I have decided to put my evaluation onto a PDF file because I thought that it would be easier to see.
Here is the Download Link:
http://www.4shared.com/document/m2kd-YqR/EVALUATION.html
I also used a text box at the end of the article that contains important information for the reader. This allows the reader to look through the magazine without reading the full article, but still being able to access information that is important to the story.
This is the double page spread that I created for my magazine. I have again, used the fonts and colours that have been consistent throughout the project. I have also used a variety of photographs of my chosen model so that the magazine looked more professional. I would also criticise this page, because the heading doesn't follow the same bold characteristics that the previous two pages had. I think that the 'Scrivens Sings' makes the page look more bold, however, I think it could maybe be better and I may alter this. Additionally, the circles within the page hold quotes and I am also unsure about what they look like, so I may also alter this.
This is my contents page. I continued to use the same fonts and colours as I did on the front page. I also used more photographs to emphasise a variety of stories in the magazine so that there wasn't just one focal point. Additionally, I used the banner across Megan's photo and a banner along the bottom right of the contents, which links back to the banner on the front page. I would criticise this page however, because the three main stories are the photographs on the contents page and these tend to be all set out in different ways and this may be seen as 'random' to a potential reader instead of consistent. The banner along the bottom of the page was an idea generated from another existing magazine. I thought that this may be another selling point of the magazine as advertisements allow magazines to become more popular to the public.
This is the front cover of my magazine. I decided to use a bold title because I noticed that most magazines took pride in the effectiveness of their titles. I also decided to use three colours throughout the magazine, red, white and black and these three colours we're matched exactly to the previous time it was used. The banner across the bottom was another idea I generated from an existing magazine. The 'Competition' in capitals draws in a potential reader and intrigues them, making them want to see more inside. Additionally, the photograph of Joe in the lower left hand corner adds another aspect to the front cover. It shows that the magazine offers a range of stories and topics, not just the main story on the front page.
I used one location for the photoshoot, this was the studio located in the media department. It had a white backdrop and cover for the floor to create the illusion that the model is in a white room. The white background keeps the focus on the model instead of the background and also gives me, the creator, a blank canvas to work from. I decided to dress my model in smart clothing to show a glamorous element within the photographs. Additionally, if a person is well dressed in smart, modern clothing, it gives off a feeling of wealth and money, which well known singers and bands tend to have much of.
(As seen below)
NME magazine is a relatively new music mag launched in 1952. The magazine varies the ground it covers in the music industry and different music genres are looked into, for example, rock and indie music. This shows that the magazine is aimed at a range of people of different ages with as similar taste in music. A large 73% of males read NME magazine whereas only a mere 27% of readers are female. This may be due to the masculine layout of the magazine and how the bands/artists interviewed and included in the magazine are usually male orientated, for example, The Wombats and Greenday. NME's average age of reader is 25 years (male and female combined) and the target audience age is between 17 and 30 (males). The following link shows the statistics for NME music magazine: http://microsites.nme.com/php/mediapack/pdf/nme_media_information_full.pdf This proves that the magazine is suitable for a variety of ages and is obviously aimed at men more than it is aimed at women.
This magazine double page spread is interesting because of the alternative headline. The headline uses reverse typography (white on black) and this connotates a slight rebellious feeling. The mid-shot of Lily Allen matches the apparent 'rock and roll' genre of the magazine due to the clothing and make up styles. As the double page spread is taken up by a large picture and headline, little space is left for an article and this may be appealling to readers who prefer to look at pictures and skim read the text. The pages are very minimalistic and this is evident due to the simple fonts and colours used; (black, white and red.)
This is another NME contents page, however, this is evidently very different to the previous contents page discussed. This contents uses alot more colour and the layout is less structured which seems to give the page a more 'informal' feel. The feminine colours - pink and yellow - work well together keeping the page bright and eyecatching attracting younger people to the magazine. Both of these contents pages have coupons at the bottom of the page informing the reader on how to save money. This can attract more customers as people tend to want to save money at any oppportunity. This contents page uses more shapes to appeal to potential customers as these pieces of text stand out as they are included in the page in an interesting way.
The 'Vibe' magazine front cover is very youthful and colourful connotating a lively feeling and this is the kind of style I want my magazine to be. This music magazine represents a younger generation of music and is obviously aimed at teenagers and young adults. This is evident due to the close-up camera shot of Mary J. Blige on the front of the magazine. 'Vibe' magazine represents update RnB music. This is evident due to the cover model, Mary J. Blige and the headlines being about Flo Rida. The front cover consists of strong fonts, bold colours and a distinct picture, I think that these features have a big impact on the target audience because it is eye-catching and interesting. The clashing colours of red and blue work well together keeping the cover lively and keeps the constant theme of youth. This hooks the reader in making them want to see more. I also think that the cover is successful in squeezing alot of information into a small, compact space. This is useful because more information and storylines can be placed altogether and no space is wasted.
This second magazine cover is from the music magazine 'Rolling Stone'. It is evident just by the title that this magazine represents a more 'alternative' genre of music, for example, rock and indie. The strong mid-shot of Amy Winehouse shows this because she is a very distinct character in the music business known for her quirky voice and chaotic lifestyle in the spotlight. Additionally, the variety of font styles and colour on the magazine show that the magazine is aimed at those with an 'individual' taste in music, this is also portrayed by the tattoos that Amy has on show.
For my media prelim, I had to create a front cover and contents page for the College magazine. I did this task in a group, however, we all constructed our own versions of the magazine. Even though I completed the task, I feel that I could have done a better job as I don't think the final product conveyed a College magazine. I think that the editing of the pictures used within the piece were my strengths as I used the photoshop editing tools effectively. If i was to do this task again, I would decrease the amount of white space on my contents page and also use alternative fonts and font colours as I don't think that the ones I chose were very successful for my piece. Additionally, if i was to re-do this task, I would use a mid-shot as my front cover photgraph because I found it difficult to edit and work with a long-shot photograph.
