Feedback

On Facebook, I set up a group in which my friend's could look at my final front page, contents page and double page spread and have an opportunity in which they could comment on what they like, don't like and what they think could possibly be improved. I got really good feedback. When on the group, click on the pictures uploaded of the final pieces to see the feedback that was written underneath.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=185233861493640

Using this as a way in which to get feedback was good as it happened relatively quickly which enabled me to take some feedback and use it to improve my pieces before I ultimately finalised them.

For example, many people commented saying that the text for the interview on the double age spread should be put in white boxes or changed to white font instead of just being highlighted in white, as it looked too 'manufactured'. After trying out the white boxes instead, I decided I liked this better than having the text highlighted. I did also have suggestions to round off the corners on the boxes, however after trying this, I decided I wanted to leave them with the sharper edges.

Evaluation

My presentation evaluating the front page, the contents page and the double page spread.

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B0DnGj06WOfoMzcyMmVjOWQtZTFhMi00YTQzLTg4NzgtNWJiMzU0ODY0YzVl&hl=en

My front page for my magazine is similar to other existing publications because, it has a title at the top which was similar for every magazine that I looked at. It is also in a different font from the rest of the text and so it distinguished as a title.

It also has a picture, that acts as a background for the front page. The picture is a low angle, long distance shot that shows the boys as having some power. They are also making eye contact with the camera, and this lets the prospective buyer feel like they are being connected with. The pictures on the contents page of the boys laughing were chosen as I believe they represented the boys own attitudes well. This would then be easily picked up from the reader and again the reader would feel like they were connecting with the band and already learning something new about them. This was a common feature with many magazines that I looked at before. The front cover also has a date and price like all other magazines, so that the reader can easily see how much it is, and if it is the newest issue.

It also has text flashes on the front cover, that explains what else is included in this issue along the sides and down the bottom. This means that the reader will know what to expect in the issue and whether or not they would like to buy it.

The magazine is targeted at the genre of indie teenage boys, probably around age 16+. I captured this male genre with the colours used, and with the language and images used as well. The colours are mainly blue and dark red, as these were popular colours when studying magazines in the indie/rock genre such as NME and Mojo.

The language used on my double page spread interview is conversational and colloquial lexis, as I wanted to capture representations of speech that you would hear in the interview before it is published in the magazine. It means that the magazine is less formal, and therefore will attract itself to the genre that I am aiming at for my magazine. The chatty yet informative style of speech, also gives an idea about the attitudes and opinions of the band. The reader therefore learns more about the band this way as well. The language is also quite casual on the front page as well, for example with the "Hey! Want to start a band?"

I think that if my magazine was to be successful, it would be sold in most newsagents, and in shops such as WHSmiths. This because it is a monthly magazine, and WHSmith sells most of these magazines in it's music section. Being sold in most newsagents would also mean that it would reach many people who just go down there for other things and happen to see it.

See Blog 2 for more information about my target audience. My target audience is aimed at teenage boys aged around 16+ who have an interest in indie music and fashion. The national readership survey showed that music magazines of the same genre, for example NME were targeted at an age range of 15-44, and so I tried to reach this age group as well.

Demographically, I think that my audience would be aimed at around the C2 and C1 category, as this was again highlighted as the average readership for this genre of magazines on the National Readership Survey. The 'type' that my reader would fit into when looking at Psycho graphics would probably be 'Individualists', as the idea of people who want to show the world they are different from everyone else is fitting for an 'Indie' magazine.

My magazine would attract my chosen audience because it fits the style of an Indie magazine. It isn't dark and Gothic like a magazine trying to fit into that genre and it's not bright and colourful like pop magazines would be perhaps targeted at the female audience would be.

The audience would be attracted to the bands on the front as they would be bands from the music scene that they listen to, I also tried to dress them in a style that stereotypically fits that of the Indie scene, for example low-hung jeans and checked shirts.

At first I found 'In Design' as a programme extremely hard to use, as I had never heard of it or used it before. This made it hard at first because it meant that I could not try new things as it was taking a lot of time for me to work out how to do some of the simple things. However as I used it more and more it began to become more straightforward and I could change things that I didn't like from the beginning as I went along. Photoshop I had never used before either, so this was quite challenging at the start although I did eventually work out how to edit my pictures and change them for example from coloured to black and white and how to crop them in size.

Looking back at my preliminary magazine task, I think that my design skills have improved because my front cover looks a lot like a magazine and my contents page is not as bare as the one in my preliminary magazine. I also planned this one a lot more thoroughly which meant that the end result is a little bit better.

If I could, I would improve some things about my finished result. For example, from looking at my pictures I have realised that the members of my band are all White British. This was unintentional, but if I had thought about this more I would have perhaps included someone from another race, so as to make my magazine more ethnically inclusive.

Another thing I would change about my final piece, would be that I would make the bar code a little smaller on the front page as it looks a little too big. Also, where it says, "Want to start a band?" I would possibly like to make this text a little lighter, as it does not stand out as well as the rest of the text.

On the contents page, I would like to tilt the text in the white boxes on the pictures as they look a little too neat for the more edgy look that I was going for with my magazine.

On my double page spread, I would like to change the main title of "The Underdogs" from the blue background that it currently is, to a blue of a lighter shade or maybe even a red. At the moment, I don't think it stays in the colour scheme well enough and I wanted my magazine to show full continuity.

Final Pieces

Here are the links for google documents, where my final pieces have been saved.

Front Page

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B0DnGj06WOfoOTdhN2FkYTYtMjdiMS00NzE0LWJlMzUtZjhiMDM2MjU4YWRi&hl=en

Contents Page

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B0DnGj06WOfoMzI3ZGVjNjQtNjBiZC00MTUxLWFkM2MtNDVkMjU1ZTUwN2Y1&hl=en

Double Page Spread

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B0DnGj06WOfoYjI3NjI2YzYtNTZhYS00NGZkLWIyZjctODYyMTRhODc0YmUw&hl=en

Pictures

This is a picture of Frankmusik that I took when I went to see him live at Concorde2 in Brighton. I want to use this picture in my contents page, as previous contents pages that I have looked at, for example the one in my previous blog, uses more than just one photo and more than just one artist is usually pictured. I like this photo as it captures the feel of the gig, and also would give my contents page an edgier feel.

This is a photo that I would like to either use as my front cover or on my double page spread. I like it because it shows them at different levels and is therefore interesting on the eye. The camera also captures a low angle shot which is a good shot as it represents power. They are all looking into the camera as well which is something I wanted to include on my front page, as they are automatically connecting with the reader.

This is one of the photos I took for my magazine and I would like to use it in the double page spread, mainly as one of my larger pictures. I like it because it is quite casual and captures the personalities of the people in the band. However it is quite dark especially on the left hand side so I may need to lighten it up a bit. The band members laughing also gives the magazine a feel-good feel.


This is a photo that I took as a possible front page. I like it because of all of the colours that are involved but I would like to get rid of some of the gate that is shown on the left and just keep it as them with the tree. It is also good because they are again all looking at the reader which means that the reader feels like they are being communicated with. I also like the fact that again they are all at different levels.


I like this photo as again it is quite casual and shows them having a good time however it is quite dark and so I will need to edit it by lightening it up a little bit. It also shows only two members of the band and so it might have to be used as a smaller picture or one that is included in the contents page.

This phto again only shows two of the members so if I were to use it, it would probably have to be used for something like a smaller image in the contents page or on the double page spread. It again shows different levels between the band members.

This is another picture that I chose as a possible front page as again the camera is lower than the people and they are also engaging the audience by looking into the camera. I am not too sure on this photo however, as the band standing in a playground perhaps makes them younger than I want them to come across.

The picture below is one of my favourites. It also fits my criteria for the main picture for my double page spread as it is a long shot of the band members. It also is a low angle shot and so shows power and authority which I think is good as it juxtaposes the name of 'The Underdogs'.

Fonts

For my magazine, I have chosen to stick with a simple font for the majority of my text and then just use a detailed one for the name of the magazine. This is because, from analysing existing magazines, I noticed that interviews and contents pages are written using simple fonts so that they are easier to read and then the title is usually with a more interesting font so as to make it noticeable and recognisable for future editions.

Retro Stereo Wide is the font that I have chosen to use for the title of my magazine, 'The Indiependent'. I chose this font as it jumped out at me immediately and when testing it, it looked good across the top of my magazine. It is also easy to read, despite being more arty than that of a font like Times New Roman. I also used it in my contents page when repeating the name of the magazine at the top of that page too. Using it on more than one page also shows continuation throughout the magazine.

For the rest of my text, I used the simple font of Arial as this text is extremely easy to read and so works well for my long article about the band on the double page spread. It also matches the font on the double page spread of the articles I looked at in previous magazines such as NME and Mojo and these magazines reach the same target audience as mine.

Flat Plans

This is my flat plan for my music magazine. I have decided to call my magazine the Indie-pendent as it is a take on the newspaper the Independant and also captures the Indie genre that I would like my magazine to be aimed at.

I am going to have my main photograph taking up the whole background of the magazine and then have all the rest of the information over the top of it. I want my photograph to show the band making eye contact with the reader as this will hopefully make the reader feel more connected with the magazine.

I chose the name of 'The Underdogs' for my band as I thought it sounded like a typical name that an indie/rock band may choose. The text flashes going across the magazine will be about competitions and what else to expect in the magazine so that the reader will know what to expect inside and feel inclined to buy the magazine if they like what they see. The front page will also have a barcode, price and issue number as this is what most magazines also include on the front of their magazines. I am also having the month of the magazine at the top of the magazine so that it is easy to see and people will know whether they are buying the latest addition.

From analysing the existing magazines, I want to use colours such as red, black and blue as I feel that these colours are stereotypically more representative of the male genre than the female genre.



This is my flat plan for the contents page for my music magazine. I am keeping the name of the magazine in the top left hand corner as reminder and also to give the magazine some continuity.

I want the contents page to be in the format of a grid of 4 collums. The name 'Contents' will run either down one column or across the top of the page. The four collums will include pictures and a listing of what to expect inside with page number references. The colours of the contents page will match that of the front page so that there is again continuity running throughout the magazine.


This is my double page spread for my music magazine. I want my pages to be gridded up into 3 collums. The double page spread will follow the four column idea that the contents page will follow.

My first page is going to have a main picture that will take up 2 of the collums. I want my photo to maybe show the band mid jump in the air to give them a fun personality that will jump out at the reader. Otherwise I would like a long shot picture that fits in their full attire.

Over the picture of the band I might put a quotation that has been pulled from the main text and I was also thinking of having a small box in the bottom right hand corner that has other facts you may want to know about this band that has not been addressed in the feature as this was quite popular with existing magazines I had looked at.

I want the main title to run across the top of the page or across the bottom and it will be in bright and big font so that it is easy to spot. The main title will be the name of the band, so that the reader knows immediately what article they are reading about.

There will also be page numbers on the bottom corners of the page as navigation points so people can find their way easily after coming from the contents page.

Page two of the double page spread is going to show two columns that carries the full interview with pictures placed in between. I also was thinking of having pull-quotes among the interview as this is popular within many magazines and also highlights key quotations made from the band. The colours will match that of the front page and contents page to show continuation. It will also try to be bright and eye catching/aesthetically pleasing so that the reader is inclined to read the whole article and then make their way through the rest of the magazine.

Analysis of existing magazines

Magazine cover 1

The main title of this magazine is featured as a logo. The Q is big and white against a red background and this means that it stands out well. The colours are masculine, and stick within the red, white and black colour scheme. I will need to think about what colours are determined as masculine when making my own front cover. This means that I will grab the attention of my intended male audience.

The tagline reads "A different take on music" and this is used on every magazine to show continuation throughout them. it will also inspire curiosity within the reader, as they will want to know what makes this magazine so different from the rest and would therefore be encouraged to buy it. The main flash used is promoting a well known artist and this may encourage the reader to buy the magazine especially if they like that particular artist. It also allows you to know what is going to be inside the magazine and may therefore encourage you to buy it so that you can read the article inside.

The main flash is used in a Serif font and is in bold black and white fonts. This means that it really stands out and holds the reader's attention. The main artist is deliberately wearing the same coloured clothes used in the titles so that the front page again shows continuation and also looks aesthetically pleasing. She is also half naked, which would again attract the male readership that Q encourages to read its magazines. The panthers featured next to the main artist, could also be seen as masculine animals, and again help promote the magazine towards the male reader.

The front cover also includes smaller titles, such as the one running along the bottom, promoting other bands. This would be a good idea to include on the front of my magazine, as it means that the reader knows that they are getting good value for money, if the magazine looks like it contains quality material inside.

Magazine cover 2

On the front of this magazine you can see very bold and eye catching bright colours such as reds, yellows and blues. The magazine immediately strikes me as being intended for a younger, male audience because of this.

The title of the magazine is again in bold and bright, so you immediately know what magazine you look at. I think this is a good idea that could be used on my magazine as it leaves a lasting impression on the magazine's name. Underneath is the tagline which tells you what NME stands for, 'New Musical Express'.

The title is overlapped on top of the main background picture which is of a band that will be featured inside. The picture, shows the band looking directly at the reader. I want to use this idea on the front of the magazine, as it gives the impression that they are connecting with the audience. It would encourage the reader to buy the magazine. The band are wearing clothes that do not coinsist with the colour theme of the magazine and this again suggests a less mature audience. It could also suggest that the band are 'rebelling' against the status quo of magazine editing, and therefore showing their attitudes through it.

The main flash informs you on the name of the band and lets you know what the main article inside is going to be about. It links into the picture of the band on the front as again the font colour is bright and bold.

Some of the words on the main flash have been slightly rotated to make it look more aesthetically pleasing for the reader and gives the magazine a bit of an edge. There is a bar code clearly shown on the bottom right hand corner. The other title flashes are around the edge of the magazine front, and they also tell you what else is going to be featured in the magazine. There are other smaller images of bands and artists on the front cover as well next to the smaller titles. This is so that the reader knows what other bands and features will be inside the magazine, as the main featured artist may not be what they are after. This would encourage them to buy the magazine, as there is other things to read about. I will include this on the front of my magazine, so that my readership members are higher.

Quotations are taken from some of the interviews inside are put onto the front page to give the reader an idea of what is going to be discussed inside the magazine. All of the fonts are in bold and the same font is used for the whole front of the magazine, it is in a simple Arial font, so that the reader can confidently read the magazine smoothly. The simple font also appeals more to the male genre as it is more masculine than having a more feminine curly/handwriting font.

Contents Page
I took this contents page from the magazine Q as it covers the genre that I am aiming for with my magazine.

The contents page uses a grid of 3 and has a border running across the top. The border has a navigation point such as the name 'Contents' and also shows the Q logo for continuation. In my magazine I am going to have clear navigation points such as page numbers and titles so that the reader knows exactly where they are in the magazine.

The features in the magazine are in the first grid running down the left hand side and then there is a main picture that takes up two grids on the right. In the main picture, the featured band are again all looking out at the reader, so as to make the audience feel like they are being connected with.

The contents page uses the same colour combinations of red and black so that there is again continuation. The font is again simple, to make reading easier for the audience.

Double Page Spread

The double page spread is taken from NME magazine, which is again a magazine that is made for my intended audience. The page is bright and eye catching and would definitely appeal to a younger audience probably aged 15-30. The colours used are again masculine, and would therefore appeal to the male audience that NME are most popular with.

Each page on the double page spread makes up a grid of 4 collums. The main picture takes up the full four collums on one side of the double page spread. The featured band are again connecting with the audience by looking straight at the camera. Because this is so popular within magazines, I will definitely be using this approach with my own magazine. The pose held by the band is almost like the photographer was just to catch the band lounging around in their free time. The picture is quite good in reflecting the name of the band, 'The Teenagers'. The name is again emphasized by their casual clothing. It also looks like they are in a bedroom relaxing together, there is pictures of women on the walls something that is perhaps meant to portray the stereotypical things that teenage boys like. This would also again appeal to a male audience reading the magazine.

On the other page is the interview with the band and this takes up 2 collums.

The other two collums is made up of information about other bands that are probably in the same genre to the featured band in the article. This means that readers can increase their musical knowledge.

Pull quotes are included and highlighted which gives the article a good look and also pin points key quotes that may have been a good or interesting part of the article. Language used in the article is casual and not very formal at all. This would again attract a male intended audience that are looking for an easy read. It also means you get an idea on the attitudes and opinions of people in the band.

There is a 'need to know' post it note styled box at the bottom left of the main picture containing other pieces of information about the band not nessacerily mentioned in the article. This means that if you are perhaps just browsing through you can still find out something interesting about other bands.