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.

04/Mar/2010 Main Task

NME magazine - Analysis of front cover

Frequency – Weekly
Price - £2.30
Publisher – IPC Media
Sales figures (ABC) - july to december 2008; 48,459

Colours – this magazine follows the conventions by using 3 colours. The colours used are flat and are not particularly bright;
Masthead – the title NME is written in capital letters, the whole brand of NME is always written like this. This enables their audience to recognise the brand. The masthead takes up about an eighth of the page. It is block coloured in red and therefore stands out from the page.
Text – text boxes have been used for sub-headings; this creates a good effect as the text written on top stands out a lot more than anything else. Headings and sub-headings are written in capital letters. A quote has been used on the front cover therefore adding interest for an onlooker and makes them want to read more.
Image – the image on the cover covers about a half of the page. The image is of a popular punk artist and so appeals to the correct NME audience. The image quality is good and creates a professional effect.

I have really enjoyed looking at this magazine front cover. The less shiny cover and more simple, conventional layout makes it less professional and more approachable. I feel it would appeal to a younger audience because of thee things.

03/Mar/2010 Main Task

Q magazine - Analysis of front cover

Frequency - Monthly
Price - £3.90
Publisher - Bauer Media Group
Sales figures (ABC) - july to december 2008; 103,017

Colours - Q magazine displays 4 colours on the front cover, black, white, red and grey. The colours aren't particularly bright and so it creates a grungy yet sophisticated cover.
Masthead - the title, Q takes up roughly a sixth of the page. The white Q layered on the red means it really stands out and the block colour makes it clear.
Text - some of the text is displayed in coloured boxes making it stand out. Lower case and capital letters are both used. Capital letters are used for the names of bands and for headings and sub-headings.
Image - the image on the cover covers the whole page and the text and titles are then layered over the top. The image of Cheryl Cole is central and so our eyes focus straight at her face and then read the text on either side of the image. The image of Cheryl itself shows her looking edgy and fierce, I can see this as she is touching her tongue on a spike and wearing dark, heavy eye make-up. This connotes to the audience that she is showing a rather rock chic side and makes us want to look inside and read more.
Sex appeal - this image of Cheryl Cole connotes sex. She is displaying her tongue in a sexual way and therefore this would attract male fans of the magazine and make them want to see more.

I have really enjoyed looking at this magazine front cover. The overall effect is really professional and high end. The magazine features a variety of big stars and therefore attracts a wide audience.

03/Mar/2010 Preliminary Task

FINAL PAGE

I have now completed a contents that could feature in my school magazine. I used photoshop to create the page. This screen shots shows a picture of the sixth form common room overlapping the Bodmin College logo. I was not happy with this effect and so i used the eraser tool to make it look as if it fits. I am much happier with the final page.

SCREEN SHOT

1/Mar/2010 Preliminary Task

This is my final front cover.
I am really happy with the end result of my front cover. I have kept it simple and believe it suits the ethos of our school. The text displayed relates to current events and goings on in the school and so I am confident that it would make for a catchy cover and entice the correct audience, the pupils and parents.
I am pleased to say that Photoshop is now my friend! The skills I have learnt will now help me when I come to complete the main task. The program meant that I could easily layer my visual ideas on top of each other which then helped to create a professional effect. I was also able to complete my questionnaire on a word document and print out the copies i needed. The feedback i gained was positive and helped support me create this front cover from my flat plan.
When printing a hard copy of my cover i had difficulty with the print setup. The border appeared white and the picture did not fit the page correctly. I will therefore need to look at this if i were to print it out again.
When taking the pictures for my main task i shall concentrate on collating different angles of shots as i did not have enough angles to choose from for the preliminary task. This will enable to have more choice when i come to choosing the right image.
The image i have used for my final front cover is slighty distorted and to skinny, therefore i shall makesure i work on this when it comes to completing my main task.