10/May/2010

After receiving peer review and feedback it was bought to my attention that some basic errors in grammar had occurred in my final product. Therefore I have gone back and tweaked these elements to make my product fit for purpose.
Here is the very final product!

29/Apr/2010 Main Task

F:\Evaluaton Powerpoint

View more presentations from LydiaChapman.

28/Apr/2010 Main Task

FINAL PRODUCT...

Front cover


Contents page


Double page spread

19/Apr/2010

I have also been producing my double-page spread. These images show the development.
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Images 1 and 2 show the initial layers of the double-page spread. I have used the lined paper image again for the background layer as this means the product will link as a whole and means that the magazine can be easily identified. To add colour and interest to the spread i have incorporated my own image of the 'lips'. I have used photoshop tools to create the dissolved effect so as the image does not just look 'plonked' on top.
After completing the background i added the images of Katie, she is the story and so the pictures of her mean the reader can identify with the text. The pictures also add interest and colour. I have used the photoshop tool 'multiply' on the picture of katie in her pj's, this effect makes the background really work as one.
I have used the same font that i have used throughout for the title on this spread. I have used capital letters so as it stands out and have used a purple line to underline the title. Using the photoshop tool 'eyedropper', i have took the purple colour from the contents page and used it here insuring a regular colour scheme throughout.
Image 3 shows some of the text, i will use two columns on each page. Image 3 also shows a picture of Katie, i have used a pink rectangle to create a border around it. This adds more colour and accentuates the picture.
Image 4 shows more text on the spread. I have used two columns here as i did on the first page. I have used a pink border around the edge of the top right hand corner image as i did on the first page, i have does this as it again eccentuates the image but also adds colour. I have added a quote, it has been displayed in puple text boxes so as it stands out and adds extra interest. I used the 'rectangle tool' on photoshop to achieve this effect.

14/Apr/10 Main Task

I have now begun producing my contents page. These images show the development.

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I have used the lined paper in the background again, i have done this to continue the theme throughout the magazine and it also makes the background layout of the page more interesting. I have added the image of Katie wearing a heart necklace over the top and then used the effect 'multiply', this, with the off-centre heart creates an awesome subtle effect.

I have used the margin in the lined paper layer to contain the masthead of the page 'contents'. It is clear and effective. I have echoed the purple colour from the shadow on the magazine title 'PINK' from the front cover. I have done this as it ties everything together and the colours don't become to busy.

Image 2 shows all the text. I have used a bigger font for the headings, 'On the cover', 'Features' and 'The usual' and then used the same colour for the page numbers. This means the reader can identify the story they want easily and creates a fun and colourful page.

I would have been happy to leave the the cover as seen in image 2 but to follow the conventions images should be added to the page, therefore i have added the image of Alice studying and another picture of Katie. I have used these images as they both relate to things featured on the page.

Image 3 shows the final product. I am really happy with the outcome as it relates perfectly to young girls and links nicely to the front cover.

14/Apr/10 Main Task

I have taken these pictures of my friend Alice. I wanted to portray a young girl studying hard! I then wanted to use this image on the contents page as i am including a feature, 'Revision tracks'.

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Images 1 and 2 show the back of Alice. I don't think i will use either of these pictures as i would prefer to see her face because then the reader can relate and really understand the image.

The angle of image 4 is not right. It is too profile and somehow doesn't look comfortable.

However image 3 is perfect. Alice looks comfortable and the idea of the image is correctly portrayed. I shall use this in my final product, it may need to be cropped to fit the page.

31/Mar/2010 Main Task

I have now begun making my product, i have started by producing the front cover.

Here are some images that show the development of my front cover,

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1. I first began producing without my main image, this was a mistake as the cover does not look effective and does not follow the conventions correctly.

2. I then decided to use lined paper in the background as a layer rather than draw the lines on myself using the line tool. I then chose my main image. I think the effect on the border of the image creates a messy effect and with the added masking tape the overall effect seems busy.

3. Because of this busyness i decided to leave the image as normal and work around it. I used the effect 'multiply' on the image which means the lines on the background layer can be seen through the image, i think this makes the whole thing blend better together. I decided on the 'tea stain' as it adds character and and creates the effect of a busy revision desk!

4. I then added the appropriate text, i decided on using coloured text boxes as it adds more colour and means the artists featured can be easily seen therefore enticing an audience.

5. The final piece i have produced shows all the layers. The only element i have changed to create this final piece is move down the text boxes, ' Katie Farrar; the questions we all want to ask'. I have moved this down the page slightly so it is not covering Katie's face. This creates a better overall effect and i am really happy with the final outcome.

28/Mar/2010 Main Task

I have now completed my photo shoot. I have took pictures of my model Katie, she will feature on my front cover and also be the focus of my double-page spread. I have took pictures of her portraying day to day girly activities such as, baking, getting ready for bed, trying things on, on the phone and listening to music.

I took the pictures with a plain black back-drop so as i can either cut around them in Photoshop or keep the plain black background to work on top of. I am really happy with the overall effect of the pictures and feel that they portray perfectly what i wanted them to, fun and happy!

Here is an example of some the pictures i took;

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1. Katie looks really happy in this mid-shot so it portrays a really good positive feel, i may use it on my front cover.

2. I like that you can see all of Katie's body in this picture, the props and her facial expressions make it really fun and girly. This would be a great shot for my contents page.

3. I love the angle of this shot as it adds variation, i do however think it lacks personality.

4. This shot shows Katie in her PJ's, unfortunately you can see the light in the frame and so i shall not be using this picture. I could obviously crop the image but i have more to choose from and so don't need to use the image.

5. This is my favourite picture! I love the way the light is hitting the shot and i think the composition is well-balanced. It portrays a perfect girly feel.

6. I think this close-up is really effective. Katie facial expression is really intense and she looks like every girl who looks at their phone the second it goes off. I think i will use this in my double-page spread.

25/Mar/2010

I have now began flat planning. I have come up with some really good ideas and am excited about making the product!

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1. This is the initial flat plan of my front cover. I had the idea of the lines across the page as it reflects school books and creates a funky effect for the background.

2. This is a developed flat plan of my front cover. I used the same lined paper idea for the background and will use the margin to place images in. I did this as my teacher commented that i may not have enough images displayed. The margin means i can add some really girly pictures without the cover looking to busy.

3. This is a flat plan of my contents page. I will include 3 sections, 'On the cover', 'Features' and 'The usual'. I have used these sections as it is clear for the readers and helps them identify with the magazine. I will use the same lined paper theme and use the margin to display the header 'Contents' in. This is not following the conventions and so will look really edgy and young.

4. This is a flat plan of the first page of the double-page spread. I have decided to use the 'lips' image i took as a background behind the text, this will add character and will ensure the background doesn't look plain. I will probably use columns when setting out the text as it keeps the page tidy and means that the text can be read clearly. The title for the article will take up approximately a third of the page so as it's eye-catching. I will then add images of Katie around the text, i may use borders around the images to add colour and interest.

5. This is a flat plan of the second page of the double-page spread. The text will again be displayed in columns and i may use the 'lips' image in the background toward one of the corners.

I am happy that my ideas will hopefully help to create a young, fun music magazine that displays current artists and all things GIRLY.

NOTE - obviously these ideas may change when i begin making my actual product as they may not work in terms of composition or overall effect.

24/Mar/2010 Main Task

Write up on focus group meeting.
Today I met with met with my focus group, 6 girls aged 14 to 18. I got some GREAT FEEDBACK and have now got more of an idea about:

• What to include in my magazine (content)
• How to layout my magazine (design)
• How to aim my magazine at the correct audience (appeal)

I asked them a range of questions and we discussed 4 music magazines: Big Cheese, Kerrang, NME and Q.

Results and comments
The girls expressed that music magazines mainly deal with one genre, rock. They all agreed that more current artists should be featured and more familiar gossip magazine elements should be included as well as the music such as probing interviews about the artist’s lives, advice, horoscopes and problem pages.

Two of the girls I spoke to agreed to reading music magazines regularly, one of them aged 14 and the other 16. The most frequent magazine they read is Kerrang; they commented that they read the magazine because it’s familiar to them and always contains the same sort of genres, themes and features from week to week.

Other comments about Kerrang from the other girls illustrated that the quality of the front cover is poor, uninviting and pale. The colours do not stand out enough and the font used inside is to small and the layout to busy.

The girls all agreed that the actual paper quality of NME and Kerrang is poor, that the font in some of the magazines is too small and that a range of colours should be used. They also said that the qualities of the pictures were sometimes poor and that a busy page is off putting.

All of the girls I spoke to expressed that they would pay up to £3 for a music magazine but would not pay anymore. This is interesting as Q and Big Cheese magazine are over this price bracket and were perceived by my focus group as more sophisticated and of a better quality.

Two of the girls I spoke to, one aged 18 and the other 17 commented that they would most like to read about current and up and coming artists in a music magazine, for example Cheryl Cole, JLS, Pixie Lott and Lady Ga Ga.

One of the girls I spoke to aged 15 expressed that the images accompanying the story grab her to read the article, she also stated that too much writing can be overwhelming and put her off reading the magazine. Another girl I spoke to aged 14 said that the names of artists on the front of the magazine would attract her.

What I learnt
From completing this exercise I am taking away that:
• A mix of colours should be used
• My publication should not be priced higher than £3
• Current artists should be featured as well as less known artists
• Advice, horoscopes and problem pages should be included
• Layout should not be busy
• Background should not be plain
• Font should not be too small
• I should Make sure my pictures are of a good quality
• Use names on the cover that will entice an audience
• Strike a good balance between images and pictures (do not display huge blocks of text)

22/Mar/2010 Main Task

RESULTS OF SURVEY!...




This screen shot shows the results from my survey. The result shows that Pop and Dance music are the most popular genre's. From this i shall makesure my magazine focus's on these areas and not on the least popular which are Rock, Emo and Punk.






This screen shot shows how much money people would be willing to pay for a magazine. The results show that the majority would pay betwwen £2 and £3. Therefore i shall be selling my magzine for £2.80.







This screen shot shows which artists people are most interested in. The results show that the most current artists are the most popular. Therefore i will be featuring current, chart-topping artists.


Audience research - SURVEY MONKEY

I have also written a survey using surveymonkey.com. This survey asks some basic questions that will really help me when designing my magazine and making sure that my magazine appeals to the correct audience.
You can access my survey by typing this address into the address bar - www.surveymonkey.com/s/HZXPK5M

The results to my survey can be easily understood as they are analysed automatically by the site. This is really helpful as i can clearly see the results and use them effectively when designing and creating my magazine.

17/Mar/2010 Main Task

Audience research -

I have organised for a group of girls between the ages of 14 and 18 to spend a little time together discussing music magazines and answering my questions.
From this i aim to have an idea of what to include in my magazine, how to design it and what theme to run through my magazine.
My group will meet next wednesday.

I have written a letter to parents to ask consent for their daughters to be photographed, therefore i can place the pictures on my blog as evidence.

15/Mar/2010 Main Task

Evaluation of music magazines -

From carrying out my research into music magazines I have noticed that they:

· Appeal to an older readership of about 18 and over
· Display elements that would appeal specifically to a male audience
· Deal with only limited music genres (i.e. rock/punk/emo).

Because of this I can see that there is a clear gap in the market. The gap leaves room for a girly, teenage magazine containing current music, fashionable pop stars and all things girly!

I am now going to look into my target audience of around 14 to 18 and try and gain perspective on what they like, dislike and are interested in musically.

10/Mar/2010 Main Task

NME magazine – Analysis of double page spread

The article I have focused on from this magazine is an interview with the lead singer from the band ‘My Chemical Romance’, Gerard Way. The band is reinventing themselves with a more punk sound and so the pragmatics behind the article is to promote and publicise their new music pathway. By appearing on the front cover and inside NME magazine means they will attract interest from a range of young music fans.

Like Q magazine the language used in this article is complex and displays a good quality of language. The text is factual and tells the reader of how the band’s new album came about, they hear directly from the lead singer as it’s an interview; this appeals to the fans as they feel recognised and involved. Similarly to Q magazine this article has the same mode of address, speaking to the young reader on the same level and in an informal fashion.

Compared to Gerard’s usual black eye make-up and gothic persona the images accompanying this article display him in a more pure light, he’s lost the eye make-up and looks a lot cleaner. One image is of Gerard showing his more gothic side and so a before and after effect is created, the fans can recognise the old Gerard and then see the difference in his new image and sound.

10/Mar/2010 Main Task

Q magazine - Analysis of double page spread

The article I have focused on is an interview with Cheryl Cole. She is a huge star at the moment not just for her new and upcoming solo career but also for her other public endorsements. Cheryl appeals to both men and women, men because they fancy her and women because they want to be her, therefore having her on the cover and also inside attracts maximum attention.

The pragmatics within the article is to sell Cheryl’s new album, ‘3 words’ and to inform us of how this now megastar lives and how she has come from nothing to something – we all love a rag to riches story. She is being promoted and publicised in the article, she is new on her own and so wants to receive any possible attention and interest. From appearing in Q magazine she is appealing to not just pop fans but other music lovers therefore creating a huge fan base.

The language used in this article on Cheryl Cole displays good quality, complex language. The mode of address is informal; the article speaks to us as equals. As Cheryl is being interviewed we can see her points of view and see her answers to the probing questions being asked. The images that accompany the article show Cheryl in a ‘Rock Star’ light; spikes, studs, leather, smoky eyes and red lips. This connotes sexiness and a different side to the Cheryl.

09/Mar/2010 Main Task

NME magazine - Analysis of contents page

This magazine does not have a contents page as such but instead has a list of artists that are featured inside the magazine (this shows how much the magazine focuses on JUST music). The names of the artists are displayed slimly on the left hand side of the page with the page numbers written beside them. The list takes up approximately an eighth of the page leaving space for a ‘Snapshot’ story about Blur and a promotion on the subscription to the magazine.

This informal, uninformative list does not focus on telling the reader what is featured in the magazine but instead just lists the artists so as you can find out for yourself.

The artists in the list are written in red and the page numbers in black, the background is white and so it does stand out therefore the overall effect is tidy and concise. These three colours used reflect exactly what is on the front cover this therefore creates a continuous theme and regularity throughout the magazine. The title, ‘WHAT’S INSIDE’ is written in white on a black background and so stands out as the heading. The list is bordered with thin black lines so it is separated from the rest of the page somewhat.

This unconventional ‘contents page’ means it’s uninformative and different, therefore this creates a new and innovative feel and perhaps attracts a young readership because of this.

9/Mar/2010 Main Task

Q magazine - Analysis of contents page.

The contents page in this magazine spreads over 2 pages. At first glance it appears very busy as it contains 9 images, text, headings and subheadings.

The heading ‘Q contents Issue 283’ appears conventionally at the top of the pages, the oblong shape the text is displayed in is red with a black border and therefore carrying on the theme of colours from the front cover. The heading is displayed simply and in a conventional fashion.

The information itself is split into three sections, ‘Features’, ‘Regulars’ and ‘The Q review’. This clear format would be the same in each issue therefore benefiting the reader so as they know what to expect when opening the magazine. These sub-heading are written in white and displayed in red text boxes again carrying on the theme of colours. The heading of the items contained in the magazine are written in capital letters, in black font and are underlined in red. This clearly makes them stand out and means the reader can identify the items and clearly see the page number displayed beside them.

The images each have an oversized number displayed in a box beside them so the reader can identify the picture and link it to a story within the magazine. The images range in size and colour, black and white has also been used. Black, white and red are prominent colours on these contents pages and so link nicely to the rest of the magazine and the front cover.

The overall effect of this contents page is busy but yet it still remains tidy and neat. The edges are sharp and straight and the text is bold and clear. These elements connote and edgy, sophisticated vibe.