Friday 8 April 2011
7. Looking Back At Your Preliminary Task (The School Magazine Task), What Do You Feel You Have Learnt In The Progression From It To Full Product
In the space of time between creating my preliminary task and my magazine task my knowledge of photoshop and indesign has significantly increased. I used tools such as the pencil tool and box and place to gain the design I was looking for. I learnt how to cut things out considerably quicker using the cut tool. Also, my use of layers have become more effective using it to an exstensive effect to make my magazine look professional. I have also used how to use tools on indesign such as opacity and the spacing and height settings used to modify text. I used this on my mastehead to make the writing look like it was touching. The overall layout of my magazine has also improved, my knowledge is far more greater and instead of randomly placing objects in a page I was able to create a traditional layer which helps make my magazine look attractive. My contents page now looks more creative and looks like a conventional magazine in which you would find in a shop. On a whole, my skills have increased and I am proud of my work. 
6. What Have You Learnt About Technologies From The Process of Constructing This Product
I used the college apple macs to design my magazine on software such as indesign and photoshop. Howver I also used my windows 2000 computer to update my blog.
I used this digital camera to take my photos.
I used blogger to create a professional space to upload my work onto.
Previously I hd never used photopshop, however upon embarking upon this course my skills in photoshop have become vast.
I also used Adobe Indesign CS4 to create my designs for my magazine.
I also used my blackberry phone to voice record myself.
Overall, I have learnt a lot about technology during my time creatign this product. Previously I had never used Indesign or photoshop but upon doing this course I have learnt new skills and was able to create a professional looking magazine by myself. I have also learnt other factors of technology such as blogger, prezi how to use a mac computer.
3. What Kind of Media Institution Might Distribute Your Media Product and Why?
Classic Rock 70,188
Kerrang! 52,2722
Metal Hammer 50,269
Mojo 30,159
NME 48,459
Q 131,330
Rock Sound 20,001
Terrorizer 13,786
Uncut 87,069
Word 34,280
Looking at statistics of magazine sales. I have decided I would like my magazine to be distrubuted by IPC media, this company published NME so therefore have a background knowledge in distrubution in light to magazines. NME sales are one of the most highest grossed sales in the magazine publishing industry. As my genre is pop this company would be pervect in distrubuting my magazine as this is what they are predominantly skilled on. As well as covering a wide range of magazines they also distrubute other aspects of media such as music videos. This means the company would be ideal for promoting and selling the magazine I have produced. They would want to sell my magazine as I have a unique edge and seeling point, something they haven't seen before, and something I feel could create a major profit.
Kerrang! 52,2722
Metal Hammer 50,269
Mojo 30,159
NME 48,459
Q 131,330
Rock Sound 20,001
Terrorizer 13,786
Uncut 87,069
Word 34,280
Looking at statistics of magazine sales. I have decided I would like my magazine to be distrubuted by IPC media, this company published NME so therefore have a background knowledge in distrubution in light to magazines. NME sales are one of the most highest grossed sales in the magazine publishing industry. As my genre is pop this company would be pervect in distrubuting my magazine as this is what they are predominantly skilled on. As well as covering a wide range of magazines they also distrubute other aspects of media such as music videos. This means the company would be ideal for promoting and selling the magazine I have produced. They would want to sell my magazine as I have a unique edge and seeling point, something they haven't seen before, and something I feel could create a major profit.
5. How Did You Attract/Address Your Audience
Front Cover - The masthead for my magazine will attract my audience as it is simple and bold, this means it is easily distinguisable and easy to recognise. This is an effective masthead and all eye attemtion is drawn to it. My main image will attract the audience because she is related to the chosen genre of music and also her promiscuous pose will appeal to both genders of my audience. The banner at the top of the page will entice my audience as it shows they are getting more for their money, as it's the best magazine it shows it's worth the money. The tag lines will also appeal to my audience as the people interested in my genre of music will want to read more about the associated acts I listed.
Contents Page - The masthead for my contants page is the same as my front cover which gives a sense of continuality, this makes it simpler to understand and will therefore appeal to the audience. The fonts I used are also attractive and will appeal to my target audience. The arrangement and layout of my magazine will also appeal as it is simple but gives a strong statement.
Double Page Spread - The image is bold and makes a stand and is simple which will appeal to my audience, the model is swearing somethign commonly associated with my target audience. So this will probably attract them to my magazine.
Contents Page - The masthead for my contants page is the same as my front cover which gives a sense of continuality, this makes it simpler to understand and will therefore appeal to the audience. The fonts I used are also attractive and will appeal to my target audience. The arrangement and layout of my magazine will also appeal as it is simple but gives a strong statement.
Double Page Spread - The image is bold and makes a stand and is simple which will appeal to my audience, the model is swearing somethign commonly associated with my target audience. So this will probably attract them to my magazine.
4. Who Would Be The Audience For Your Media Product?
I think my targert audience would predominantly be females from the ages of 15 onwards, this is because the taglines are aimed more at females and would probably entice them more, also females are usually more likely to buy a magazine. However, I wanted my magazine to appeal to both genders, so therefore I used low colour tones which would attract both genders and tried to keep a few taglines to appeal to a male audience.
Typically she will be found constantly plugged into her ipod whether she's doing her artwork or out and about with friends. Her ipod would feature hit music of the time with a diverse choice of artists including Rhianna, Florence and the machine, Justin Bieber and Lady GaGa. Her free time is spent watching MTV, hanging with her girls, browsing on the internet; therefore she doesn't spend much time with her family. Because most of her money is spent on new singles from itunes and new clothes, she doesn't spend much money on anything else as she has always run out of money.
Typically she will be found constantly plugged into her ipod whether she's doing her artwork or out and about with friends. Her ipod would feature hit music of the time with a diverse choice of artists including Rhianna, Florence and the machine, Justin Bieber and Lady GaGa. Her free time is spent watching MTV, hanging with her girls, browsing on the internet; therefore she doesn't spend much time with her family. Because most of her money is spent on new singles from itunes and new clothes, she doesn't spend much money on anything else as she has always run out of money.
2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?
My magazine is aimed at people with a common interest into pop music. Probably from the ages of 16-20, However the magazine could also appeal to a wide audience as I used other elements such as interviews with artists who have two genres of music for example "Pop and rock" so this might attract other people with preference to other music genres to my magazine. As my main model is female, it could be suggested that my media product represents females, however I wanted my magazine to be aimed at both genders so therefore I stragically orchestrated the poses and layout of my magazine to fit in with both social groups. The mise-en-scene can also represent social groups, as the clothes my model is wearing fit into the category of general teenage fashion thus linking in with the already cultivating social background of teenagers which fits in with my target audience.
1. In what ways does your product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
1: Masthead
For the masthead of my magazine I used white font in bold letters encased in a black shape, I wanted something unique and eye catching so therefore I used these two colours to make the whole magazine on a whole look more eye catching. This challenges conventions which are normally associated with pop magazines as their colours are normally bright and colourful, however I wanted a new theme of magazine so therefore I think these colours are good. No other magazine has had such a bold masthead so already existing conventions for media magazines are different to mine.
2- Title Font and Style
I used medium size writing on my magazine because I wanted it to be 1.) easily read, and 2.) look proffesional, so therefore I selected a range of fonts to use and settled on "American typewriter" this gives a fancy, sophisticated look to my magazine and I have reflected it on both my contents page and my double page spread. Another font which I used is "Enter name here" this was the font I initially used for my masthead, however I think the impact the font has on my magazine would look good echoed throughout my product, so therefore I also used this font again, on my contents page and double page spread.
3- Written Content
The written content of my magazine follows similiar conventions which are associated with previous media products, for example I used similiar conventions for the interview in my double page spread, asking questions such as "Inspirations and tours" these such things can be found in existing produts.
4- Music Genre
The main genre for my magazine is pop music, this can be seen throught my magazien as I have used colours which are commonly associated with pop music and also existing artists and music which fit under that category. I wanted my genre to also coesist with the charts so therefore the genre corresponds with both pop music and chart music. The props I used also illustrate my genre, for example on my contents page my model is holding a tamborine, an instrument which is sometimes linked with pop music. I believe my genre challenges conventions of existing products because hardly any existing magazines initially focus on pop music, so therefore I wanted to create a new edge.
6- Costumes and Props
The costumes and props used in "Edge" are conventional to my genre. This can be seen by their costumes and props in which I have used throughout my product. For example, the outfit my model is wearing in all three elements of my product reflect the fashion or today and also can be similarry viewed in some of todays biggest pop influennces.
7 – People
The people I have used in my magazine follow similar conventions already used by other media products, for example the outfits and pose of the model I used is quite promisquous, this is commonly used to appeal to both genders of the readership, as girls will want to be her and boys will want to be with her. Also as fashion and beauty are major influences of todays culture I wanted a new theme to add glamour to my magazine. This also supports my genre and audience.
8 – Layout
The layout of my magazine is mainly conventional as I used a model staring straight at the camera, which is placed int he middle of my page. The tag lines follow a distinct pattern to other media products by forming down the side and the masthead is placed on the top left hand side. A place many mastehads are normally layed out. My conents page also follows conventions, reflecting my front cover and listing the other interviews in which the magazine holds, this can be seen in other media products. However, I believe my double page spread challenged already placed conventions of media products as it had one image blown up to cover both pieces of paper with a bright background, the model is also swearing something which wouldn't normally occur in double page spread, but I used this technique to appeal to my audience and fit with my genre.
For the masthead of my magazine I used white font in bold letters encased in a black shape, I wanted something unique and eye catching so therefore I used these two colours to make the whole magazine on a whole look more eye catching. This challenges conventions which are normally associated with pop magazines as their colours are normally bright and colourful, however I wanted a new theme of magazine so therefore I think these colours are good. No other magazine has had such a bold masthead so already existing conventions for media magazines are different to mine.
2- Title Font and Style
I used medium size writing on my magazine because I wanted it to be 1.) easily read, and 2.) look proffesional, so therefore I selected a range of fonts to use and settled on "American typewriter" this gives a fancy, sophisticated look to my magazine and I have reflected it on both my contents page and my double page spread. Another font which I used is "Enter name here" this was the font I initially used for my masthead, however I think the impact the font has on my magazine would look good echoed throughout my product, so therefore I also used this font again, on my contents page and double page spread.
3- Written Content
The written content of my magazine follows similiar conventions which are associated with previous media products, for example I used similiar conventions for the interview in my double page spread, asking questions such as "Inspirations and tours" these such things can be found in existing produts.
4- Music Genre
The main genre for my magazine is pop music, this can be seen throught my magazien as I have used colours which are commonly associated with pop music and also existing artists and music which fit under that category. I wanted my genre to also coesist with the charts so therefore the genre corresponds with both pop music and chart music. The props I used also illustrate my genre, for example on my contents page my model is holding a tamborine, an instrument which is sometimes linked with pop music. I believe my genre challenges conventions of existing products because hardly any existing magazines initially focus on pop music, so therefore I wanted to create a new edge.
6- Costumes and Props
The costumes and props used in "Edge" are conventional to my genre. This can be seen by their costumes and props in which I have used throughout my product. For example, the outfit my model is wearing in all three elements of my product reflect the fashion or today and also can be similarry viewed in some of todays biggest pop influennces.
7 – People
The people I have used in my magazine follow similar conventions already used by other media products, for example the outfits and pose of the model I used is quite promisquous, this is commonly used to appeal to both genders of the readership, as girls will want to be her and boys will want to be with her. Also as fashion and beauty are major influences of todays culture I wanted a new theme to add glamour to my magazine. This also supports my genre and audience.
8 – Layout
The layout of my magazine is mainly conventional as I used a model staring straight at the camera, which is placed int he middle of my page. The tag lines follow a distinct pattern to other media products by forming down the side and the masthead is placed on the top left hand side. A place many mastehads are normally layed out. My conents page also follows conventions, reflecting my front cover and listing the other interviews in which the magazine holds, this can be seen in other media products. However, I believe my double page spread challenged already placed conventions of media products as it had one image blown up to cover both pieces of paper with a bright background, the model is also swearing something which wouldn't normally occur in double page spread, but I used this technique to appeal to my audience and fit with my genre.
Final design of magazine
I finished my contents page by adding an extra tagline which is situated in the bottom right corner. I wanted to fill the gap and also create a friendly enviroment between readers and writers which furthermore would make it more appealing. I believe my contents page couyld have been improved in elements such as the tag lines and overall layout, but again I also feel it as a unique edge to it.
I am very happy with my double page spread, even though it doesn't fit media convention and is very different to already existing double page spreads, I feel that it looks very attractive and makes a statement, it literally lifts of the page and easy to read.
if I had to do this proiject again I would use another genre and see how it differs from the genre I have already used.
Double page spread stages
This is my final copy of the double page spread, I added the ending of the quote and put it in red writing to help make it stand out.
Contents page stages
Again with the front cover I left my contents page as a blank slate I could later build on and create my design. I mimicked the masthead but changed it to contents to give a professional look. I also created a texture to make my magazine look more attractive. I also created a black box to later place an image onto.
At this stage I had created boxes which echoed the front page. I have introduced font and set a structure to my magazine. I also created the pages and page numbers which were shown on my front cover.
I added my picture and made the contents page look more sophisticated at this stage.
Front cover stages
tagline previously which makes it stand out.
At this stage I placed my masthead which I had again previously created on indesign to my page as well as a few tagline to give my product initial shape and structure. At this point I had created a black banner at the top of the page to cover the white gap which had appeared on my first draft.
On this week my magazine was really taking shape. I had finished the taglines and added a banner at the top to make it more appealing. Under my masthead I wanted an extras colloum, however the design of this is tricky to manaeuvour so it juts out at an unattractive angle. This is something I will have to manage and improve.
Target audience analysis
From looking at my questionaire results I can see that my main audience is from the ages of 15-20, as this is also the main audience which buy magazines I couldn't have focused on a better target audience. I will focus on both genders so will therefore have to incorporate my designs and layour to fit both audience. I will use low tone colours to attract both genders and keep the news and taglines looking fresh and giving insight on the music of the "time".
Possible names and font for magazine
I wanted my magazine to be unique and fresh to fit with my target audience so I sat long and hard to put together a few suitable names which would correspond with the theme I was going for.
Here are the examples I gathered:
From this and asking feedback from my peers I finally settled on the name "Edge" my theme supports this name as I literally wanted a new "edge" for my magazine, this would also appeal to my target audience as the word "edge" could indicate new, so therefore it would be fresh and unique.
For my font I wanted something bold and easilly recognisable, I was confused at first of what font to choose but i put a few example together and finally come to an agreement of which I should choose.
Here are the examples I gathered:
From my examples you can see I used a range of different texts but finally settled on a big, bold font (Stone Sans ITC TT) which is easily observed and initially easy to recognise. This font will porbably shadow throughout my magazine to create a rhythm and keep it looking professional.
Here are the examples I gathered:
From this and asking feedback from my peers I finally settled on the name "Edge" my theme supports this name as I literally wanted a new "edge" for my magazine, this would also appeal to my target audience as the word "edge" could indicate new, so therefore it would be fresh and unique.
For my font I wanted something bold and easilly recognisable, I was confused at first of what font to choose but i put a few example together and finally come to an agreement of which I should choose.
Here are the examples I gathered:
From my examples you can see I used a range of different texts but finally settled on a big, bold font (Stone Sans ITC TT) which is easily observed and initially easy to recognise. This font will porbably shadow throughout my magazine to create a rhythm and keep it looking professional.
Colours for front cover, contents page and double page spread
The colours I used are incorporated fromt he feedback from my questionaire.
For my magazine I wanted to use basic colours which were also eye catching to appeal to the reader. The masthead is bold (White, blod writing in a black frame) which is an eye catching feature which adds effect to my magazine. The other colours which are on my front cover are green, red and black. The green used is part of the background for my main image, I wanted to have a toned down effect and make the cover look fluent. I used red because it is scientifically proven to be the most eye catching of all colours, so therefore using red will again create attention to my magazine and entice the readers. Black was used for my tag lines which make them stand out and easier to acknowldge.
The contents page wass all about "edge" I wanted to create something unique but still have the same themes as the frotn cover so therefore I used the same colours ( green, red white and black) but to a different advantage. For example black was used to emphasise my writing on my tag lines and I used the red for the headings instead of the black which I used on my front cover. By changing the layout and format of the colours I was able to create a bigger effect and make the magazine look more sophisticated and sleek. The background image to the contents page is a grey texture I obtained online, I wanted a texture to make the contents page look more appropriate instead of a white background.
For my double page spread the main colour used is yellow, which was initially used as a background for my model to use for her photograph, this creates a contrast from the colours used in the front cover and contents and makes the page stand out completly. I used the initial theroy of red on this page to portray a quote and make it "lift" of the page. the text used was in black to make reading it easier and manageable.
For my magazine I wanted to use basic colours which were also eye catching to appeal to the reader. The masthead is bold (White, blod writing in a black frame) which is an eye catching feature which adds effect to my magazine. The other colours which are on my front cover are green, red and black. The green used is part of the background for my main image, I wanted to have a toned down effect and make the cover look fluent. I used red because it is scientifically proven to be the most eye catching of all colours, so therefore using red will again create attention to my magazine and entice the readers. Black was used for my tag lines which make them stand out and easier to acknowldge.
The contents page wass all about "edge" I wanted to create something unique but still have the same themes as the frotn cover so therefore I used the same colours ( green, red white and black) but to a different advantage. For example black was used to emphasise my writing on my tag lines and I used the red for the headings instead of the black which I used on my front cover. By changing the layout and format of the colours I was able to create a bigger effect and make the magazine look more sophisticated and sleek. The background image to the contents page is a grey texture I obtained online, I wanted a texture to make the contents page look more appropriate instead of a white background.
For my double page spread the main colour used is yellow, which was initially used as a background for my model to use for her photograph, this creates a contrast from the colours used in the front cover and contents and makes the page stand out completly. I used the initial theroy of red on this page to portray a quote and make it "lift" of the page. the text used was in black to make reading it easier and manageable.
Results from questionnaire
From my questionnaire I found out some significant answers to help me complete my magazine product.
Out of the twenty students I asked:
11 - Were Female
9 - Were Male
The average age gathered from my results was: 17
The preferred music genre was: Pop with rock coming a close second with 9:4
The people I questioned had a wide varied taste in music artist taste, however Lady GaGa was listed four times.
The people I questioned favourite colour is "Red".
My peers buy magazines at least "Twice a month"
And the average price my target audience will buy a magazine for is "£2.50p"
I will use all this collected date and incorporate it into my product.
Out of the twenty students I asked:
11 - Were Female
9 - Were Male
The average age gathered from my results was: 17
The preferred music genre was: Pop with rock coming a close second with 9:4
The people I questioned had a wide varied taste in music artist taste, however Lady GaGa was listed four times.
The people I questioned favourite colour is "Red".
My peers buy magazines at least "Twice a month"
And the average price my target audience will buy a magazine for is "£2.50p"
I will use all this collected date and incorporate it into my product.
Questionaire
For my magazine i wanted to find out some inital research in which I could use to base my magazine on.
I questioned 20 people around my college to gain clear insight into what interests them.
below is the questions in which I will ask to my peers:
How much would you be willing to pay for a music magazine? (Comments)
I questioned 20 people around my college to gain clear insight into what interests them.
below is the questions in which I will ask to my peers:
How old are you? (Please write on line)
What type of music are you most interested in? (Tick)
Pop Indie Grime RnB Punk Rock
Who is your favourite music artist? (Please write on line)
What is your favourite colour?
How often do you buy magazines? (Please tick)
Once a week Once a month Twice a month Never
How much would you be willing to pay for a music magazine? (Comments)
From these questions asked I can get a clear illustration on what to add to my magazine.
Here is an example of a completed questionaire:
Tuesday 5 April 2011
Monday 10 January 2011
Music Magazine - Background questions.
What genre of music are you going to use?
The genre of music I am going to focus on is Pop music,
What media exists for this genre currently?
The media industry is wild for POP music, it dominates the tabloid newspapers and is the "top 40 chat show" is broadly advertised and acknowledged in the music industry. However, POP music magazines have slowly failed to e
stablish due to demand from magazines such as "Kerrang" and "FHM" - a more alternative style of music.
The genre of music I am going to focus on is Pop music,
What media exists for this genre currently?
The media industry is wild for POP music, it dominates the tabloid newspapers and is the "top 40 chat show" is broadly advertised and acknowledged in the music industry. However, POP music magazines have slowly failed to e
stablish due to demand from magazines such as "Kerrang" and "FHM" - a more alternative style of music.
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