Double spread page drafts

For my double spread page I looked at several NME pages for inspiration, having a main body of text as well as my own original image on the left.

Draft 1

Draft 2

For this second version I have added a byline as well as a caption for the dominant image and the image itself has been slightly enlarged so that there is less dead space. I have also removed the black bars from the main body of text to make the double spread page appear more professional. 

Contents page drafts

Draft 1

Draft 2

In this second version I have made the puff, at the bottom of the page, with more detail and making it more specific as to what they will be subscribing to. I also removed the page number in the bottom right of the page so that it does not overlap with the sell line in that space. Some of the dead space was taken filled up so it appears more professional. 

Contents page feedback

Contents page feedback

For the feedback given to me for the first draft for my contents page common comments received were to change some of the font sizes as it was hard to read and also making the 'band index' bolder as it was said to be difficult to read.

Cover Feedback

Feedback 

I got feedback for my front cover with helpful comments suggesting to change the masthead and subheading sizes as well as adding possible sub images. Another way in which it was suggested to improve my front cover was changing/removing my boarder and also changing the color scheme. However some of the feedback received I did not agree with such as a suggestion that the fosters logo was not suitable as this I feel is a key aspect to the photo showing the style and tone of the magazine.

Font and masthead ideas

For these inspirations I looked at what other magazines have used for their fonts and learnt that they need to be bold as a way to make what the text says stand out. Mastheads used for other magazines are short simple and easy to remember so that is what I aimed to do.

Fonts 

Gotham Ultra 

This is the font frequently used in the likes of NME a as well as other popular media platforms (a magazine I am taking key inspiration from) and this will allow for my own magazine to appear more professional as well as being more appealing with writing being clear enough to read while also standing out. So a key reason as to why I will most likely be using this is because it is recognisable and will make my magazine stand out while also making the information within the magazine stand readable.

Mastheads

Magazine inprirations

For this I looked at other magazines within the genre of music I have chosen I also learnt what makes them effective and draws in an audience. This also gave me ideas as to what I will do for my own magazine cover, double spread page and contents page.

Camera angles

From this I learnt the three primary camera angles/shot types I would like to be using for my photoshoot as away to show off my model to the best ability as well as helping get across the style of the magazine in the same process.

Photo shoot Organisation

The Model

Plan

For the shoot me and my model will first meet at my house before we get costumes ready and go the first location, which is The Stella. Shortly after that we will move on to the next location and take the required photos at Concord. Finally will we have went full circle, finishing the shoot at my house where we met up.

Weather

Photos

These at the photos we took, not all of these will be used for the final magazine but this means that I have multiple options as to what to use for the magazine. However the majority of these images became unusable so I later swapped out the model of myself because of time restraints and the previous model was unavailable.  

color

Colour inspirations
For this I looked at the album covers for bands within the genre of music I have chosen looking at the likes of the Beatles, The Stone Roses, Oasis and others. I learnt that these album covers are very simple with one main colour and the members at the centre and is something I possibly look to do for my magazine, presenting a serious tone for the issue.

color shades
These are the colors I feel will be best fitting for my genre of music and will also be eye catching enough to get people to but it.

Front cover drafts

This helped me create an idea as to what I will be doing for my final design and made me see what mistakes I have made and how I can improve with my next attempt for this music magazine cover. There are many improvements that can be made for my next draft as I can make the magazine cover look more authentic and real compared to what I have already done.

Second draft 

For this draft I added my original images taken with my model as well as changing the font styles, the subheadings and the masthead to make the cover more appealing. I also added a boarder, while having the date and also a price for the magazine along the top of the magazine cover.

Third draft 

For this draft I realized that the images took were not of the right level for the magazine so I then had to retake several pictures and swapped them out for the images from before. As well as that I also removed the border so that the magazine is more official, changed the price to a more suitable one, adding a sell line to the cover as a way to advertise the magazine better and also changing the masthead from 'FEDS' to 'CRASH' as that suits the genre of music better.

Fourth draft

For this version of my front cover my reordering my sell lines, having the quote at the centre of the page and also being visible enough to read. I also had the main image overlap the masthead to show that the artist/band is bigger than the magazine. There has been a sell line added to the bottom of the e page as a way to fill in the dead space.

Props

In this I learnt more about the style of my people in my target audience and the type of things will use and also do. My reasoning for these props is to show what the tone and style of the magazine is, that this for just ordinary people.

Costume

For this I looked the type of clothing my target audience would be wearing as well as some of my own to see what I had access to. This gave me a greater knowledge to what I am expecting from my target audience.

The 'Reece'

From this it made think more about what the photoshoot with the likes of health and safety, the risks at hand, colour lightening as well as many others.

Location

These are my three locations I look to use for my photoshoot and a key reason to that is because they are in my local area as well as also matching the style of music I am aiming for which is Britpop because this looks like places ordinary people would go to. Another location that was used for the final photoshoot was the college studio as it had the correct lightening and ensured that the images looked as professional as possible.

Front cover attempt

Front cover

From this i learnt what to do with photoshop, as it is a thing I am well experienced with and done the front cover. A way this could be improved is by having more information on and add a plug/puff. More detail to the cover could also give the music magazine cover more depth. 

Finished products

College Magazine 

Front Cover 

A dominant image was chosen for the front cover because it makes the magazine stand out, more intriguing and can attract more people to read on as it is a striking image used for the cover. The pull quote used says 'I did it... only just' these adds humorous element to the magazine demonstrating a light and informal tone as it isn't asking to be taken seriously. The quote also works well with the image as it creates the image of triumph and winning. A long shot was used for the dominant image because it shows the scale and helps with showing their victory.

Contents page

The images used within the contents page is primarily long and extreme long shots as a way to the scale of the college and that it should be taken seriously. The multiple sub images give the page depth and teases the magazine but at the same time withholds key information about the stories with lots more to be read by the reader. A way to improve this would be to possibly add more features to the page, as a way to give it more depth and detail to get the readers attention better.

Flat Plans

Front cover flat plan

For this we took inspiration from previous students work and also looked at our deconstructions of other magazine covers. We know that the it is important to have the masthead at the top of the page as it makes the issue stand out properly and shows the impotence of what is being read. A pull quote was also used to give authenticity to the magazine and show it is a good place. 

Contents page flat plan

For this we decided to use multiple images for the contents page as an interesting way to tease the reader without giving away any essential information interwoven with text for the pages within the magazine. So the page is interesting with images teasing the stories in the issue and not giving away too much as the page numbers will give the context to the magazine.

costume and prop ideas

This showed me what I could use of my original images, how to set them and what the model should wear to get across a specific message for example wearing jeans it shows they are more casual and relatable. so from this I have learnt that the use of costume and props can help get across the tone/message of the magazine.

survey

This showed the majorities within my audience and from this I learnt what to focus on with my magazine and what key areas to look at as a way to meet the demands/expectations of my target audience.

Audience Profiles

From this i learned that there could be a quiet wide range of people within my target audience as there is different age groups presented; as well as that I have looked at three different types of people because one is most likely not to enjoy my magazine (profile 1), another might have a slight interest (profile 2) and the other will really enjoy what will feature with my magazine (profile 3).

Target audience

From this I have looked at what to expect with my target audience, from there hair and clothing styles, to what they drink and even films that could represent who they are. I can learn what the audience could expect from my magazine and will help with designing  the magazine.

Facial Expressions

I learnt the different types of facial expressions that could feature on the likes of my front cover and something like that could help entice my audience as well as also give off an idea of what to expect from the magazine. For example if I had a comical image it would suggest a more lighter and less formal tone.

generic conventions

The generic conventions showed me almost a guide line as to how a magazine could be designed and also an possibly ways I could be original in designing my own as I could put my own spin/attempt if these generic tropes. This will help along with my actual magazine as it show me what to have.

Competition

In order to create my own magazine I must delve into the competition I will be facing with the likes of Kerrang and NME. So what I did was look at there target audiences, looking at the possible audience for my magazine, the prices, as a way to find an average of a price for my own and also giving some general information about the two magazines. So from this I have learnt what my magazine could take inspiration from.

Institution

Deconstructions

By deconstructing multiple covers, contents page and double spread pages I now have a greater knowledge in how magazines are and what is used within them as a way to entertain or engage a reader from this I can take great inspiration and look to include similar elements for my front cover, contents page and double spread page.

Time Management

9/9/16

Aims: Create my blogger account and get a deeper understanding of the Media Studies course. start, complete and upload a mood board based on the genre of music i have chosen. 

Reflection: I have completed the genre mood board and also uploaded it to my own blog after creating an account. I also have a greater understanding of the course.

14/9/16

Aims: To have a collage of front covers, contents pages and double spread pages chosen from the genre of music picked by myself and begin the proposal table.

Reflection: I created a collage of with three different pages (on prezi) focusing on a the genre of music i picked which was Brit pop as well as that there was a collage of contents pages and also double spread pages to help with inspiration for my magazine. This was then uploaded to my blog.

16/9/16

Aims: To have an understanding of language and register, analyze/deconstruct a magazine front cover based on the genre of music i have chosen and the same for a double spread page or an article based on the genre chosen. 

Reflection: I analysed the cover of an NME issue with Oasis being the vocal point of the magazine linking to the genre of music I picked, as well as that I also looked at a double spread page about The Last Shadow Puppets and uploaded both of them to my blog. I also have a greater knowledge with language and register.

21/9/16

Aims: To create a time management document, learn more about key terms, class deconstructions.

Reflection: In this lesson i analyzed a cover, contents page and also a double speed page as well as looking at more key terms based around media.

23/9/16

Aims: deconstructions of a front cover, contents and double spread page. 

Reflection: in this lesson i completed the deconstructions of 2 different covers, double spread page and contents page.

28/9/16

Aims: I will be looking at competition with my magazine and also talk about how will compete with theses other magazines, how my magazine will be different to the others. As well as that I will also look a institution research and picking which institution will best fit my magazine. I will then look at generic conventions within the magazine genre i have chosen.

Reflection: In this lesson i looked the other magazines in my genre as well as looking at institutions but will finish the generic conventions for Friday.

30/9/16

Aims: By the end of this lesson I will want to have any unfinished work completed, look into competition/generic conventions and also look at facial expressions.

Reflection: I have looked at different facial expressions as well as what they say about the magazine and finished the generic conventions of magazines within my genre of music.

5/10/16

Aims: I aim to create a moodboard for my target audience as well as audience profiles, a survey interview and reader profile. 

Reflection: I created a moodboard based around my target audience as well as some character profiles.

7/10/16

Aims: For this lesson I aim to have my survey completed and also finish my audience profiles. 

Reflection: I've now completed my survey and will need to wait for responses so that I can finish my reader profile as well as finishing my audience profiles.

12/10/16

Aims: In this lesson I look to start and complete the preliminary task, where I must create a cover and contents page for a college magazine. 

Reflection: I did complete the preliminary task, doing both he cover and contents page for a college magazine.

14/10/16

Aims: In this lesson I will be experimenting with photoshop and also creating a draft cover for a music magazine.

Reflection: From this lesson I gained a greater knowledge of how to use photoshop and created a front cover for a music magazine.

2/11/16

Aims: For this lesson I aim to begin my music magazine cover as well as finding a cover to take direct inspiration from.

Reflection: In this lesson I did my first draft for my music magazine front and left much room for improvements on the cover.

4/11/16

Aims: In this lesson I aim to add to my front cover and make some changes to it.

Reflection: I created another draft for my front cover but still need to add my own image.

16/11/16

Aims: for this lesson I aim to have finished my first draft of my magazine front cover. 

Reflection: in this lesson I finished my first draft, adding my original images to the magazine front cover.

18/11/16

Aims: in this lesson a will want to do a recap over contents page recap, then looking back over my first magazine cover draft before beginning the contents page

Reflection: I began my contents page and also looked back on my front cover as well as reaping common contents page features.

2/12/16

Aims: To start my double spread page.

Reflection: Started my first draft for my double spread page.

7/12/16

Aims: Look at other double spread pages to help with inspiration and also continue the draft I began in the previous lesson.

Reflection: I found an NME double spread page to use as a template for my own double spread page and also continued my draft beginning my pages article.

9/12/16

Aims: To continue with the first draft if my double spread page as well as revise the key features of double spread pages.

Reflection: Revised key features of double spread pages (pull quote, caption etc.) and added to my first draft of my double spread page.

14/12/16

Aims: To see what needs to be finished for my planning and research as well as adding to my double spread page.

Reflection: I looked over my blog to see what was missing for my planning and research so I can catch up and be up to date as well as adding to my double spread page.

4/1/17

Aims: Get up to date with my work and look at the feedback received for my contents page and front cover 

Reflection: I added to my front cover as well as my contents page

6/1/17

Aims: I will be getting feedback for my double spread page as well as add to my other drafts.

Reflection: I received feedback for my double spread page and look to improve upon it with the comments i received. As well as that I added to my front cover.

11/1/17

Aims: For this lesson i want to finish the rest of my flat plans and rationals, make some slight adjustments to my front cover and possibly begin my evaluation. 

Reflections: I finished my flat plans and rationals as well as being my evaluation.

13/1/17

Aims: To get my blog drafts up to date and add to my cover and double spread page 

Reflection: I have updated my blog with all of my current drafts as well as adding some small touches to my front over and double spread page.

18/1/17

Aims: To being questions 2 and 3 for my evaluation

Reflection: I started question 2 and question 3 for evaluation

20/1/17

Aims: To have completed my first three questions of my evaluation and possibly begin my question four

Reflection: I have almost completed my first three questions and have began my fourth question

proposal form

Language and Register

I learnt the kind of things to expect for these types of music magazines as I looked at the cover of an NME magazine and learnt the type of language inside these kinds of magazines and is something that I will be looking to use for my own cover, contents page and double spread page as it will suit the tone I will likely be aiming for.

Mood Board

From this learnt what to expect with this kind of genre, that being Britpop, as I looked at the style of the music genre and also the type of bands and music in it. There is also a summary of what Britpop is actually about and the kinds of messages given off from that kind of music

Brief

Briefs 
When centres choose briefs to offer to candidates, they should be guided by their strengths in terms of resources and expertise. Centres should also bear in mind the key areas: forms and conventions, production contexts, the role of technologies, audiences/users and representations. 
Print 
Preliminary exercise: using DTP and an image manipulation program, produce the front page of a new school/college magazine, featuring a photograph of a student in medium close-up plus some appropriately laid-out text and a masthead. Additionally candidates must produce a DTP mock-up of the layout of the contents page to demonstrate their grasp of the program. 
Main task: the front page, contents and double page spread of a new music magazine (if done as a group task, each member of the group to produce an individual edition of the magazine, following the same house style). Maximum four members to a group. 
~ All images and text used must be original, produced by the candidate(s), minimum of FOURimages per candidate. ~

Welcome

Hi and welcome to my AS Media blog where you can watch me fumble my way through my coursework, good luck.