is slightly to bright and exciting, just like NME magazine itself i feel that colour scheme appeals more to teens, which doesn't necessarily fall under my target audience description.

BLACK:WHITE:GREEN: This colour scheme once again, follows the black and white convntions with a contrasting colour, and in this case the contrasting colour is green which although is bright, and stands out from other magazines, i do not feel it would attract women as much, because when looking at colours in a masculine and feminine context, i feel green falls under the masculine group. Therefore, this would not attracts the majority of my target audience.

BLACK:WHITE:RED:This is another example of the black and white conventions, however, its a better example of the use of a contrasting colour. The red is a bright colour which resembles passion, in this case, the passion for music. This colour scheme follows the one for Q magazine, the fact that a magazine already uses this doesn't effect me because the style elements used will distinguish the two magazines from eachother. This colour scheme i feel attracts the target audience of both men and women, as well as the more mature teens and young adults with a slight sense of sophistication.

Initial Magazine Title Ideas

VERSATILE:Versatile in the sense of music means that a person is able and enjoys listening to different genre's and that they do not stick to one obvious one but varies their choices. In my opinion, i feel this title is relevant to the magazine because when describing my target audience, this would be a key term i would use. It can also attract a wider range of people because the title gives the essence to anyone that it would contain many stories varying to different tastes, therefore are bound to find it interesting.

RIOT!: This is my second idea, it relates to the magazine in the sense that it can fit in with the indie/alternative genre as an action taken by young adults, however, i feel this title is a better fit for a rock magazine, it provides a rebellious adrenaline pumped feeling, which for my target audience and genre is a bit too far out of range. Another reason, is that with a title like 'riot!' a quick association can be made to a messy, scattered look which unfortunately my magazine would not portray, seeing as i am targeting slightly older consumers, and not teens who it may appeal to more, unlike the more ssophisticated slightly neater approach.

A.M.N:This is an acronym which stands for 'Alternative Music Now' this is influenced by the magazine NME, it is a popular magazine and the bluntness of the title i thought is effective, which is why i came up with A.M.N. If i used this title the name simply tells the audience straight away what genre of music the magazine is associated with, which would consequently then attract that audience, using the word 'now' would also tell the audience that the news given in the magazine is exclusive, and they would be the first to hear it.

CLASH: This title can be associated with rock magazines in the sense of the sound effects made when acting in a rebellious fashion, however, i feel it would be a perfect word to use as my title because it does not connote any specific genre of music and even better it can mean that the contents inside may 'clash' with each other, giving that appeal of the versatility in the magazine with the more mainstream artists being highlighted as well as the indie/alternative ones.

Initial Story Ideas

Story lines are the key element needed in any magazine, they are what the reader will look at and then decide if they are interested,  if the reader  loses interest, they would have no reason to buy the magazine again, here I have thought of 3 different story lines I could  possibly use for my magazine, the stories would have to contain a typical indie/rock convention of having an edgy story,  however because my magazine will contain more mainstream artists I will have to include elements which are typical in a any kind of music magazine.

Story Idea 1

Is Faye’s Solo a NO NO?!
This story would contain Faye(the music artist) who has now realised herself she no longer wants to be a solo act, but wants to be in a group, it would be laid out as an interview asking her questions on if the rumour is true, and why she has decided this. This story would appeal to the target audience because they would be interested to know if she is going to join a band, why she wants to, when, and if the music will be the same. Having an exclusive story like this will also attract the audience because they would be intrigued by anything new, that no one has heard before.

Story Idea 2

Faye's Frills to Thrills!
This story would be based and discussing how much Faye has changed since she has entered the music industry, she has been transformed from a cute, innocent girl producing music, to a rock sex icon. The article would be based on a interview with her discussing the how she felt before and after the transformation, and the reason behind it, the story would show a comparison of the 'two different people'. This would appeal to the target audience because it shows the rebellious side of an artist being revealed and how she did it, Faye could then be an influence on many people who don't feel comfortable with themselves. This article would also attract a wider audience because her original 'pop' fans would want to read about her transformation as well.

Story Idea 3

Faye's Change of Heart
This article would be based on our artist Faye deciding she no longer believes she belongs in the music industry , it would be an interview with her discussing her exclusive  news on why she doesn't feel welcome in the music business anymore, and offering a special personal farewell in this article, this means the audience would be her fan base, as they are intrigued in why their icon is suddenly leaving, as well as it being an interesting read for any other fans that are interested in the music industry.


Other potential story cover lines for the front cover and contents page:

·         Katy Perry's live London tour exclusive

·         Top 100   songs at the moment

·         New band formed; will they be a hit or miss?

·         2 music icons are hitching up, and moving in?!

·         revealed duets

·         upcoming festivals

My Initial idea

So far in my process of creating a media product, i have analysed existing magazines and audiences to determine the type of magazine i would want to create. I have come to the conlusion that i would want to create a music magazine with an indie/alternative genre of music, this would consist of many artists that fall under the genre of 'rock' however, the difference for my magazine which could offer a more unique selling point is that it will contain alot more mainstream artists who are also well known and influencial. In my opinion, doing this would mean that my magazine would appeal to a much larger audience, giving the magazine a higher rate of success. The age range i am targeting would be between 17-25, this isn't a specific category split, but i believe it is a reasonable aged audience of young adults, this means that the way i portray my magazine would still be alternative in a sense, however, slightly more sophisticated in the way everything would be layed out.

Uses and Gratifications theory

Uses and gratifications theory is a way of approaching mass communication to an audience. The theory places more focus on the consumer or audience, the theory tries to embed the idea that consumers have an active roll in interpreting media into their own lives. The theory also claims that audiences are responsible for choosing media to meet their needs, for example if the audience like indie/alternative or Dance/Pop magazines, they would obviously choose a magazine that consisted colours, fonts, images and models that attract that type of people. This theory suggests that consumers use the media to gain specific gratifications.

Audience Demographics

In order to produce a successful media product, you must be able to understand the audience demographic and this is determined by assessing  many socio-economic factors such as the level of income,the area in which they live in, age, gender, occupation etc. Doing this is a vital part in production, marketing, and distribution for a media product because it gives the institutions a better and more detailed insight into what their target audience expect, and therefore are able to create a product that fulfills their wants and needs, this is an essential for a product to become successful.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Need's

This is Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of needs's, it is a psychological theory relevant to many subjects, such as, psychology, sociology, economics, and business. In this case i am relating his theory to marketing in media. Maslow believed that  the stages going from physiological towards self-actualization are the steps an individual must take to be happy within themself at their job. The bottom of the pyramid are the essentials where everyone would begin such as breathing and sleeping, and as you climb the pyramid higher the elements become more of a luxury, until you reach the top where you have everything that can make you happy in yourself and the people around you. In a marketing sense, the marketing department of a business would place their product in a  section of this pyramid in order to establish, the rate at which it would sell, the consumers, the price, the quality of the product, and even the location at which it would be sold. My product is a magazine meaning it isn't an essential, and is a product that people can easily live without, therefore, it would be placed at the top of the hierarchy and be labelled as a luxury not a need.

Audience Profiling

This is Skye, she is 20 years old, and is an example of my target audience. At the moment Skye is taking a music course at university, she has been for 1 year now and currently has 2 years left of her course, when she isn't at uni her and her friends share an apartment in London, they enjoy going to live gigs, and festivals, as well as clubbing in central London, they take any opportunity to go out and relax. Her ideal genre of music is indie/rock, and she enjoys listening to bands, such as kings of Leon and bowling for soup, however, Skye and her friends are more versatile in the music they enjoy listening to because they listen to most mainstream artists as well, such as Rihanna, Katy Perry, Jessie J, and Lady Gaga, these artists are also inspirations in the quirky, alternative ways in which they dress. Skye loves keeping up with trends and being one of the more fashion forward young adults, the most common places for her to shop would be Topshop and Urban Outfitters, even though they can be quite expensive for a student, the pieces she buys are timeless and so would never be a waste of money, on the other hand, it isn't an unusual sight to see her rummaging through her local charity shops, for those original vintage one of a kind pieces.

Analysis of double page spreads

Analysis of Double Page Spreads

Analysis of Contents pages

Analysis of 3 contents pages