Evaluation

The magazine that I have produced follows most of the conventions of existing magazine products. I used no more than three colours when deciding on a colour scheme because most existing magazines do not go beyond three colours within the scheme. This includes text colour, background colour and maybe even the wardrobe of the person on the cover. I made sure that in my product I used these conventions because to make my magazine successful, it would be necessary to follow existing successful products’ conventions. I also made sure that conventional features such as, the masthead, puffs, images, banners, date, price & barcode were included in my cover piece. I made sure that font size, image size and layout fit the conventional features of existing products to make my product look more convincing as a magazine product.

The social group I represented for my piece was street style female teenagers. I then went on to produce a magazine that would represent female R&B artists in a fashionable and glamorous way, so then my piece would target that particular social group. Being a male myself I knew this would be out of my comfort zone and a challenge to produce a successful piece. To grasp the representation of female R&B artists, I looked at existing female R&B artists and looked how they represented to their audience by their wardrobe and body positioning. The artists below gave me an inspiration of the kind of women I represented on my magazine cover.

From looking at these images I then produced my own images by using appropriate wardrobe and jewellery. I also made the hair and make up look appropriate to the image I was portraying.

I then made sure that body language and positioning showed the connotations that I wanted to represent to my audience.

Judging on my inspiration of magazines, the media institution that may distribute my product would be ‘Time inc’. This institution would best suit my magazine because it produces modern style entertainment magazines.

Time Inc. Products: http://www.timeinc.com/brands/

‘Vibe’ magazine, which is a hip-hop and R&B magazine, was my main inspiration for my magazine production, and this magazine was distributed by ‘Time Inc’.

Vibe Magazine: http://www.vibe.com/

The magazine stopped being published by ‘Time inc’ in 2009, so it may be possible that a new magazine would take its place, in which case my magazine could do. After shutting down, private equity investment fund InterMedia Partners, LP bought Vibe Magazine. Below are some ‘Vibe’ magazine covers that featured female R&B artists.

The target audience for my piece would be female teenagers aged 16+, mainly interested in hip-hop and R&B music. I chose hip-hop and R&B genre of music because from my target audience research, it proved to be the most popular within my age group. This target audience would be hard to capture for me because I am a male myself. Also, I think that males could be a target audience as well because they may be attracted to some of the females in my piece, which will make them want to buy my magazine.

To address my audience, I made sure that the females in my piece set across a good image to the female audiences. I made sure that the body positioning made them look mature and fashionable. I needed to make sure that the target audience was appealed by the sort of people featured in my piece. I also made sure that the wardrobe was appropriate to the sort of image I was portraying to the audience, and not make the females look exposed or raunchy. I dressed the females in stylish clothing that wasn’t too revealing. I made them wear jewellery that suited the music genre I was portraying to the audience, for example I used gold chains for the front cover female to represent the genre of hip-hop and R&B. However, I made the female on the double page spread to set a more mature and glamorous image to the audience, where as the cover showed a more street and urban image of a female. Below are the images of the cover shot, double page spread feature shot and free poster shot.

Cover Shot Double

Double Page Spread Feature Shot

Free Poster Shot

From the technologies I have used whilst producing my piece, I have learnt to develop and manipulate images, text, graphics and layout to a standard where it looks professional. I have been able to do this by using software such as ‘Photoshop’ and ‘Quark’. With ‘Quark’ I have been able to create certain effects with my piece to make it more interesting and stand out more to the audience. This software also allowed me to create a layout that was conventional for a music magazine production. By being able to cut out images from the original image background with ‘Photoshop’, I have been able to place pictures on a new and more effective background. I have learnt how to use most of the necessary skills with this software to create a very convincing and appealing outcome.

From the preliminary task, I have learnt more skills in being able to use the ‘Quark’ software to produce a more successful piece in terms of layout, text and colour effects. The preliminary task gave me a basic idea of how to use ‘Quark’ but whilst producing the main task I have found more effective and skilful ways of producing a more convincing piece. Also, I have developed my skills in the use of ‘Photoshop’ to be able to cut out images to place on top of more effective backgrounds. I have learnt how to use colour gradients to make the backgrounds more appealing and modern. I believe that my photography skills improved vastly from my preliminary to the main product. I learnt new ways in taking a better quality image such as lighting, camera modes and backdrops. I created a set up using household equipment such as old bed sheets and strong light lamps. Looking in comparison from the preliminary and the main task, I feel I have improved vastly in my skills of creating a print piece.

Final Outcome

Here is the final outcome of my production piece. This Includes:

• Magazine Cover

• Magazine Contents Page

• Double Page Spread

• Free Poster

Magazine Cover

Contents Page

Double Page Spread

Free Poster

Planning For Main Task

Brief

The brief of the main task is to create a music magazine using DTP software. This magazine must include:

• A Front Cover

• A Contents Page

• A Double Page Spread

After i have completed my research into music magazines, I need to plan out my magazine design by:

• Choosing The Music Genre
  

• Choosing Colour Scheme and Main Theme For Front Cover
  

• Sketching Out Ideas For Layout, Logos, Font and Images, and Then Developing to Final Idea
  

• Thinking About Model(s), Hair, Make-up and Wardrobe
  

• Taking Many Photos And Thinking Which Photos Work Best

Chosen Genre

Based on the results of my target audience research, the genre that will be featured in my magazine will be R&B/Hip-Hop. It was the most popular music genre within the age group i researched. Although it is out of my comfort zone, i have decided to produce this type of magazine because if it is the most popular genre and will therefore make my magazine more successful.

Chosen Colour Scheme

Again, based on the results of my questionnaire, the three colours that people related most to the music genre R&B/Hip-Hop were, Black, Gold and Silver. These three colours will be featured as the colour scheme for the front cover of my magazine. This will include font colour, banners and/or possibly accessories or wardrobe worn by the artist. It is a conventional feature that up to three colours are used on the cover for colour scheme so i will make sure this is shown on the final product.

Basic Layout Drafts

Before i start thinking specifically what will be featured in the magazine, i have drawn a basic layout mock up for the magazine. Following the conventional features of layout from my existing product research. Below are my drafts.

Front Cover Layout

Contents Page Layout

Double Page Spread Layout

From these drafts i will then think about a name for the magazine, type of font, and images i will use and then draft up my ideas based on these conventional layouts i have chosen.

Name Of Magazine

The name i have chosen for my magazine is 'Sub'. I have chosen this name because Subs is the name for loud speakers used in cars, for music with a big bass. I thought this name would be relevant to the music genre i have chosen so i have decided to use this as the name of the magazine. Below are some ideas for fonts.

From these ideas, i will chose the top font, which is 'BlairMdITC TT-Medium'. I think this text forks best for the masthead because it looks the most urban and modern, like the music genre.

Representation Of Images

The image i am potraying on the cover of my magazine is of female artists that appeal to young audience, especially females. The look i am going for is like sexy, cool and young. I want to be setting a good image of a female to set a good image to the female audience. The way in which the image represents to the audience is how the person is dressed and positioned. To represent this to my audience i have took some ideas from real life female artists and looked into how they represent a certain look to the audience.

Image Ideas

The images that will be featured in my magazine will be of Female R&B/Hip-Hop artists. Below are some images of famous female R&B/Hip-Hop artists.

This is the kind of image i want to portray to the audience of a female R&B/Hip-Hop artist. The girls look quite glamorous with the jewellery used, but they do actually look quite street fashionable. It seems that jewellery and wartdrobe is the main focuses of the image, as they stand out the most. It is a medium shot that is usually used to show the items but also show a focus on the artist aswell. A bit of flesh is shown depending on the style of the Artist. Missy Elliot (3rd image down) Does not show any flesh, but she portrays herself to be quite 'gangster hip-hop' within the music world, So the 'bling' and baggy clothes is the main focus of the image. Some feminity is shown however with the make-up. The others, Beyonce, Alicia Keys and Tulisa show some flesh and femininity. This is because their style is sexy, cool, and glamorous.However, Beyonce and Alicia Keys both show a more mature and glamorous image as Tulisa gives portays a more stylish and street style. These are the styles i am going to potray within my music magazine. Looking at these images and style, i will now draft my magazine cover with the type of images i will use, and then produce my own images using a proffesional camera.

Final Drafts

Here are the final drafts for my cover, contents page and double page spread. This is showing the colour, font, text and sort of images i will be using within my piece. I have also included the interview that i will write up in my double page spread which has been corrected.

Cover

Contents Page

Double Page Spread

Double Page Spread Interview Text

Now i have completed my final drafts for my production piece, i can now take my images based on the ideas from these drafts and from that i now know the colour, layout, font and type of images i am goin to use in my final piece.

Images

Now I have completed all my planning, the only thing that was left was to take my images. I used a still camera to take the pictures and i used a back drop and lighting to make the pictures look more effective and have a better quality. I made sure that all mise en scene related to what i planned to feature in my piece. Here are the images i am going to use for my final piece.

Cover Shot

Contents Page Shots

Double Page Spread Shot

Now i have my images i can now use them for my final piece. I am going to use photoshop software to do any manipulating and i will use Quark software to produce the final outcome.

Research For Main Task

Brief
The brief of the main task is to create a music magazine using DTP software. This magazine must include:

• A Front Cover

• Contents Page

• Double Page Spread

Before I start to design my magazine, I need to research in detail about music magazines. I should research into:

• Exsisting Products

• Target Audience

• The Music Magazine Industry

After i have completed my research into music magazines, I need to plan out my magazine design by:

• Choosing The Music Genre.

• Sketching Out Ideas For Layout, Logo's and Images, and Then Developing to Final Idea.

• Choosing Colour Scheme and Main Theme For Front Cover.

• Thinking About Model(s), Hair, Makeup and Wardrobe

• Taking Many Photos And Thinking Which Photos Work Best.
  

Research: Existing Products

Magazine Covers

Here I have chosen 5 different existing magazines of different genres and themes and i have decided to annotate them, pointing out the conventional features and stating what effect these features have on the magazine.

Annotations

Here are my annotations for existing magazine covers.

From my research i found that most magazine covers follow certain conventional features and layouts. For example, the main artist of the magazine is always the largest picture in the centre of the cover and the masthead is always the largest text. Apart from when, occasionally, the magazine publishes a special issue, which then doesn't follow some conventional features of the usual magazine cover.

Example

This cover is a special issue of Q magazine, and it does not follow the conventions of a normal magazine cover. Such as there are no puffs included on the cover, and the only image included is the one of the main artists. It has been made to look more like a film poster. Only on occasion will these issues be published. They are usually published to get a reaction from the audience and they will want to read it.

In the 80's & 90's, there were more magazines published that covered a range of different music genres. This includes magazines such as smash hits! or top of the pops.

There are still magazines published nowadays that cover a range of music genres, but not as much as there was before because now there are lots more music tastes that people are interested in.

Now i am familiar with conventional features of magazine front covers. I can now start think about some ideas for my front cover. The image of the main artist will be the largest image on the page and in the centre because this is the common feature of a magazine cover layout. Also the masthead must be bold and stand out of my magazine to grasp the attention of the audience. This will make sure that my magazine will be rememberes. Most magazines have a colour scheme of up to 3 colours so i need to take this into account when planning my magazine. Other features such as puffs, bar codes, dates etc. i will also think about when planning my cover. I need to make sure my magazine covers all conventional features of existing magazines to make it successful.

Contents Pages

Here are my annotations of existing contents pages.

From my research it seems that existing magazine contents pages do follow certain conventional features but there are aspects that do differ. All contents pages have the large title of 'contents' on the page using large and bold text to stand out of the page. Also bold text is used for the page listings so the audience can read the page clearly. The date and issue number is always shown small but bold because it isn't that important but it is essential to be featured on the page.

The features that differ are the images included on the page, such as the main story image can be the only image featured on the page but other contents pages may include other images of sub stories and exclusive features. But the main story Image is always the largest image.

Now i am familiar with the featues of contents pages, i can now think about how i can plan my contents pge. I must include all the features i have found. The main story image must be the largest on the page. All the text must be bold and clear and a date and issue number must be included.

Double Page Spreads

Here are my annotations of douple page spreads.

Like the covers and the contents pages, double page spreads do follow certain conventional features. There is usually only one image used of who the story is about, and takes up about one page of the spread. The main quotation from the story is picked out and shown large and bold on the page.

Sometimes, the first letter of the text is very large and bold, to show the audience where to start reading. The text following is always very small, but this is because there is alot of writing and it needs to fit on one page.

Also, like the cover and contents page of a magazine, a colour scheme is used, again up to 3 colours max. Sometimes the wardrobe or photo editing can match with the colour scheme.

Now i have covered all the conventional features and layouts of douple page spreads, i can think about planning my page. I will make sure that my page will cover all the most common conventional features to make my magazine successful.

Research: Target Audience

For my target audience research, i decided to write my own interview/questionaire table, with important questions that will show which music genre is most popular. From that i also needed to find which colour scheme would they think would be relevant to that genre, and what makes them buy the magazine. Here is the table Below.

I completed this table with a range of 16 & 17 year old males and females. From my results it showed that the most popular music genre was R&B/Hip Hop. The 3 colours that most people associated with that genre were Black, Gold and Silver.

Also i found out from my results that the most common reason why teenagers buy magazines they are interested in is based on their interest in the artist(s) featured inside the magazine or on the cover.

Branching from my results of the questionaire i produced, the music genre, colour scheme and interest that was most popular will be put into my final idea.

Research: The Magazine Industry

Within the magazine industry, there are many magazine publishing companiesn all over the world. But these companies do not just publish one magazine, they publish a wide range of different magazines, that are usually quite popular, and are seen in most stores and supermarkets.

For example, 'The National Magazine Company' is one of the foremost luxury consumer magazine publishers in the U.K, reaching 4.8 million adults every year. It currently publishes 20 magazines and 61% of all ABC1 magazine reading women aged 15-55 engage with a 'National Magazine' brand. Below are some of the magazines that 'The National Magazine Company' have produced.

Now that I have a knowledge of the magazine industry, i can now think about the type of Industries that would publish my magazine and make it a successful production.