Fonts

Draft Feedback

Work includes the following (taken from the AS portfolio schedule):

Moodboards: Done
Examples of other texts/style models: Done
Analysis of magazine covers/film openings: Done
Title of product (Can be working title): Done
25 Word Pitch: Done
Pitch Feedback:Done
Shots of work on magazine cover including photo shoot: Not Done
Complete mock version of cover/contents page/doublepage spread and draft article: Done

Comments:
Did you take pictures and create collage background?-Need to see evidence posted for both. Genre isn't clear enough. Position of main subject needs work. Masthead shouldn't obscure face. Colour palette is not effective enough. You must show variety in types of shots used. You need to use your research more effectively.The ideas you have gathered must be evident in your final pieces of work to achieve a good grade. Play around with layouts- Post examples on the blog. That way we can see progress made and help you improve.

Some More Versions

Gradient Ideas

This is another different version of my magazine. I recieved some more feedback, and was told to play around with some gradient ideas. So i did and i came up with this. I really like this effect as it looks unique i will now have a try on changing my colour palette again to maybe match my model's clothes.

Layouts and Colours.

After recieving my feedback, i had a play around with my layout and my colour scheme. My feedback was really heplful, and i have decided to change my colour scheme and my layout. This version looks much more realistic and not so rushed. So now i have changed the colour scheme on my front cover, i will also change it on the contents page and double page spread, so that the theme runs right through the whole magazine.

Different layouts of my magazine.

This was my intial way of swapping things round and experimentig with my magazine. I think the model in the centre doesnt look as good as if it was down the side, because the masthead then covers more of the models body. I prefer the cover lines on the right hand side of the model and i like the way they overlap the model's body.

I thought that instaed of moving the model and cover lines around on the page, i would move the barcode, and i really like the way it's displayed. I think with the barcode at the top, it make sthe magazine look unique. It also runs in with the genre, because as my magazine is an indie magazine it will have an individual style, so the barcode being in a unusual place really represents that.

This version is a little bit all over the place and even though none of them are finished this one looks the most unfinsihed because its untidy. I dont like the placement of the coverlines or the barcode as it's very boring. However i do like the placement of the model down the side.

I think that now i have experimented with my layouts, i now need to do the same with my colour palette to make it stand out more. One idea that i am definately keeping is the background collage, as i think it's a unique and unusual way of making a magazine look a bit different. However, the collage will be made from all my own pictures and ideas, not from pictures that have already been took by someone else.

Peer Assesment

Hannah Skidmore:

• Genre-Indie
• Target Audience-Teenage
• Success-Background Layout,Photograph Of Meg and Colour Scheme.
• Improvements-Change Photograph of Hannah and Abbi, Don't use blocks for photographs and Show Meg's eyes.
• Level-Level 2 (High)
• General Comments-Good first draft.

Nicky Chapman

• Genre-Female Indie Music
• Target Audience-Teenage
• Success-Nice pictures, design flows through, good use of language, font matches all the way through.
• Improvements-Have different shots for pictures, maybe change font of masthead to look a bit different to everything else, need more on contents page.
• Level-Level 3 (Low)

Ricken Ram

• Genre-Indie
• Target Audience-People who like Indie music, 16+
• Success-The collage background looks good, and the colour pallette.
• Improvements-Perhaps consider taking different photos.
• Level-Level 3 (Mid)

Abbi Stilgoe

• Genre-Indie
• Target Audience-Young Adults
• Success-Like the collage background, good pictures of model.
• Improvements-Need a different picture of Meg for double page spread, change picture of Abbi and Hannah to something that doesnt looked rushed and actually fits in with the genre.
• Level-Level 2(High)
• General Comments-Finish double page spread story.

I'm really happy with my constructive critism that my peers gave to me. I now know what i need to work on to get to a higher level. Even though my magazine was rushed so that i could hand it in on time, i believe that my magazine is alreday at an average level. I totally agree with the points that my peers gave to me, and i will aim to reach above those targets, so that hopefully my level will rise by the time that my final piece will need to be handed in.

Market Research

Questions for Market Research

Draft Front Cover, Contents Page and Double Page Spread.

Mock-up front cover

Inspiration for collage background

Life magazine has given me inspiration to have a college background. Alot of their magazines have collages on. For example to celebrate their 70th anniversary they produced a collage of their magazine in a shape of a birthday cake. I think that it looked impressive and the collage on it looked really effective. Obviously i cannot copy their idea but i thought that having a collage as my background and making it faded so the pictures and text stood out was an original idea. Therefore my magazine cover will have a range of images that i have produced on the front in black and white.

Magazine Colour Palettes

Magazine Article

My Magazine Article will be an interview with the band on the front. It will consist of questions about them and their music career. I asked a few people some questions on music magazines. One of the questions was " What they would rather read about in a music magazine". From the bunch of people i asked "An Interview" was the favourite and the one that they all picked, so that gave me inspiration to put that on my double page spread. The Interview will include information about their chart success, their up and coming tour of 2010, parties and all things that no other magazine can get their sneaky little hands on.

Double Page Spread Analysis

This double page spread really inspires me. I love the layout of it and i also love the font. The way Lily is standing is quite simple but it looks really effective and gives off "attitude". Lily's clothes also co-ordinate with the colours on the magazine, which is a good idea, so that the magazine doesnt look too busy. The writing underneath the font is very small. However this is a good way of doing it, if you want the headline and the picture to stand out. I think this is by far the best double page spread i have looked at, because compared to the others, it looks really good and is quite simple to create.

Bands/Artists that I want to include in my mock-up magazine.

These are just a few bands that i intend to write about in my magazine:

The Arctic Monkeys are a English alternative rock band from Sheffield. Formed in 2002, the band currently consists of Alex Turner (Lead Vocals & Guitar), Jamie Cook (Guitar), Nick O'Malley (Bass Guitar & Backing Vocals) and Matt Helders ( Drums & Backing Vocals). The band has had former members in their early years.

The Temper Trap are a rock band from Melbourne, Australia. They are noted for their atmospheric sound, featuring grand guitars set to pulsating rhythms.

Kasabian are a British Indie Rock band who formed in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire in 1999. The band currently consists of Tom Meighan (Vocalist), Christopher Karloff (Guitarist & Keyboardist), Sergio Perzonna (Guitarist & Backing Vocalist) and Ash Hannis (Drummer).

Bombay Bicycle Club are an Indie Rock Band from Crouch End, London. They formed in 2005, and the band currently is composed of Jack Staedman (Lead Vocals, Guitar, Xylophone), Jamie McColl (Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals), Ed Nash (Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals) and Suren de Sarem (Drums, Guitar and Backing Vocals).

Florence and the Machine is the recording name of Florence Welch and a collaboration of other artists who provide backing music for her voice. Musically Florence and the Machine's sound is generally referred to as soul-inspired indie rock.

Case study Of Target Audience.

This is Meg Whyte. She is 17 and lives In Lutterworth with her family. She is currently studying A-Level P.E, Biology, Graphics and Geography at Lutterworth College. She runs a busy lifestyle and takes part in alot of extreme sports including mountain biking and rock climbing. She has a passion for music and her favourite genre is Indie. Her favourite bands are Kasabian and the Rolling Stones. Her favourite things to do are mountain biking and rock climbing but she also enjoys taking part in surfing when on holiday, shopping, socialising with her friends, listening to music and going out to parties. When shopping she doesnt mind where she buys her clothes from, but her favourite stores are American Apparel, Urban Outfitters, and Topshop. She loves to keep up with with new trends but has her own individual style which she likes to maintain.

Audience Feedback on my Pitch.

Name of Group and task idea: Sophie-Magazine called Replay.
Genre: Indie
Target Audience: Teenagers- Boys & Girls.
Other texts it reminds you of: NME, Q.

Potential Problems:

• Effort
• Needs to be more organised.
• No proper story thought out.
• Unsure story.
• Unsure of story which could affect planning and final magazine.
• Target audience.
• Cluttered front page. How are you going to put a different spin on your magazine to make it unique.
• Looks more feminine.

Positive Comments:

• Good pictures that are interesting. My age group.
• Good colour pallettte, which appeals to both boys & girls.
• Similar to my taste. Purple/Black/White-colours work well together.
• The idea and the name.
• Purple/Black and White. should look good.
• Good colour scheme which fits the genre.
• Good colour Pallette.
• The theme is articulate and has potential. Colour scheme works really well.
• Design on moodboard looks good.
• Colour scheme of Purple/Black/White will look good.

Advice/Suggestions:

• Sort out main story.
• Make the subject of the double page spread the main feature on your front page.
• Use small bands.
• Make sure you make it appealing to both boys & girls.
• Keep Going.
• Try to think of a story to base planning on.
• Decide Story.
• Research more magazines.
• Produce a mock-up of the magazine in order to really understand the context & research more magazines and choose an official style model.
• Organise yourself more e.g know your stories.
• Use popular bands.

25 Word Pitch.

My Magazine will be called Replay. The target audience will be unisex. My 3 colour pallete is purple, black and white. The genre will be Indie.

Double Page Spread Analysis.

This double page spread of Q magazine has a real interesting picture on it. I would say that the target audience for this magazine is men aged between 25-35, because the picture of Madonna would probably attract men more than it would women. I think that when creating a magazine you need a interesting action photo of someone rather than a boring photo of someone just standing there. Although sometimes it can look good but only when it's done properly. The colours are interesting but i dont like the orange because although they have made it big i think that some people would till find it hard to read. I love the way they have made Madonna's name stand out from everything else. The writing on this page is very small which again some people would find hard to read. So thats another thing that i dont like. The black background used is good for the bright colours to stand out a bit more than they would on any other colour. The picture of Madoona really inspires me and i would love to have something similar on my magazine.

Contents Page Analysis.

This contenets page has just the right amount of informtion and pictures. It sticks to the three colour palette of red, white and black very well. The picture is simple but effective and the cover lines over the picture really stand out due to the bold colour. Most things on this magazine are very simple to do, however they look really effective if you do it right. Such as the font of the masthead. It's quite a simple font but it's really striking and really drags your eye to it. I think black writing is always the best and easiest to read so if i were to buy this magazine i would find it easier to read than trying to read a magazine with writing of a brighter colour. The headlines are short and snappy, which i think is a good way to keep your reader interested, because if they were to long the reader would get bored and move on.