Contents planning

I have created a practice layout for my contents page this will not be my final piece but it is an idea of what I want to create and an improved layout. This will help me when making my final piece because I will have a base to work from and an idea of what my final piece will look like.

I have used my audience feedback by listen to what people thought about the colours and I agree with them to a certain extent. The red which was suggested brings out the attraction and by making the main INTERESTING words in red it makes them stand out and would make the consumer want to know more.

I have added an arrow at the bottom so the page doesnt look plain and boring. I thought that by adding it it would attract the readers attention.

There is an Anchoring image on the left hand side of my page which will be there in my final piece, but for practice purposes this is a stock image not one that I have taken. This is also the layout that my target audience thought was the best one too.

I have added my logo like it shows in the practice layout which I feel looks great especially when it creates continuity with the red all the way through my magazine.

Photos for my Final Piece

These are some sample photos that i have taken to be used in magazine. I will have to decide which ones look better on my magazine and which ones would work better with the style of magazine that I am going to create.

Audience Feedback on my Final Idea

I have produced a short video for feedback on my Final Idea of the James Bond themed magazine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-2U9-P3ICc

Planning

I have come up with a plan of how id like my magazine to go. I have used Empire magazines cover photo of James Bond and added my own features. it has all of the features that a magazine would have and complies with the codes and conventions of current music magazines. The masthead is clear to see, so are the coverlines, I have also used a lure and a play on words. I have kept the colours bland and neutral because the picture is black and white, I also feel that black and white images are better and show more detail. This is just a plan and is not what i am going to use, i shall use it for inspiration and put towards my final piece.

Final Idea

I have gathered all my results from my idea questionairres and I have a clear favourite. My new idea, to do a James Bond theme throughout, was a better idea than the original idea. I recieved some positive comments and one bad comment about the James Bond idea, this will help me to create the best magazine possible.

Original Idea against New Idea

I have an idea for my magazine which I was originally going to do. But recently I have come up with another. This idea I like very much and I think that it would work better than the other idea i already have. But first I have to ask people of my target audience who have already voted for the original idea what they think of the New one. This will give me a clear judgement and understanding so i can pick the best possible idea for the magazine.

This is the questionairre that I will use to collect my results.

Double Page Spread Layout 2

This is the 2nd layout for my double page spread that I have created. I have used a double page spread from a current magazine called VIBE for inspiration. I feel that this would make the inside of my magazine stand out and would suit what I want to achieve. It has a Header for the artists name and what the interview is called, underneath is the start of the interview where I will create a story specific to the front cover and link it in with a Cover Line and the Anchoring image. There will also be a slogan that will link to the interview or what the interview is about which will also tie into the front cover. This will create continuity which magazines have to create throughout so that the reading is easy for the consumer to understand.

Double Page Spread Layout 1

This is one of the two layouts I have produced for my Double page spread. It has all the main key features of a music magazine, a Masthead/title, a large anchoring image, a lure, basic interview and feature. I am placing the image onto one page because I want the image to stand out and for the readers to look at. If the image was around some text then it wouldnt be as noticeable like it is in this layout. I will place a lure at the bottom of the page because it will help the reader read the article/interview and I will also link it into the Front page to a cover line which will create continuity through the magazine so it will flow better.

Extra Idea

I have thought of another idea to base my magazine on, it is a James Bond theme. Because it is the annieversery of the films and Skyfall is out at the moment. I would create a front cover with a picture on a plain background so that my artist would stand out. Because James Bond is a secret agent and always has a gun, I would change the gun to a microphone so it would link to Music and my magazine and it would look great.

This is the sort of magazine that i would like to create with this idea in mind. The effect of a large black and white image on a plain white background, with minimal text works well and is something that i could use for inspiration when i am creating my own magazine. Because the name of my magazine is going to be THE USUAL SUSPECT, James Bond is a usual suspect but not in the rap world. He is a hero and usual suspects are seen as villians and rap artists are normally portrayed as gangsters and people who arent good.

Contents Feedback

I have asked 20 people of my target audience what they think of the two layouts and their opinions on how i can improve. I have recorded the results from the small survey into a table. This is the Questionairre that i have created to get all the information I need to collect to make a decision. Once i had collected the questionairres back i filled some important information into a table to show what people have said (BELOW). The people who i asked voted in majority for Layout 1, this is the layout that i liked more out of the 2.                                 

Mastheads Feedback

Even though i have created some Mastheads for my Front cover, the colour and size of the Mastheads will not be the same when i come to make my final piece. They are that colour and size so your can see them clearly and what they would all look like in a single colour.

Masthead Designs

I have created some Masthead designs for my magazine. I will use people from my target audience to review these designs and then get them to pick a favourite, I will record the results in a table like I have done for all my audience research. I have an idea of which designs I like and which ones would look good on the fron of my magazine.

Contents Page Layout 2

I have used a Masthead an Anchoring image features and a logo.  I have decided to place the text around the image, this will create a good effect and is similar to kerrang and NME where there contents page is spread out all over the page, which isnt the stereotypical way of the Codes and Conventions.

I feel that this layout would benefit my magazine because it is different and challenges the codes and conventions of normal contents pages.

Contents Page Layout 1

This is 1 of 2 layouts that i have created for my contents page. I have created a layout with a Masthead, Anchoring image, coverlines/features and a logo. I have created this layout because it looks formal and it is how normal magazines are set out so it would comply with the codes and conventions of a music magazine. I will create a logo from scratch and this will be placed at the top of the page next to the Masthead and throught the magazine to create continuity.

Results for Magazine Front Cover Layout

I placed all of the results into a table. The target audience wanted the first layout because they are more familiar with it and it looks like a current magazines layout.

Audience Feedback for Front Page Layout

I will ask people in my target audience on what they think of the 2 layouts. I will record what layout they chose and then what they think of them. This will help me get an understanding of what people will look for in a magazine or what attracts their eye.

I will show them the two layouts on photoshop on the computer screen and then get them to fill out a questionairre to collect results.

Front Page Planning

This is the second layout which i have planned, i could use this layout for my final design but first i am going to get some audience feedback from peers and my target group to help me decide on which design will look best. In this design i have placed the Masthead, Issue No. and the Barcode in the same places as layout 1, I feel that on a magazine the title should always be put at the top of the page because it looks professional and from my research i have noticed that all main and current magazines have the title at the top of the page too. This is also to help consumers locate the magazine they want in shops over all of the other rivals around. If my magazine didnt have the title at the top it wouldnt get noticed and would not become popular. I have placed the Coverlines down the right hand of the page along side the Anchoring image, I have decided to place that there because it distinguishes the coverlines from the Image. Peoples direct mode of address will be to the face of the artist on the front, by having Coverlines seperate from this image, Direct mode of address can clearly be done and then the Coverlines can be clearly read and it gives the page more of a formal layout.

Front Page Planning

I have created one layout which I could use for my front cover. I have used codes and conventions of current music magazines that i have researched, I have followed the C motion of how Cover Lines should be placed around the Anchoring image. The image will be large and will have direct mode of address. This means that the artists eyeline will follow you whatever way that you are looking at it. This kind of image will link into the genre of music that I am making a music magazine for, because in Rap the music is focused on the artist themselves and how good they are. For example everyone respects Jay-Z because he is probably the greatest rapper ever, people will listen to his music because of who he is not just because of his music. I will place a Lure at the bottom of the page because this will make the reader want to know more, but it will have to be a word like UNSTOPPABLE or AMAZING. These words capture the attention of the consumers. I have placed the Masthead at the top of the page with the issue No. underneath because on a shelf the title is what a person will see, so the Title will have to be big bold and bright to capture attention otherwise nobody will see it and nobody would buy my magazine.

Planning

I used YOUTUBE to help me understand how to make a music magazine, I have found this video which explains and goes through the steps on how to place Cover Lines and Anchoring Images into your magazine. It also shows you where to place Titles and the Masthead. The video is also about a Rap Music Magazine which is the genre that I intend to make a Music Magazine for. The tutorial is done on photoshop, which is the software that I will use to create my magazine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilJFFmqaPdM