Finish of the student magazine task

I have finished my student magazine task and will be going onto the music magazine coursework soon.

Evaluation

What's changed from the draft layouts to the final design?

I have changed the layout of the cover lines so that they are grouped together down the left hand side making it more spacious and focusing on the background image as a main focus point of the design. I have made other small alterations such as moving the price and website details to make them fit in with the rest of the design theme. I have also added a barcode which wasn't in the design draft layout but instead inserted during the final design construction.

What would you change?

I would change how I produced the designs, I think that time management wasn't an issue however I think I didn't spend long enough on the final design. I say this because the contents page is quite bare and simple; it could have done with more images and more design work undertaken. I will take this onboard for my next Media coursework task (main) so that I can develop my ideas but also the design can improve to produce a high quality magazine of which you would expect to buy from a shop.

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

The key ingredients of a student magazine are: interesting topics that interest their target audience, discounts, offers along with reviews of games, films and the lastest music. The front cover has to include cover lines, strap line and the masthead these are the most important to get across what the magazine is all about. However images are important on the front cover as this is what catches the attention of its audience. The typical contents page is brief, clear and easy to follow along with pictures and captions. I have included these conventions in my magazine by using an image on the front cover however this image is a large full page photograph, masthead and cover lines. On the contents page I have also used an image along with columns of page numbers and what's on the pages (by using a brief summary). I haven't done anything differently in relation to the conventional student magazine except perhaps using a full sized image on the front cover because many include a variety of smaller images on the front cover along with cover lines so that they link together in a neat way.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My magazine has represented teenagers who are students. It includes a range of interests of which a teenager is interested in for example there is graphics to technology to fashion to discounts. I have used much more text to picture ratio on the contents page however I have also used a full sized photograph on the front cover which should balance both the front cover and the contents page. The images I used within these 2 pages of the magazine are related to the contents and purpose of the magazine such as fashion - inside wardrobe view photograph and I have also used a full sized image on the front cover of the magazine of which is a teenager (relates because of the student and teenager link to the magazine). I have tried not to stereotype teenagers by including a wide range of topics so that there is something for everyone available therefore it's got a wider audience too.

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

My magazine caters for everyone's taste whether its from music, to fashion or to games; it includes everything a student is interested in whether it's graphics, technology or fashion trends. The college would distribute my magazine because now we don't have a paper-based version of the magazine, its all done electronically online a website. I think that the everyone doesn't want to read an online magazine, and prefer the paper-based version; this is therefore a gap now in the college for my magazine to be distributed.

Who would be the audience for your media product?

My audience for the magazine would be in one aspect a more female magazine however it caters for all students from 16 - 19 despite the front cover being more female ordinated. There is both female and male topicss within the magazine because it has a range of topics. I have targeted this particular audience so that it fits in with a student magazine for a college environment with pages such as: reviews, offers, student discounts, music coverage, game addict and educational news plus much more. These topics should appeal to every student of which reads it because due to the wide range of content availability to students.

How did you attract/address your audience?

I have attracted my audience to the magazine by using bright colours such as red & orange. I have also used a lot of cover lines to give an insightful view into what’s available inside the magazine. I have also used a large full page image set behind all of the cover lines, mastheads and strap lines plus other features. The front cover grabs your attention because of the co-ordinating colours used. These colours are currently in demand and are considered to be in 'fashion' at the present moment.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

I have used Publisher, Coral and a digital camera during the construction & designing process of the magazine along with also editing photographs. I've not really learnt all that much because as a graphic student I use Coral all the time for manipulating images. I've found some useful skills in Publisher such as setting the 'layout guide' to different settings such as 'grid guides'. I have also used a blog to record and present my work on, however I have used blogs before so this isn't a new to me.

Screenshots showing what I have learnt during the construction and design process.

Final Design

Images taken for contents page

Image 1                                                                      Image 2

Image 3                                                                        Image 4

Image 5                                                                    Image 6  

Image 7                                                     Image 8 

    

Images took for the contents page, i selected image 6 for the contents page photograph. It worked with the fashion section and therefore I choose the inside view of the wardrobe to take prime place as the only image on the magazines contents page.

Ideas for photo shoot & research

For front cover:

• Teenager

For contents page:

• Graphics and art
• Music CD covers

Examples:-

I have looked at some teenager themed magazines of which I will include on my post...

These show the type of magazine teenagers read and are interested in.

Process of designing 2

These are my latest designs with different colour background effects, text colour and fonts along with a much improved contents page...

Changes will include:

• Finalising the contents page - ajusting page numbers and adding more topics into the magazine
• Adding images to the front cover (sent to behind) & contents (added in the 'image' text box) page during week 3

Process of designing 1

Designing the front cover and contents page - its starting to take shape as a magazine...

Adding fonts, text and colour to the whole magazine. I have choosen the name 'LCS Magazine'.

Draft Layouts



Which design do you prefer for front cover and contents page?

Textual Analysis

In Student I.D. Xmas Edition, the front cover has a plain white background along with 3 images, which are quite joyful and bright. The ribbon adds festivity to the front cover, it works well because of the red on the white background. An 'In This Issue' preview is displayed on the front page to promote and tell its audience whats inside. The logo is the title...the co-ordinated colour scheme works alongside the logo colours. The layout of the front cover is quite spacious making the front cover just as effective and attract than an overloaded magazine.

The contents page of Student I.D. Xmas Edition has an Children in Need photograph with caption and information on how much money was raised. A rating of Lovin' or hatin' showing different topics / subjects which can be improved, changed and debated about. The layout of the content page numbers are just simply listed down the left handside in small text size and also in a simple font style such as Times New Roman. The use of pink, green and purple bring the page alive and make it more interesting as these colours are used for blocks of text acting as a background.

Questionnaire

What information would you expect in the student magazine?

• Careers advice
• Music
• Film & game reviews
• Art section

Do you currently read any of the student material available within our college?

• Yes
• No

How much would you pay for a student magazine?

• 50p
• £1
• £1.50
• £2

Should a large image be used on the front cover of the magazine?

• Yes
• No

What main colour theme(s) should be used throughout the magazine?

• Black
• Red
• White
• Yellow
• Orange

What name would be suitable to call the student magazine?

• EG Magazine
• Distinct
• Magnatitude
• LCS Magazine

Comparison of student mags.

Etc Mag.

• Front cover - bold with photo / image
• Alcohol  content lesson
• Career information and advice
• Issue No.
• Contents very clear layout, simple with photos down the side
• 'Randomness' page with everything and anything eg. 'Dragon's Den Academy'

Student ID Mag. - Christmas Edition

• Plain front cover with logo, edition type, issue no., 'In this issue'
• Enterprise, children in need, contents section merged into pages.
• 'Meet the teacher' section
• Focus's on an area eg. Dance
• Interview with students
• Gallery page
• Voting page 'Email Student ID to cast your vote'

Student ID Mag.

• Full page of photographs
• Staff profile

Action Plan

Week 1 (15th November 2010)
Write action plan
Create blog
Comparison of student mags.
Audience questionnaire
Draft pages

Week 2 (22nd November 2010)
Create design layouts
Textual analysis (1 cover, 1 contents)

Week 3 (29th November 2010)
Edit photos
Create cover and contents
Organise photo shoot
Evaluation (part 1)

Week 4 (6th Decemeber 2010)
Create cover and contents
Audience feedback
Evaluation (part 2)