Music Magazine Questionaire

R&B Magazine Conventions

Production Plan

• First I will research all the front covers, contents pages, and double page spread in my chosen R&B genre.
• I will then look at all the conventions on the front cover, contents page and double page spread which I will  include in my designs of my product
• Next, I will do a questionnaire to see what the audiences is attracted to, for example the colours and fonts of sell lines.
• Think of sell lines and a story line for my product
• look at mastheads and decide which one is most effective to use

• Then I will create a hand drawn and digital mock up of my magazine ideas
• I will then create a draft with some example photos I have taken and use photo shop to edit the photo and add sell lines and the masthead.
•  I will decide how I want my model to look, so I will decide the Mise en scene of my images. for example how the models make-up, hair, and costume.
• Take pictures of my model (photo shoot)
• I will then look at all my images and decide which I think will look best on the front cover, contents page and double page spread.
• Then I will edit the images using photo shop and change the colour slightly e.g black and white
• Now I can create my double page spread, contents page and front cover.
• I will then get some audience feedback and make any improvements if necessary.
• Complete the final product 
• Finally, I will carry out an evaluation of my product. 

New Brief

Main Task:
The front page, contents and double page spread of a music magazine. All images and text used must be original, produced by you- minimum of four images.

Digital Mock up and Contents page

Final Front Cover

Evaluation

Evaluation of my college magazine

            This design brief asked me to create and present a college magazine, featuring a photograph of a student in medium close-up, plus appropriately laid-out text and masthead. 

           

             Overall, I believe that my magazine meets the brief specification, because, I have used a student as the main focus by doing a medium close up shot, having a student on the front cover will appeal to the readers, as she looks happy and content, this I feel portrays the benefits of being a Wyke student. The building  shot shows an environment which is professional and well managed. The text/sell lines on the front cover, informs readers about the organisation and the activities on offer, for example the Halloween party. Students will be drawn to ‘Get the best start’ sell line, as they will be interested to learn how it might help them get through the first 3 weeks as a college student, advice on how to manage your time, and to learn about other students experiences. Using  subjects such as these shows that the student voice is represented, which could also increase sales, as students opinions and values are being listened to. I believe that the readers of this magazine will be convinced having looked at the design on the front cover, that student life at Wyke College is good, as the magazine is bright and modern. Personally, I think using the colours purple and green, enables the magazine to be personalized to the college and makes it stand out to Wyke college students, as they will recognise the colours. The mood board I have produced has helped because it has enabled me pull all my ideas together, to help me create my magazine.

Doing all my research has helped me to create a final draft. I have looked at existing products and noticed what could be improved.  I believe that I could improve my design in the future, by making sure the colours are bold enough to read and stand out against the background. I also think that I could show featured images that are in the magazine on the front cover, as it shows them a preview before buying.

         

 In comparison to this magazine, (to the left) my design is similar, as the mast head and the main image are the main focus, therefore it is eye catching and will grab the reader’s attention. The magazines have some conventions in conman as I have added the date, bar code, skyline and a masthead. Both my design and this magazine are holding either folders or books  which suggests that the models are intellectual. However, this magazine has more going on, more features and adverts, which will help the magazine to sell.                     

In conclusion, I feel that I am happy with the design and product that I have produced. I have successfully produced a magazine for a college and included the conventions of a magazine front cover. Having produced this magazine front cover and having undertaking product research I have realised the importance of ensuring that the content is up to date, modern, and relevant to the needs and expectations of students and their lives as student . If all the above criteria are met the magazine will be popular and successful.

Ideas mood board relating to genre/target audience

Unused images

Personally, I think this image of the library isn't suitable for my college magazine, because it hasn't got a main focus, for example a student with folders and books. So for my final magazine cover I am going to use the outside of the library and ensure that I include a main focus that been a student. I am going to use this as one of the layers (background) to the magazine because it is an open area. Which could indicate that students are able to explore/investigate new ideas in this area of the college.

This image looks too far away and doesn't grab the customers/students attention immediately, because the features, such as the Wyke logo isn't close enough in the shot. 

 However, this image is closer but still doesn't grab the customers attention. This is because the feature lettering still isn't big enough and is still too far away.

This image is different again as the photo has been presented as a tilt shot. I have done this because it adds variety and adds more emphasis on the college. This type of shot makes it more dramatic as you see images from a different angle and adds height to the main focus. However, I havent used this photo because the brief states that the shot of the student/ model has to be a medium shot.

I haven't used this image because there is too larger percentage of flooring in the shot, which takes away the detail of the display and there is no model for the main focus.

Initial ideas spider diagram

 

Existing Products research

Existing Products

                                              

Overall, all of these magazines have conventions, such as  the date,  mast head, main image, colour scheme, bar code, sell lines, captions and their own school name. These are all on a magazine because they are predictable and customers will expect them to be on it.

This has helped me create new ideas for college magazines because I now know what is on the market already and what works and what doesn't, so this can help me to create new ideas for my final magazine. Researching top magazine shows me what is popular/ eye-catching and images that assist the sales of magazines. All the images shown on the examples display success, contentment, and confidence. All of which helps to make the magazine successful.

It is important to display up to date images on the front pages to encourage people to want to read more and to get people                                                               involved.

Examples of shot types

Shot Types



 

· Extreme Close up shot

This is where the shot is shown to a large scale, in fine detail and tightly framed. For example:

My own image

Image I found

·         Close up

This is where the photograph focuses on eg a person’s head. Close-ups are useful for showing detail for example it could emphasize a persons emotional state/ make up detail or the colours and textures of a flower head. Whereas a mid shot is more overall detail.

Image I found

My own image

·         Medium shot

A medium shot is taken in middle distance allowing some of the background in the shot

my own image

image I found

·         Long shot

Is the full length of the photo that the shot is focusing on, which enables the full image of the picture to be displayed. For example:

My image

image I found

·         Pan shot

This is where the camera is static but moves slightly to the right, this enables the shot to have a wider range. Pan shot contains two distance shots both left and right in one picture. For example my own image:

My own image ^

 

·         Tracking shot

This is the opposite as the camera moves. The camera is on a track so the shot will be smooth, clear and precise. However if the camera was handheld the shot/picture could be blurred and the subject been filmed could be distorted. So a tracking shot will also have a better picture as the shot would remain in focus. For example:

 

•    Tilt shot

Tilt shot is where the camera angle looks up or down at the object being photographed, instead of being on the same level. Tilt shots are use normally for more dramatic than straight-angle shots.

image i found

my own image

·         Zip pan
Is a rapid pan movement.

·     Shallow dept of field shot    
(For example a scary film) The focus is on the phone when it rings and the person is out of focus. Then the focus switches from the person been blurred to the phone be out of focus, which creates a dramatic tension.

·         Contra zoom
Is when the lens moves but the camera is static. So the background changes but is out of focus. Contra zoom creates a shock/surprise 

·         Rule of thirds
This is when the point of interest goes on the thirds, for example:

LIIAR analysis of a magazine front cover

LIIAR analysis

The first aspect of the magazine that hits me is the colour scheme (blue and yellow). It could suggest that it is the college sports colours or the college logo. The model is looking directly at the camera (medium shot), which makes the shot look like he is looking directly at the customer. The model looks happy, confident and gives the impression that the model has a positive outlook on the college. The target audience are students as the magazine informs them about their college, the subjects covered are ones that they are able to relate to. The article about sleeping with my Professor is a shock tactic which will encourage the customer to buy the magazine and read more about the issue  

The main image on this magazines front page has a big impact as the model is smiling and looks intellectual as he is holding the Law books. The way that the model shown on this front cover is dressed is not the stereotypical person to study this subject and become successful in this vocation. The model also looks like he is happy in the college environment and could enable the reader to be positive about being at college. The background is bold so the lime green mast head and sell lines stand out. This magazine overall has a trendy, up to date, eye catching image, which portrays success, satisfaction and achievement.

In this magazine the mast head has been created because the colour red could relate to the passion she has for the college. The models smile creates a positive image of the college and college life as a student. The front page spread suggests that the life as a student is great and that you too can be confident and happy. This magazine is also targeted at students as they can relate to it. The magazine has an up to date image and informs the students about student life and present issues surrounding this age group of people eg fashion.