I'm pleased at how quickly i was able to adapt to using the software which was completely alien to me at the start of the year.
Unfortunatly i wish my front cover had columns on both sides with text and not just on the left hand side.
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
Blog 11 - The finished product!
Here is my magazine.
I'm pleased at how quickly i was able to adapt to using the software which was completely alien to me at the start of the year.
Unfortunatly i wish my front cover had columns on both sides with text and not just on the left hand side.
I'm pleased at how quickly i was able to adapt to using the software which was completely alien to me at the start of the year.
Unfortunatly i wish my front cover had columns on both sides with text and not just on the left hand side.
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
Blog 10 – Feedback
I sought feedback from my fellow media students on my finished magazine design. They were interested in my work but found it lacked energy and a wow factor. They felt I could have employed more colour and used a wider range of techniques to emphasis parts of the text. We were all surprised to learn about the skill required to produce a successful magazine. This final design is not a random process but rather one involving a high level of craftsmanship in order to connect with the target audience. The magazine designers use many tools & techniques to grab the attention of the consumers in a fiercely competitive marketplace. The job of the magazine staff is to sell their magazines. They do this by representing a lifestyle which is desirable to the readership.
I had asked my friend to feedback my magazine on the popular networking site facebook. This is what she had to say about it:
I have taken the feedback onboard and i agree with alot of what has been said.
I had asked my friend to feedback my magazine on the popular networking site facebook. This is what she had to say about it:
I have taken the feedback onboard and i agree with alot of what has been said.
Blog 9 – Evaluation. Of the finished Magazine
On reflection I felt that there was some room for improvement in the design of my magazine. I feel I should have been more creative with the title choosing one which had more resonance and meaning with the readership. Perhaps a tag line to inform the consumer of the genre of music under review would have been helpful.
The basic structure of my front cover followed the rules learned during the research phase of the assignment magazine title at the top, image in the centre of the page and feature headings in a column down the left hand side. I feel however that the overall design lacked zest and was a little too bland. The front cover especially has to be eye catching and grab the attention of the readership. I think I could have done better in this regard. I failed to connect with the adventurous, fun loving side of my target audience. I could have done more with the text changing the size, font and introducing shadows and frames to emphasize different words and phrases. My effort is too uniform. My target audience is seeking a good time would be looking for something a bit more rebellious and lively. Their quest is adventure, letting their hair down and having a good time. They have few responsibilities. I might have photographed the DJ with an expensive watch to highlight success and a hat to or a T shirt with a motif to make him look more funky and contemporary.
I thought I made good use of the props in the main image on the front cover as this emphasized a direct link with equipment used by DJ to mix records. I might have added a bit of fun by introducing a smaller inset image people clubbing on holiday. The DJ featured on the front cover is young, athletic and healthy matching the aspirations of the target audience. This was a good choice of leading figure.
Evaluation Contents Page
I was quite pleased with my design. It featured text and images. Adding question marks engaged the audience. Employing bold heading with page numbers and some sub text to add more flavour worked in my opinion. I hope this would persuade the consumer to want to buy the magazine and read the article in full, Perhaps I could have been more creative with the numbering using different sizes and designs. I liked my use of the image flagging up the word “escape” as this is one of the ideas which my readership should latch onto and value. I think I have missed the opportunity to talk about and promote fashion as this goes hand in hand with the music. This fashion is used to form an identity and challenges the status quo. My target audience would value this concept.
Evaluation Double Page Spread
I applied the idea that a double page spread involves a large image on one page supported by text on the other. I feel however my image did not work. It featured the DJ flanked by another couple of guys. I was trying to convey a cool image and used young people but did not follow up with any explanatory text. On reflection all my images related the males which would probably alienate the female readership. I thought my use of a question and answer interview format worked well. This language was conversational and engaging. If I was redoing this work I would add a picture showing people smiling and dancing in party mode.
The basic structure of my front cover followed the rules learned during the research phase of the assignment magazine title at the top, image in the centre of the page and feature headings in a column down the left hand side. I feel however that the overall design lacked zest and was a little too bland. The front cover especially has to be eye catching and grab the attention of the readership. I think I could have done better in this regard. I failed to connect with the adventurous, fun loving side of my target audience. I could have done more with the text changing the size, font and introducing shadows and frames to emphasize different words and phrases. My effort is too uniform. My target audience is seeking a good time would be looking for something a bit more rebellious and lively. Their quest is adventure, letting their hair down and having a good time. They have few responsibilities. I might have photographed the DJ with an expensive watch to highlight success and a hat to or a T shirt with a motif to make him look more funky and contemporary.
I thought I made good use of the props in the main image on the front cover as this emphasized a direct link with equipment used by DJ to mix records. I might have added a bit of fun by introducing a smaller inset image people clubbing on holiday. The DJ featured on the front cover is young, athletic and healthy matching the aspirations of the target audience. This was a good choice of leading figure.
Evaluation Contents Page
I was quite pleased with my design. It featured text and images. Adding question marks engaged the audience. Employing bold heading with page numbers and some sub text to add more flavour worked in my opinion. I hope this would persuade the consumer to want to buy the magazine and read the article in full, Perhaps I could have been more creative with the numbering using different sizes and designs. I liked my use of the image flagging up the word “escape” as this is one of the ideas which my readership should latch onto and value. I think I have missed the opportunity to talk about and promote fashion as this goes hand in hand with the music. This fashion is used to form an identity and challenges the status quo. My target audience would value this concept.
Evaluation Double Page Spread
I applied the idea that a double page spread involves a large image on one page supported by text on the other. I feel however my image did not work. It featured the DJ flanked by another couple of guys. I was trying to convey a cool image and used young people but did not follow up with any explanatory text. On reflection all my images related the males which would probably alienate the female readership. I thought my use of a question and answer interview format worked well. This language was conversational and engaging. If I was redoing this work I would add a picture showing people smiling and dancing in party mode.
Blog 8 – Planning and Evaluation of the article
Mixmag Annie Mac Feature
The language used in the double page spread about the leading radio one DJ had a conversational tone (smack bang in the centre of London) using the language of the target audience. This helped formed a bond with the readership and also involved quotes from the DJ to add extra intimacy. The language was quite descriptive to paint a word picture and create imagery. The summary paragraph posed a question “Can the empress of whoop=whoop fill the biggest boots in the industry?, this is a hook to grab attention.
Mojo Gene Simmons Feature
This feature incorporated is a headshot of Gene Simmon made up in his iconic face paint with his tongue out. His black hair frames his face. The picture is short in black and white which increase the dramatic effect. The eyes are gazing directly outwards. On the reverse page in large text is an introduction to the article posing a number of questions and quotations from the rock star. The article is written in a conversational tone with more quotes. The article takes the form of an interview in the star’s house. We are given a guided tour. The idea is to give the target audience an idea of the man behind the make up. Gene Simmons talks about his current projects and reflects on past experiences. The language is heavily descriptive and sets out to paint a picture with words.
The language used in the double page spread about the leading radio one DJ had a conversational tone (smack bang in the centre of London) using the language of the target audience. This helped formed a bond with the readership and also involved quotes from the DJ to add extra intimacy. The language was quite descriptive to paint a word picture and create imagery. The summary paragraph posed a question “Can the empress of whoop=whoop fill the biggest boots in the industry?, this is a hook to grab attention.
Mojo Gene Simmons Feature
This feature incorporated is a headshot of Gene Simmon made up in his iconic face paint with his tongue out. His black hair frames his face. The picture is short in black and white which increase the dramatic effect. The eyes are gazing directly outwards. On the reverse page in large text is an introduction to the article posing a number of questions and quotations from the rock star. The article is written in a conversational tone with more quotes. The article takes the form of an interview in the star’s house. We are given a guided tour. The idea is to give the target audience an idea of the man behind the make up. Gene Simmons talks about his current projects and reflects on past experiences. The language is heavily descriptive and sets out to paint a picture with words.
Blog 7 – Photoediting
I discounted some of my photographs because the lighting was poor or because the quality of the photographs were not clear. I wanted to show the DJ in the best light emphasizing his features. His hair is well groomed and complexion clear and fresh.
I used Adobe Photoshop to edit my photos, i found this to be a very useful piece of software because it was easy to use and alot the effects emphasized my album well.
To add text and to arrange the photos on the magazine i used a programme called Adobe Indesign, at first this was complicated but when i learned how to use the tools it became a vital piece of equipment to make the magazine.
I also later on in making my magazine used a programme at home called 'GIMP' it is allot like Photoshop and they are fairly similar to use, perhaps GIMP is a little less complex though. Here are some screenshots of what the user interface looks like.
On the left hand side is a layers table, this allows me to click on different layers and allows me to edit different layers and it gives the option to order the layers with the background being at the bottom, rather like a if papers were stacked on top of each other.
On the right there is a toolbox which contains such things as brush's, Texts, burns and smudges. All of these i have used in my magazine.
On the top row of GIMP there is a effects menu i have used the Gaussian blur effect and the pinch and whirl effect to give my magazine the young factor and to make it interesting.
I used Adobe Photoshop to edit my photos, i found this to be a very useful piece of software because it was easy to use and alot the effects emphasized my album well.
To add text and to arrange the photos on the magazine i used a programme called Adobe Indesign, at first this was complicated but when i learned how to use the tools it became a vital piece of equipment to make the magazine.
I also later on in making my magazine used a programme at home called 'GIMP' it is allot like Photoshop and they are fairly similar to use, perhaps GIMP is a little less complex though. Here are some screenshots of what the user interface looks like.
On the left hand side is a layers table, this allows me to click on different layers and allows me to edit different layers and it gives the option to order the layers with the background being at the bottom, rather like a if papers were stacked on top of each other.
On the right there is a toolbox which contains such things as brush's, Texts, burns and smudges. All of these i have used in my magazine.
On the top row of GIMP there is a effects menu i have used the Gaussian blur effect and the pinch and whirl effect to give my magazine the young factor and to make it interesting.
Blog 6 – Photos
I set up a head and shoulder shot of the DJ for my front cover. The picture is taken at an angle. The location is a studio or mixing booth. The picture takes up 60% of the front cover. Mise en scene is a French phase which literally translates to “put in scene”. This relates to the props used in the photograph. I have added a mixing board and draped headphones round his neck to signify the characters job. I have used a dark background and light text to create a contrast. The picture itself is in grey scale and the actor inside the picture posing as 'DJ Jasper' is looking directly into the Len's of the camera. If i was too take this photo again i would put the photo in colour and have more shoulder and upper body in the shot.
My second photograph was a full body shot that i had used on the final page when interviewing the DJ. For this studio-like shot i took a photo of the character standing in front of black curtains wearing what a modern DJ might be seen wearing.
Another photo i shot of was 'DJ Jasper' with two fans. This was shot against a white background and they are wearing everyday clothing. They are looking into the camera and are posing in a dance / rave style way. The lighting is bright and the white background contrasts the black background of the magazine. After receiving feedback on the photo i think in future ill compose the shot in a better location and take the shot from a lower angle to suggest celebrity status.
My third photo i took at a concert when seeing a DJ called Deadmau5 at a local club 'Digital' in Brighton. The photo clearly shows the DJ playing his set and he is central in the photo. The shot is taken from the crowd's point of view and i think the hands in the bottom of the photograph give it a lot more character. The lighting worked well and the world famous 'Mau5 hat' stood out as the central theme of the photograph. It was hard to keep the camera still and take photos but if i was to take this one again i would try and get it from more angles and one closer to the DJ and perhaps one futher away.
This photo was taken during summer at a local club / bar in Zante, Greece. I used this photo in a competition that Infinity magazine was running. Again i think it would be were my target audience would like to go and enjoy themselves. The photograph is bright and unspoilt.
The final photo i have used in my pictures is at another concert this time of the world famous 'DJ Tiesto'. The photo has a great background and it is very neon and it shows the colours expected to find at the club. The parts of the shot out of light help the viewer understand that it is night time. Again like the Deadmau5 pic is shows the crowd in shot. I think it captures club life well and works well in a dance music magazine.
Two other photos that i had considered using were:
I discarded this because it was bland and generally didn give off the 'wow' factor that i was looking for. Furthermore the camera was tilted at an angle were it might confuse readers. The character was not really central and one couldnt really relate him to a dance music magazine such as Infinity.
My second photograph was a full body shot that i had used on the final page when interviewing the DJ. For this studio-like shot i took a photo of the character standing in front of black curtains wearing what a modern DJ might be seen wearing.
Another photo i shot of was 'DJ Jasper' with two fans. This was shot against a white background and they are wearing everyday clothing. They are looking into the camera and are posing in a dance / rave style way. The lighting is bright and the white background contrasts the black background of the magazine. After receiving feedback on the photo i think in future ill compose the shot in a better location and take the shot from a lower angle to suggest celebrity status.
My third photo i took at a concert when seeing a DJ called Deadmau5 at a local club 'Digital' in Brighton. The photo clearly shows the DJ playing his set and he is central in the photo. The shot is taken from the crowd's point of view and i think the hands in the bottom of the photograph give it a lot more character. The lighting worked well and the world famous 'Mau5 hat' stood out as the central theme of the photograph. It was hard to keep the camera still and take photos but if i was to take this one again i would try and get it from more angles and one closer to the DJ and perhaps one futher away.
This photo was taken during summer at a local club / bar in Zante, Greece. I used this photo in a competition that Infinity magazine was running. Again i think it would be were my target audience would like to go and enjoy themselves. The photograph is bright and unspoilt.
The final photo i have used in my pictures is at another concert this time of the world famous 'DJ Tiesto'. The photo has a great background and it is very neon and it shows the colours expected to find at the club. The parts of the shot out of light help the viewer understand that it is night time. Again like the Deadmau5 pic is shows the crowd in shot. I think it captures club life well and works well in a dance music magazine.
Two other photos that i had considered using were:
I discarded this because it was bland and generally didn give off the 'wow' factor that i was looking for. Furthermore the camera was tilted at an angle were it might confuse readers. The character was not really central and one couldnt really relate him to a dance music magazine such as Infinity.
Blog 5 - Fonts
Blog 5 - Fonts
The choice of font was a critical aspect of my project. I had to choose the colour scheme, size of text and style of typeface in order to convey information to the readership and secure their interest. I wanted to create a house style which set my magazine apart from others on the shelves in the shops and reinforce the brand.
I limited my colour scheme to four which reflected the bright, brash attitudes of the target audience.
My next task was to choose a style for the magazine title. I selected serif typeface because.
I ran the title along the first row of the grid. This ensured that it is prominent and easy to see. I chose an eye catching colour scheme and typeface.
I then had to consider the typeface for the main body of the text. Finally I had to think about ways to highlight parts of the text to draw the readers eye to specific areas in the magazine.
I got the fonts for my music magazine from a website titled www.dafont.com.
Here is a screenshot of Dafonts website, 'Clubland' is one of the fonts i had used in my magazine. After clicking on the download link and extracting the folder i had then installed them into the 'font' file on my computer. I then loaded up the programme i wanted too use and they were available.
Here are some screen shots of the fonts i will be using, where and why i will use them too.
'Atmosphere' is a cool looking futuristic style text i found on Dafonts website. I will use it as a sub heading because its quite bold and easily readable. It is a square like font and each letter it quite bold. I will use this on my contents page.
This is the second font i will be using. I will be using it for primarily page numbers. I like it because its modern and it links in well with technology, as usually Digital represents the future and analogue the past.
'Rezland' is another font i want to use in my magazine. I will use it for small paragraphs of information possibly under sub headings on the front page. On my two page spread i could even consider using it as a sub heading. It looks cool and modern and interesting all of which is what I'm seeking to please my target audience.
This will be the font i have chosen for the title of my magazine. I like it because its unique and interesting, also its critically eye catching and will make my magazine stand out from the others. I will use a yellow background behind the font to emphasize this.
'Imagine Font' is a font i will be using as for general bulk writing, perhaps on my double page spread. I will be using it the most frequent because its quite easy to read and understand but at the same time modern and fresh.
Example of fonts i chose not to use:
Even though i like the look of 'Masterplan' i don't think it suits my genre of magazine. Masterplan for me at least, gives off a rough and edgy look and my theme modern and crisp cut i feel that this font would work better in a more rock themed magazine.
The choice of font was a critical aspect of my project. I had to choose the colour scheme, size of text and style of typeface in order to convey information to the readership and secure their interest. I wanted to create a house style which set my magazine apart from others on the shelves in the shops and reinforce the brand.
I limited my colour scheme to four which reflected the bright, brash attitudes of the target audience.
My next task was to choose a style for the magazine title. I selected serif typeface because.
I ran the title along the first row of the grid. This ensured that it is prominent and easy to see. I chose an eye catching colour scheme and typeface.
I then had to consider the typeface for the main body of the text. Finally I had to think about ways to highlight parts of the text to draw the readers eye to specific areas in the magazine.
I got the fonts for my music magazine from a website titled www.dafont.com.
Here is a screenshot of Dafonts website, 'Clubland' is one of the fonts i had used in my magazine. After clicking on the download link and extracting the folder i had then installed them into the 'font' file on my computer. I then loaded up the programme i wanted too use and they were available.
Here are some screen shots of the fonts i will be using, where and why i will use them too.
'Atmosphere' is a cool looking futuristic style text i found on Dafonts website. I will use it as a sub heading because its quite bold and easily readable. It is a square like font and each letter it quite bold. I will use this on my contents page.
This is the second font i will be using. I will be using it for primarily page numbers. I like it because its modern and it links in well with technology, as usually Digital represents the future and analogue the past.
'Rezland' is another font i want to use in my magazine. I will use it for small paragraphs of information possibly under sub headings on the front page. On my two page spread i could even consider using it as a sub heading. It looks cool and modern and interesting all of which is what I'm seeking to please my target audience.
This will be the font i have chosen for the title of my magazine. I like it because its unique and interesting, also its critically eye catching and will make my magazine stand out from the others. I will use a yellow background behind the font to emphasize this.
'Imagine Font' is a font i will be using as for general bulk writing, perhaps on my double page spread. I will be using it the most frequent because its quite easy to read and understand but at the same time modern and fresh.
Example of fonts i chose not to use:
Even though i like the look of 'Masterplan' i don't think it suits my genre of magazine. Masterplan for me at least, gives off a rough and edgy look and my theme modern and crisp cut i feel that this font would work better in a more rock themed magazine.
Blog 4 - Flat plans
Blog 4 – Flat Plans
I designed my magazine pages using a grid. This helped me to break the page up into small areas and structure the layout. I split my pages into a 4 by 4 grid.
I gave my dance music magazine the title “Infinity”. I chose this title because Infinity means never-ending and i'd like to capture the image of a never-ending party and musical piece. The title is sometimes referred to as being the brand Logo or Masthead.
I produced a sketch or story board of the layout. These are attached in my blog for reference purposes.
I decided to follow the example of the design of the magazines I researched and placed the main image in the central region of the page and listed the feature headings on either side.
The image on the front of the magazine represented the main feature, a head and shoulder shot of a leading DJ on the holiday club circuit to hook the consumer and persuade them to read the article.
I designed my magazine pages using a grid. This helped me to break the page up into small areas and structure the layout. I split my pages into a 4 by 4 grid.
I gave my dance music magazine the title “Infinity”. I chose this title because Infinity means never-ending and i'd like to capture the image of a never-ending party and musical piece. The title is sometimes referred to as being the brand Logo or Masthead.
I produced a sketch or story board of the layout. These are attached in my blog for reference purposes.
I decided to follow the example of the design of the magazines I researched and placed the main image in the central region of the page and listed the feature headings on either side.
The image on the front of the magazine represented the main feature, a head and shoulder shot of a leading DJ on the holiday club circuit to hook the consumer and persuade them to read the article.
Blog 3 - Analysis of Existing Magazines
I have chosen to research two music magazine covers, one contents page and a double page spread.
The two covers are from MIXMAG and MOJO. They are both popular music magazines. The first title is aimed at the dance market and the second publication is aimed at rock fans.
MIXMAG Front Cover
The title is situated at the top of the magazine in large print and sharp (citrus) orange colour. It stands out. The font is in lower case and a serif typeface. There is a tag line directly above the title “the world’s biggest dance music and clubbing magazine” in smaller white lettering. The title draws attention and the tag line informs the consumer about the subject matter.
The central area of the front cover displays an image of a pretty woman. She is the main feature in the magazine. It is a head and body shot. It is staged. The lighting is soft and she is staring directly from the page drawing the attention of the consumer. She is wearing a gold necklace signifying wealth & success. She make up and hair do suggest sophistication and her complexion is perfectly smooth, Her nails are varnished and manicured. She has her left arm around a white pole which acts as a partition on the page.
The cover features the use of different types of grammatical symbols such as question marks, exclamation marks and quotation marks. I think they have been introduced to engage the consumer. They add life to the text and provoke thought. There are two columns of text running down the left hand side and right hand side of the magazine. The text is written in two colours; orange and white presumable to grab the reader’s attention. Different sizes of text are used to highlight the importance of the magazine features Both lower case and upper case lettering is evident. The language is informal and chatty. Alliteration is used such as “Marrakech Madness” & “Worlds wackiest Synths”. The headings are short highlighting the features inside. There is a bar code on the bottom left hand side together with publication date and selling price in a discrete format. The cover also lists the celebrities mentioned in the magazine which is another device to make the magazine appealing to as larger an audience as possible. On the top right hand corner there is a symbol of a running man used to promote the article “don’t stay in” which provides information about forthcoming events. The running man signifies urgency and enthusiasm. The use of symbols, inset pictures and text on an angle are devices used to hook interest. Finally a free CD promoting music was stuck to the bottom left hand corner of the front cover. Providing freebies such as a CD helps sell magazines. . The front cover is glossy and thick suggesting luxury and well to do. Also the reflection of light caused by the glossy finish would be eye catching in the shop. The cost of the magazine is £4.20. Shadows have been introduced to highlight some of the test.
MOJO Front Cover
Although the MOJO magazine is aimed at a different music audience from the MIXMAG publication the design of the cover incorporates the same format and techniques. The title is located at the top of the page in bold black lettering in a distinctive serif font. The middle “0” is obscured by main image on the front cover. A tag line in red is evident signifying that this is a music magazine. The central portion of the front cover is occupied by the main image. A head and shoulder shot of a man. He is the main feature inside the magazine. The photograph is shot in a studio. He is staring outwards. He is middle aged wearing a black t shirt. He looks good, fit and healthy. His hair has been carefully groomed. The background is a white brick wall signifying a link to the man’s music – “another brick in the wall”. His arms are folded.
Again there is two column of text of either side of the page incorporating different colours and styles of font. There are four principal colours on show; red, silver, white and black. The language is engaging with the use of question marks, exclamation marks and quotation marks to engage the consumer. This design includes headings framed in different geometric shapes such as circles and rectangles with contrasting backgrounds. Some of the text is set at an angle and there is a small image of one of the musicians featured in the magazine on the top right hand corner. This is a picture at the height of his popularity so the intention here is to use nostalgia as a hook to grab readership attention. A free music CD is stuck on the bottom left hand corned of the front cover to entice the consumer to buy. The front cover has a matt finish. The cost of the magazine is £4.50.
MIXMAG Contents Page
The magazine has two contents pages. The header and footer is the same on both pages detailing the title (masthead) , edition and contents along the top and website, edition and page number along the bottom. The title uses the same style as on the front cover but is smaller. This helps to create a house style and brand image. A large full length picture of a female recording artist featured in the magazine takes up much of the room of the page. The associated page number stands out and is in a fancy font. There is another small picture of the main draw on the contents page together the page number in a special font. The size of the page number is in proportion with the size of the image. The other contents are listed in a column on the right handside. There is a bold heading and a sub heading in each case. Along the bottom of the page above the footer is a band of text talking about the free CD and listing the tracks. The background is black and the writing is in white to make it stand out. The second contents pages show a large image on the right hand side of the page directly above two smaller images. Once again the page number is individually stylized. The other contents are listed in a column running down the left hand side of the page. The black and white theme is carried over. The images are bright and arty. There is a small image of the front cover in the top left hand corner together with a list of the people responsible for producing the magazine.
Mixmag Double Page Spread
The main feature in the magazine concerns a female radio one DJ, Annie Mac. The two page spread is about her. There is a stylish full length image on the right hand page. She has one hand on her hip and gazing outwards at the reader. She is dressed in black and white clothing, a short black sparkly mini skirt and vest top. She is still wearing the gold chain around her neck and chunky plastic bangles and ring. She is standing in a pool of light against a black background broken up by a spots of white light. Her demeanor is confident ands independent. There is a lack of fun and humour. The connotation of the image is dark. The black background with white spots spills onto half the left hand side of the page giving continuity. The story is written on the bottom third of this half of the page in small white text. The left hand side of the left hand page has a white background. The title of the feature and a summary of the piece are set an angle to add interest. Yellow letters are included in the title to perhaps signify gold. This might appeal to the aspirational desires of target audience. The headline lettering is large and in bold text and stands out. The feature is about a single woman who is successful and has her own style of fashion. The feature is about achieving success, Annie Mac appears to challenge the stereotypical image of dance DJ’s. The first letter is embellished to create interest and the language is conversational and in tune with the readership. .
The two covers are from MIXMAG and MOJO. They are both popular music magazines. The first title is aimed at the dance market and the second publication is aimed at rock fans.
MIXMAG Front Cover
The title is situated at the top of the magazine in large print and sharp (citrus) orange colour. It stands out. The font is in lower case and a serif typeface. There is a tag line directly above the title “the world’s biggest dance music and clubbing magazine” in smaller white lettering. The title draws attention and the tag line informs the consumer about the subject matter.
The central area of the front cover displays an image of a pretty woman. She is the main feature in the magazine. It is a head and body shot. It is staged. The lighting is soft and she is staring directly from the page drawing the attention of the consumer. She is wearing a gold necklace signifying wealth & success. She make up and hair do suggest sophistication and her complexion is perfectly smooth, Her nails are varnished and manicured. She has her left arm around a white pole which acts as a partition on the page.
The cover features the use of different types of grammatical symbols such as question marks, exclamation marks and quotation marks. I think they have been introduced to engage the consumer. They add life to the text and provoke thought. There are two columns of text running down the left hand side and right hand side of the magazine. The text is written in two colours; orange and white presumable to grab the reader’s attention. Different sizes of text are used to highlight the importance of the magazine features Both lower case and upper case lettering is evident. The language is informal and chatty. Alliteration is used such as “Marrakech Madness” & “Worlds wackiest Synths”. The headings are short highlighting the features inside. There is a bar code on the bottom left hand side together with publication date and selling price in a discrete format. The cover also lists the celebrities mentioned in the magazine which is another device to make the magazine appealing to as larger an audience as possible. On the top right hand corner there is a symbol of a running man used to promote the article “don’t stay in” which provides information about forthcoming events. The running man signifies urgency and enthusiasm. The use of symbols, inset pictures and text on an angle are devices used to hook interest. Finally a free CD promoting music was stuck to the bottom left hand corner of the front cover. Providing freebies such as a CD helps sell magazines. . The front cover is glossy and thick suggesting luxury and well to do. Also the reflection of light caused by the glossy finish would be eye catching in the shop. The cost of the magazine is £4.20. Shadows have been introduced to highlight some of the test.
MOJO Front Cover
Although the MOJO magazine is aimed at a different music audience from the MIXMAG publication the design of the cover incorporates the same format and techniques. The title is located at the top of the page in bold black lettering in a distinctive serif font. The middle “0” is obscured by main image on the front cover. A tag line in red is evident signifying that this is a music magazine. The central portion of the front cover is occupied by the main image. A head and shoulder shot of a man. He is the main feature inside the magazine. The photograph is shot in a studio. He is staring outwards. He is middle aged wearing a black t shirt. He looks good, fit and healthy. His hair has been carefully groomed. The background is a white brick wall signifying a link to the man’s music – “another brick in the wall”. His arms are folded.
Again there is two column of text of either side of the page incorporating different colours and styles of font. There are four principal colours on show; red, silver, white and black. The language is engaging with the use of question marks, exclamation marks and quotation marks to engage the consumer. This design includes headings framed in different geometric shapes such as circles and rectangles with contrasting backgrounds. Some of the text is set at an angle and there is a small image of one of the musicians featured in the magazine on the top right hand corner. This is a picture at the height of his popularity so the intention here is to use nostalgia as a hook to grab readership attention. A free music CD is stuck on the bottom left hand corned of the front cover to entice the consumer to buy. The front cover has a matt finish. The cost of the magazine is £4.50.
MIXMAG Contents Page
The magazine has two contents pages. The header and footer is the same on both pages detailing the title (masthead) , edition and contents along the top and website, edition and page number along the bottom. The title uses the same style as on the front cover but is smaller. This helps to create a house style and brand image. A large full length picture of a female recording artist featured in the magazine takes up much of the room of the page. The associated page number stands out and is in a fancy font. There is another small picture of the main draw on the contents page together the page number in a special font. The size of the page number is in proportion with the size of the image. The other contents are listed in a column on the right handside. There is a bold heading and a sub heading in each case. Along the bottom of the page above the footer is a band of text talking about the free CD and listing the tracks. The background is black and the writing is in white to make it stand out. The second contents pages show a large image on the right hand side of the page directly above two smaller images. Once again the page number is individually stylized. The other contents are listed in a column running down the left hand side of the page. The black and white theme is carried over. The images are bright and arty. There is a small image of the front cover in the top left hand corner together with a list of the people responsible for producing the magazine.
Mixmag Double Page Spread
The main feature in the magazine concerns a female radio one DJ, Annie Mac. The two page spread is about her. There is a stylish full length image on the right hand page. She has one hand on her hip and gazing outwards at the reader. She is dressed in black and white clothing, a short black sparkly mini skirt and vest top. She is still wearing the gold chain around her neck and chunky plastic bangles and ring. She is standing in a pool of light against a black background broken up by a spots of white light. Her demeanor is confident ands independent. There is a lack of fun and humour. The connotation of the image is dark. The black background with white spots spills onto half the left hand side of the page giving continuity. The story is written on the bottom third of this half of the page in small white text. The left hand side of the left hand page has a white background. The title of the feature and a summary of the piece are set an angle to add interest. Yellow letters are included in the title to perhaps signify gold. This might appeal to the aspirational desires of target audience. The headline lettering is large and in bold text and stands out. The feature is about a single woman who is successful and has her own style of fashion. The feature is about achieving success, Annie Mac appears to challenge the stereotypical image of dance DJ’s. The first letter is embellished to create interest and the language is conversational and in tune with the readership. .
Blog 2 - Target Audience
I have carefully considered the profile of the readership for my dance music publication. My first port of call for information was on the National Readership Survey Website (www.NRS.co.uk). The organization provides estimates of the number and habits of people buying newspapers and magazines in the UK. They survey over three hundred titles. The information is gathered through interviewing large sample of the general public aged above 15 years. Unfortunately as far as I could see they do not cover dance magazine in their portfolio. However I did manage to glean some important pointers about demographics. This is a way of classifying people into social groups according to the job of the man breadwinner in the household. The classifications are as follows
A High Ranking Professionals; lawyers & doctors
B Middle Ranking Professionals; middle managers in business teachers etc
C1 White Collar (Office workers, junior managers, office clerks, bank clerks, nurses
C2 Skilled manual workers, carpeners, electricians
D Semi and unskilled manual workers; drivers, post sorters, labourers
E People subsisting on state benefits, the unemployed, pensioners
I intend to target my magazine toward the housholds of the first three social groups as I feel they will have the disposable income to spend on clubbing and the intellect to appreciate the music. This is a sweeping generalization though and therefore has limited value. The study considers class and not earning power.
I turned my attention to classification of people by consumer personality types. This is known as psychographic. I learned that consumers groups may be categorized as follows:
Main streamers - They go with the flow & don’t want to stand out
Aspirers - They want to have more money or status and will often buy flashy products to try and send messages out about status
Succeeders - They have more money to spend than aspirers but won’t need to show it as much
Individualists - They want to show the world they are different
Carers - They want to save the world.
Based on the above definitions I feel that my target audience will be a combination of aspirers and individualists. Dance music is a niche market of the music industry. It is a specialist market as opposed to mainstream like pop and rock. I think the people involved in dance music are young and single, probably in their early twenties. They are likely to have left college and secured their first job. I doubt they have children or dependents. They may be living at home or sharing rented accommodation with friends so they have a high amount of disposable income. They have tons of energy and their main priority is life is fun and partying. They enjoy socializing and thrive on their independence. I think they will be fit, energetic and conscious of their look. I think they will go to the clubs with a large group of friends rather than someone they are in an established relationship. A big draw for the dance music consumers will be clubbing on holiday. This is as good as it gets – hot weather, a focus on fun and massive amount of freedom with like minded people. I would use the acronym YAKS to descrtibe my target audience – Young Adventurous Keen and Single. My target audience is out for a good time.
Unfortunatly after searching through the NRS website and readership surveys i could find any specific data on any magazines in the same genre but too show how it works here is a screenshot of what a typical readship survey looks like.
We can follow the table easy and using the demographcs i have listed above we can put that into place. It shows the general wealth of the average buyer, their age and what gender they are. Furthermore it tells us how succesful the magazine is.
Too find my target audience i will research popular dance magazine websites and see if i can gather infomation on who their target audience is and then i can relate it too mine. The first magazine i will inspect is titled 'Mixmag' (http://www.mixmag.net/)
This is a quote i found on the Media pack / advertisement section on the website. This reinforces what i found out earlier showing that my target audience is young and vibrant.
The front page of the website is bright and colourful. A youthful green headmasts the page with a bold black title. The background of the website is black and there is a ice cold blue and fresh white colour that goes down the side there is also a yellow background for a sub title too. All of which indicate that my target audience is young and upbeat. The style of the font is quiet modern, yet readable the different sizes make it interesting and it highlights stories of different importance, there is alot going on alot like what a younger audience would like too see. It is much less uniform that a magazine that was directed at older people. The text on the front page is quite informal and it includes alot about technology, not only because its a dance magazine which generally involves lots of technology but because it wants to be modern and appeal to young fashionable people.
A High Ranking Professionals; lawyers & doctors
B Middle Ranking Professionals; middle managers in business teachers etc
C1 White Collar (Office workers, junior managers, office clerks, bank clerks, nurses
C2 Skilled manual workers, carpeners, electricians
D Semi and unskilled manual workers; drivers, post sorters, labourers
E People subsisting on state benefits, the unemployed, pensioners
I intend to target my magazine toward the housholds of the first three social groups as I feel they will have the disposable income to spend on clubbing and the intellect to appreciate the music. This is a sweeping generalization though and therefore has limited value. The study considers class and not earning power.
I turned my attention to classification of people by consumer personality types. This is known as psychographic. I learned that consumers groups may be categorized as follows:
Main streamers - They go with the flow & don’t want to stand out
Aspirers - They want to have more money or status and will often buy flashy products to try and send messages out about status
Succeeders - They have more money to spend than aspirers but won’t need to show it as much
Individualists - They want to show the world they are different
Carers - They want to save the world.
Based on the above definitions I feel that my target audience will be a combination of aspirers and individualists. Dance music is a niche market of the music industry. It is a specialist market as opposed to mainstream like pop and rock. I think the people involved in dance music are young and single, probably in their early twenties. They are likely to have left college and secured their first job. I doubt they have children or dependents. They may be living at home or sharing rented accommodation with friends so they have a high amount of disposable income. They have tons of energy and their main priority is life is fun and partying. They enjoy socializing and thrive on their independence. I think they will be fit, energetic and conscious of their look. I think they will go to the clubs with a large group of friends rather than someone they are in an established relationship. A big draw for the dance music consumers will be clubbing on holiday. This is as good as it gets – hot weather, a focus on fun and massive amount of freedom with like minded people. I would use the acronym YAKS to descrtibe my target audience – Young Adventurous Keen and Single. My target audience is out for a good time.
Unfortunatly after searching through the NRS website and readership surveys i could find any specific data on any magazines in the same genre but too show how it works here is a screenshot of what a typical readship survey looks like.
We can follow the table easy and using the demographcs i have listed above we can put that into place. It shows the general wealth of the average buyer, their age and what gender they are. Furthermore it tells us how succesful the magazine is.
Too find my target audience i will research popular dance magazine websites and see if i can gather infomation on who their target audience is and then i can relate it too mine. The first magazine i will inspect is titled 'Mixmag' (http://www.mixmag.net/)
This is a quote i found on the Media pack / advertisement section on the website. This reinforces what i found out earlier showing that my target audience is young and vibrant.
The front page of the website is bright and colourful. A youthful green headmasts the page with a bold black title. The background of the website is black and there is a ice cold blue and fresh white colour that goes down the side there is also a yellow background for a sub title too. All of which indicate that my target audience is young and upbeat. The style of the font is quiet modern, yet readable the different sizes make it interesting and it highlights stories of different importance, there is alot going on alot like what a younger audience would like too see. It is much less uniform that a magazine that was directed at older people. The text on the front page is quite informal and it includes alot about technology, not only because its a dance magazine which generally involves lots of technology but because it wants to be modern and appeal to young fashionable people.
Blog 1 - Introduction
The purpose of this assignment is to design a front cover, contents page and double page spread for a new music magazine. I have opted to focus on dance music. This is one of many types of music genres. Dance music covers the following sub groups; techno, drum n base, hard dance, electro, house, dubstep and trance. The musical divisions have their own distinctive sound, identity and fashion. The music is played in dance clubs in big cities and holiday hot spots such as Ibiza. The clubs usually operate between 2200hrs and 0400hrs and have a party atmosphere. Having a good time is the name of the game. This task provides an opportunity to develop my media skills in terms of recognizing markets, defining genres and using a host of different communication techniques to connect with people.
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