My Final Idea

After spending a lot of time thinking about the overall theme of my magazine, I have come to a conclusion. I aim my magazine to appeal to readers who are really into their music and want to see their bands live. Readers who want to know facts about band members and want to know other people's opinions. Readers who are not into that much text but more into images and ideas.

I have come to the conclusion of a FESTIVAL theme. As I plan to go to a festival myself, I will have an idea of what to pack, the music, the general events, the cost and not forgetting the photographs. I will plan to make at least one double page spread which evolves around this theme.

Grid References

As I did some research into different magazine layouts, I was able to put together some grid references which I may use in the design of my magazine. I think i'll choose my favorite grid reference for my key double-page spread and the rest will be shown on my story board which I am yet to design. I tried to include a variety of columns (from two to four in one page) and separated them all by alleys as realistically as I could manage. I left spaces for potential images and adverts, just to see how this could be done.

This time I do really like the monochrome effect

of these two photographs. As front covers, I'm

not so keen (going for a more standard look) but

 as images in my magazine, I think photos like these 

would be really effective. The black and white effect

emphasizes the old man's wrinkles and the cigarette

in his mouth gives him a classic look.

The younger boy is surrounded by skin. They look

like hands and legs and feet which all blend together

but the strip of his hair and eye is what captures your attention.

I will take this idea on board.  

I like both of these covers, not for the monochrome

effect but for the layout. The cover on the left features

 a four column grid system including faces and text. 

I like this style a lot. The cover next to it features

a two column grid system though they are slanted.

This time, there are only faces and no text which I

think is effective, though for my initial, standard

magazine, I'd definitely include text.    

As well as looking out for layouts and grid

references, I've been keeping my eye out for cool 

text ideas. This is interesting! Reminds me of 

child-book stories where the first letter of a chapter

is large and decorated. I might take that idea into

mind for my festival page. 

I thought these were good

examples for an introduction

to an interview or biography.

Both are very abstract and 

'out there'

but I think they are eye

catching and interesting too.

I love this two page spread. There's no text but a

person could get a lot from these images.

Both of these woman are different in race, 

but with the burst of colour surrounding them,

this simple difference goes unnoticed. 

This is a really cool front cover. The way the boy's 

out of focus, fuzzy and blends into the background

is simple but different.

I like the way the boy is slightly off centre and the text

covers him up, leaving two spaces beside him left

to the imagination.

These covers caught my eye. I think it's the brief, 

sharp, random phrases which are presented largely

on the front page. The top right's cover is shocking as well,

adding 'heroin' into the shopping list. 

Although the bottom two are in a foreign language, 

the layout of their text is enough to inspire interest.

The top three covers all show the figure looking

over their left shoulders - obviously a popular pose.

I think it does look sophisticated and I may use this pose. 

The bottom six shots are far more abstract in 

their design. They are obviously older than the top

three as they look drawn. 

Wow. This is a really inspirational front and back cover.

The monochrome tones of the simplistic cover would

definitely catch my eye in a crowd of others.

I like the way the image takes over the entire background.

I think it's peculiar how the man's face blurs away

on the back cover - but this makes it interesting.

I'm going to take some time now to look for some inspirational front covers, contents pages and different spreads. I'm going to be looking out for different grid systems and hopefully will discover my own 'house style' which works well with the magazine I have chosen to design. 

...back to the music magazine

My Contents Page

I'm quite proud of my school contents page. From researching the different layouts earlier on, I thought that i'd go with the more classic formal layout, however; I went with the interesting layout. I think, because my magazine was a 'Sixth Form Special', (and only teenagers were expected to read) the page should have been more funky and eye catching.

I used the 'magic wand' tool on photoshop and cut out the two figures with the camera. I left the original colours of the hall way etc but altered the fonts and background to a bold contrast of black and white. I included the same colour of pink in parts of my text to maintain a sense of continuity which I think really worked. I used the 'regulars' and 'features' idea from the previous magazine cover which I think works well with my youthful theme.

If I was able to do my contents page again, I think I would be a bit braver and try a completely different and unusual layout. I would have done this by using new tools on photoshop and by researching some really abstract magazines. Again, like the front cover, I may take this idea on board with the music magazine.

My Front Cover

This is my magazine cover for the preliminary task given. I went around my school taking photographs and decided that my best shots were of sixth formers. The thought of a 'Sixth Form Special' came to mind and I think the medium shot of the two boys and one girl would inspire curiosity in buyers.

I thought about the school colours (red, white and grey) a lot, but decided to go with something new to spark up the magazine and create something different. I altered the school crest and intergrated it onto Will's shirt (far right).

If I were able to do the front cover again, I would probably use a different medium shot. I have been looking through many magazines and I think some of the most successful and eye catching covers are the ones where there is a dramatic close up. I might think about this when doing my music magazine cover.

I like this type of contents page. I like the simplistic photograph in the background, it makes the information stand out. 

I like the headings, 'features' and 'regulars'. It divides up the page, making all aspects interesting. 

This is great inspiration for a music magazine, though for a school magazine, I think I'd choose a smarter look. 

I like this contents page. I think it's informative, clear and easy to read. 

The colours all match and they are consistent.

All the page numbers are easy to see and a person could flick to what they're interested in with no hesitation. 

I think there should be some photographs or pictures to make the page a little bit more interesting to the readers. 

To be honest, I don't really like this contents page very much. For me, there is too much going on.

I don't like the way the colours of the font and the photograph clash.

I do like the way they have put the headings in different colours and have made them bolder than the following text though.

Moving onto the Preliminary Task...

So, what does this mean?

These results are very interesting and useful to me. Now, (knowing what consumers like) I can plan what to put in my magazine. Here are just a few more ideas that i've been thinking about. 

• Front cover - Most people aren't too bothered about the text and colours of the magazine so, on my front cover, I am thinking... Simple background, bold text with colours that are simple but effective, Iconic figure(s) on the front, Articles shown, Interviews shown,  maybe something free (a CD perhaps). 
• Articles - Boy's especially are interested in the articles a magazine includes. As Rolling Stone do many articles which vary from music to politics, I think i'll do a mixture. 
• My OWN article - my time theme, Rolling Stone Through the Ages :) 
• Interview - Girls are especially interested in interviews and infamous bands have shown to be an interest to everybody. I think I'll go out and find an amateur band in Jersey to interview!
• Advertisement - Both boys and girls think photography is an important tool to attract people into buying a magazine. I will make sure all the photography I take is interesting and creative. 
• I will look closely into the style's of Rolling Stone and Q magazine for ideas and inspiration as they are the favorite magazines of my peers. 

Results

I received all questionnaires back and tallied up the results which go as follows...

Girls

1. Most girls prefer Acoustic, Indie and Funk.

2. Most girls buy a music magazine Once a month.

3. Most girls buy Gossip and Fashion based magazines.

4. Most girls are attracted by the Photography on the cover.

5. Most girls are interested in Interviews, Photography and Infamous bands.

6. Most girls prefer Q magazine. 

Boys

1. Most guys prefer Rock. 

2. Most guys buy a music magazine Once a week.

3. Most guys buy mechanic based magazines.

4. Most guys are attracted to the Articles, Interviews and Free stuff. 

5. Most guys are interested in Photography, Old bands and Infamous bands.

6. Most guys prefer Rolling Stone magazine.

Questionnaire

To create a successfull magazine, finding out the consumer's facts and opinions beforehand is very vital! This is why I have created this questionnaire. It will give me an idea of what my magazine cover should look in order to attract buyers and will help me decide what to include inside my magazine. I have surveyed 25 boys and 25 girls from college in order to obtain a fair, variety of results from my target audience.

Questions

1. What type of music are you in too? (tick the genres you like)

Rock                 Jazz

Reggae             Classical

Ska                   Acoustic 

Indie                Funk

Other

2. How often do you buy a music magazine (tick the most likely answer)

Once a week

Once a fortnight

Once a month

Once a year

3. Which type of magazine would you buy?

Music              Mechanics

Fashion          Science based

Gossip            Other

4. What makes you pick up a magazine? (you may tick more than one)

The magazine's logo 

The photography on the cover

Celebrities 

Free stuff offered

The articles it shows

The colours and text

5. What are you more interested in... (you may tick more than one)

New band updates           Interviews

Old band facts                 Photography

New songs                       Worldly updates

Infamous artists              Gossip

6. What is your favorite music magazine?

..................................

Thanks for your time :)

Note to self

next lesson, make a questionnaire! ask people what magazines they read. Why they like them in particular. What would draw them in the most (interviews, photos, gossip, free things etc)  

What i've learnt

Below is my second attempt at designing a magazine cover. As you can see, I edited it quite a lot though left the initial figure in the same place. From researching the general features of a magazine cover, I included a few things...

• A bar code 
• The actual Rolling Stone logo
• A simple background
• A teaser
• Continuous colours and fonts
• An ocelot... as you do. 

All of these things make my magazine more recognisable. If I had more time to do a third attempt, I'd probably...

• Include more articles on the cover
• Enlarge the main figure, making the cover more occupied 
• Include the price on my cover (which I'd forgotten) 
  

My second attempt

I made my first magazine cover through photoshop with (to be honest) not a great deal of thought. I learnt the basics of the system and inserted things like a photograph, the 'rolling stone' logo, text etc. I later realised that this wasn't enough to be recognised as a magazine cover. I needed to research...

My first attempt

Another monochrome photograph 

The contrast between colours

(red, white and grey)

cause the text to stand out

Acoustic music may attract all ages

Other articles included

Unlike the other covers, the main figure isn't looking into the camera

anniversary special

'Q' logo stands out a lot being red 

less focus on text, more on cover girl

many interviews with well known artists

perhaps aimed at older readers

Elaborate texts which go together

Bleak background 

Main article is on the cover figure

Other articles shown at the bottom of the magazine

'NME' logo is very clear and stands out

new bands = young readers

                                                            Mainly monochrome

Iconic figures which cover the 'MOJO' logo

Also features other articles

2008 edition featuring older bands

aiming towards older generation?

Looking into the Market

Today, I'm going to look into other

competitors by comparing the differences

between covers.

My Idea

It's early days but here's my first idea

I love the way Rolling Stone covers such a wide variety of things from 

music to politics. 

From researching on the internet I have discovered...

• Rolling Stone was founded in 1967
• Their main focus was political in the early 70's
• By the 90's they had begun changing their image to attract the youth.

From these small details, I have been thinking about a 

'time' theme, showing Rolling Stone through the ages.

Calendar

Month 1 - Begin researching magazines
Month 2 - Begin and Finish Preliminary Task
Month 3 - Research and gain idea of theme, layout and articles for your magazine
Month 4 - Begin your first double page spread and then second draft
Month 5 - Begin your Contents page and then second draft
This is only a preview of what I will be doing for the next six months. After taking the task into account, I have put basic dates into a calendar of which I hope to follow. The writing in blue are rough reminders of what I will have to do whereas the writing in green are check lists of what these things will have to include. 

Finding my Feet

•INCLUDE STATISTICS ON MAGAZINE CONSUMPTION

•COMMENT ON TARGET AUDIENCES OF MAGAZINES

•COLLECT EXAMPLES OF FRONT COVER DESIGNS, EXPLORE THE MARKETPLACE

•ANALYSE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE MAGAZINE COVERS.

•ORGANISE A QUESTIONNAIRE, ASKING WHAT MAGAZINES PEOPLE READ, AND WHY.

•WHAT ELEMENTS MAKE UP MAGAZINE DESIGN, FOR EXAMPLE A PRICE AND A BAR CODE ARE NEEDED.

Magazine cover

After changing my mind several

times this past week, 

I have decided to design a music magazine. 

I understand that many people

will have the same ideas as me,

so

I'm going to try my best

to create different, original ideas.