Final Colour Scheme.

I have finally decided which two vibrant colours I will be using for my magazine, a turquoise-blue and a dark red. Both of these feature on my front cover draft, and with the white and black elements I think it makes the cover look bright and interesting. The red makes the blue look more feminine, as just using the colour blue was something I worried about, as I thought it made the magazine look quite masculine, and this wouldn't attract my target audience.

Double Page Spread Article - New.

 

Representation Of Social Group.

My magazine's style and image that is portrayed will represent a certain social group from within society. It links in with target audience in that fact that the magazine will also be aimed at this social group, as it will appeal to them also. The social group that my magazine will appeal to is middle class teenagers, between the ages 15-19, and mainly females, though some males may also be interested. Their fashion sense/style would slightly lean towards the indie look, or clothing that is considered 'out there' and not something people would expect to see. Music will be something that features quite heavily in their lives and some will most likely play an instrument. The social group will be attending school/college and may possibly have a job.

Contents Page Mock Up.

The style of this contents page is modelled on the Q contents page that I analysed for my research. It has the image to the right side of the page, allowing the more important information to be more easily visible to the magazine buyers. The colour palette consists of the same colours as my first magazine front cover mock up, therefore having the colour scheme run throughout the magazine. Under each article the magazine offers I have included a one line summary of what the article is about, giving the readers more information as to what they may like to read. I have split my left hand column into two sections, the articles for this weeks issue and things that will be there in every issue. This lets the readers to browse through the new articles more easily, as they won't have to look at things that will be in every issue. However, the contents page looks quite bare and gives the impression that the magazine doesn't hold much information. To counteract this I would have to make my text smaller and think up of other articles that may be included in my magazine.

Compared to my first contents page, this mock up is a lot busier and has more examples of articles that the magazine would include. It also includes more images, which I think makes the page look more interesting. I like having a column to inform people what artists and bands are featured in the particular issue, though I believe I could have made it better by adding the page numbers corresponding with where the artists were in relation to the articles, as it would make it easier for people to find their desired reading. The colour palette is red, white and black, but used in this context I don't think it looks as 'rock and roll' style as when it is used on a front page, so therefore if I can use the colours correctly I may be able to avoid that scenario. I don't particularly like having the actual contents in one column on the right hand side, so I think I will have to move some images and text to gain the look I want, which would have the contents column on the left hand side.

Double Page Spread Article.

Artist Profile.

Name: Hayley Quinn
Age: 18
Genre: Indie-pop
Home town: Leicestershire

Hayley Quinn was spotted by a talent scout in a Leicester night club, were she had been playing regularly for the past 6 months. Her own singer-songwriter, Hayley has received momentous praise from the most toughest music critics, who have raved about her unique sound. Her musical influences include The Bottle Rockets, Razorlight and Jay Farrar.

Her clothing style is original, as many of the clothes she wears are items she likes and feels comfortable in. Her accessories are so admired there is a talk of Hayley creating her own accessories range, which fans have been very excited about.

Hayley has already released an album, 'New Ways of Thinking About Them', which featured the popular song 'Mischievious Person'. After this great first response Hayley went on a world tour to promote her album further, where she was supported by Saving Amiee, and has just recently released a second album called 'False Situations'.

Magazine Publisher.

I decided to use IPC as my publisher due to the fact that it publishes a wide variety of magazines, and each magazine has completely different genres of music. The magazines that the company publishes are well known music magazines, such as NME, and this could help boost my magazine. The magazines that are published have an audience of almost 26 million people, and the majority of those figures are female readers, which fits in with my target audience.

Front Cover Mock Up.

The magazine cover shown here uses my chosen colour palette, I think the three colours compliment each other well, and the blue really stands out on the page, which was what I was aiming for. The font use for my coverlines is a little too thin, and consequently it makes it harder for people to read, so I will have to stick to more thicker fonts. The image fits the page nicely, having the mid shot allows more detail to be shown, and the more of the outfits that the model is wearing will be seen, which will help to advertise the genre of music the magazine features. The coverlines are in what I consider to be a good place, at the bottom of the top third of the page, meaning that people will be able to see some of what the magazine offers when it is sitting on a shelf.

This magazine cover is minimalistic in the amount of information it displays on the front cover, which is an aspect I want to use in my magazine, however I don't know whether it would work for a first issue. The greyscale photo stands out against the white background and looks professional, and this allows me to use white font as well as a brightly coloured font. It would also allow me to have brightly coloured drawings, which was an element I wanted to include in my magazine front cover. The price I have placed in the top right corner in a red front, but I don't think it is visible enough so I would have to change the colour of font or move the price to a different part on the cover. I like the white font on the image because it stands out, but combined with the red font I think it makes the magazine look as if it concentrates on a rock genre of music, which is not the impression I want to give.

 This front cover shows the minimalistic look again, only having the basic information and one image. The image on this mock up is a close shot of a face, however the image doesn't interact with the masthead which is a reoccurring theme in every magazine, as it makes the whole page look more 'together'. The mock up is also missing the issue number, and I need to include this on my final product. The text on the design is also in the wrong place in context to the masthead and image, so I will have to think more carefully about where I am to put my coverlines and advertisements. The cover also looks quite plain due to the lack of colour used, however the reason I didn't include colour is that I wished to see how the image would look if it were the only colourful thing on the page. I have decided that I am going to include other colours on my front cover though, as over all it makes the magazine look more professional, and also more interesting.

Magazine Masthead.

After a lot of thought I have decided to call my magazine Dewy, as indie music is all about new music and orginality. Therefore the word 'dewy' means new and consequently ties in with the not only the genre of music, but the connations it stands for.

Test Shots.

This is an over the shoulder shot that I was considering using for a photo in my contents page. However this test shot has made me think that it wouldn't be a good shot to use for a contents page photo as the pose is usually used to attract people's attention. I also think that if I were to use this shot then I would have to focus more closely on the model and have less background showing.

This is the pose that I was thinking of using on my front cover as I wanted to go for the artistic theme for the front cover. In the photo I want my model to be holding a bunch of balloons of varying colours, hence the pose. I think this shot is a good shot for capturing detail, such as facial expression, but also allowing enough room for props to be visible in the photo.

This photo is the same pose as the previous photo, but from a different angle. This shot allows more room to see the props and consequently, the clothing that my model will be wearing, but some detail would be lost due to the fact that only half the face is visible. Possible buyers may find this off-putting and therefore I think I would rather use the photo above if I choose to continue the idea of using those certain props.

I was considering using this pose for my front cover as it is a bold pose, and consequently wouls draw peoples attention to the magazine cover.  I would consider using this pose for my front cover for other pictures I may use on there rather than as the main image. 

This is a pose I was thinking of using for a contents page photo. The pose is a mime of someone holding a guitar, which would fit in well in the contents page as it could be used to promote other articles, and gain the readers interest.

The Golden Spiral.

The Golden Spiral was in fact something that was first discovered by Pythagoras. In geometry, the golden spiral is a logarithmic spiral whose growth factor b is related to φ (the golden spiral ratio). The Golden Spiral was firstly derived from the 'golden rectangle'; a unique rectangle with a golden ratio. When you connect a curve through the corners of these rectangles, that is when the golden spiral is created.  To be specific the golden spiral gets wider by a factor of φ for every quarter turn that it is making.

Therefore, this means that the spiral shows us where the eyes are drawn first and the place that people automatically find most pleasing. If the theory was to be put in relation to photography it would seem that the centre of the spiral is where the main focus of the image is. As the spiral moves away from the centre, this is moving away from the point of focus to smaller details that people do not notice as much. I will have to test this out on several of my tests shot to ensure that the golden spiral theory works with my photographs and consequently make them more aesthetically pleasing.

Magazine Pitch Evaluation.

From the feedback that I received from my magazine pitch I know that I have to changed my magazine name to something else, and to use the final font for my masthead. out of my options that I had chosen. I am also thinking of using the colour scheme red, white and blue, because I think the colours stand out and give the vibrant edge I wanted. I need to think more about how many images I am going to use overall in my magazine, and other people that I could use for these shots, the style that I would dress them in and how I want them to pose. The feedback also made me think that I need to use props in my images, to make them more interesting and different from other magazines, as quite a few people are thinking of using a grey scale photo on a white background. To the idea of having a 1950's theme for the particular issue when down quite well with the audience and they seemed quite interested in how I was going to achieve that look. I also need to think more about what I am going to do for my double page spread article, and I am leaning more towards an interview with my artist as I think it would be more interesting to my target audience. Another thing I need to consider is where I will shoot my other images, as I don't want all my photos to be on a white background.

Overall I think that my magazine pitch went well because not only did it confirm my idea that I need to change my magazine title, but it gave me an insight into other elements I need to think about and plan, in effect, making me more prepared for creating my magazine. The feedback I received made me more inclined to carry on with the 50's theme and the style of my main image that I was thinking to use.

Magazine Pitch.

Main Image.

For my main image I am thinking of using a medium shot of just the top half of my 'celebrities' body, and also changing the photo into black and white. From the photo I would then pick out a recurring colour, maybe the red hair colour and then the red lipstick for example, which would stand out against the rest of the image. I want the style of clothing to be a late 1950's American, but with modern aspects. For example, the model for my main image would wear a jacket like so:

 The hair and makeup would also reflect the 50's era, which I would link to the main article, therefore this means my main article/double page spread is going to be about 50's music. For the photo I want the model to be looking into the camera, therefore when on the front page it gives the impression that the photo is looking at potential buyers and would pique their interest.

Magazine Title.

After looking at other magazine titles I have decided that I would want to use just a one word title, as it is easy for people to remember, and if it is a word that is used in everyday conversation, then it would remind people of the magazine if it is used. After doing a questionnaire about what words people associate with indie pop music, I grouped together some possible magazine names. Most of the words that people associated with indie pop music had something to do with the music being 'fresh' or 'new', basically something that was a bit out of the ordinary, not mainstream music, and therefore I decided that my magazine title should reflect this association. I also liked the idea of my magazine name beginning with the letter 'i' as it is a little different and interlinks with the fact that indie starts with the same letter. Using this information 5 magazine title ideas were formed, 'Instinct', 'Fluid', 'Inject', 'Freshie', and 'Rewind'. These were then put up for a vote and the name that was liked the most was 'Freshie', as my target audience said that it made them think that the magazine would contain new music and artists that would interest them, but it also made them think of the freshman year in American schools, which relates to their age group.

Colour Palette.

For my colour palette I want a mixture of vibrant and more neutral colours. I definitely want to use the colour white, and is it a useful colour and can be used for lots of different elements in a magazine. White is a colour which compliments other colours, making them more vivid and eye catching and for this reason is used quite frequently in magazine colour schemes. I also want to use colours that are not usually seen on magazines, who generally tend to stick to black, white and bright colour, as it would make my magazine look more interesting and stand out against other magazines. I think I would like to use the colour turquoise, or something similar, in my colour palette, as it is a colour that can be associated with either gender, making the magazine less biased in it's style, and it is also a vibrant colour, which is an element I would like to have.

Magazine Masthead Fonts.

Media Fonts

The first font, Alpha Echo, is a font that I like due to it's round edges. I think it makes the font look quite playful, which is a look I want for my font cover so that it would appeal to a younger audience. The font also looks professional, as it has a neat outline, and all the letters are the same size. I don't want to use this font in my magazine, as I think it looks to professional when I want a more playful style.

The second font, Jiczyn, is a more square font, but very similar in regard to the first font. The font also looks like it has been hand drawn, and makes it easier to relate to as than a professional looking font. I like this font but I think that the sharp edges look too harsh, so I wouldn't use it for my masthead, as it could look quite cold and uninviting to my target audience.

Euphoric is the third font that I looked at due to the 3D element. It is also another font that is designed to look like it has been drawn onto the page, rather than typed. Making the font look 3D seems to lift it slightly off the page, and therefore stand out more to peoples attention. This is the type/actual font I would like to use for my magazine masthead, as the style not only coincides with Indie music, but the font is also 'childish' enough to relate to my target audience.

The final font, Diesel, looks more professional than the other three fonts, and is the type of font I would use if I wanted my magazine to look more serious, or if my target audience was an older generation. The font is designed to look as if it has been typed on a type writer, and this is something older generations could relate to. I added this font to compare how much of an impact fonts can have on changing the tone of a magazine, but I would not consider using in my magazine, as I don't like the look, and it isn't the right style for what I want.

My Magazine Style.

From this magazine I like the use of colours, they have used red, black and white mainly, but there is a big selection of colours used in the left hand side of the front cover. It contrasts well to the black and white image, and the use of cartoon drawings makes the cover look more interesting, but could be deemed as childish. The drawings also interact with the title, which is something that I would like to include on my front cover, this technique looks like a better way to make the title look more vibrant and original, and it also allows the title to still be readable, which is an important factor. As my magazine will be my first edition to be published the magazine title still needs to be visible and easy to read, otherwise people may not be able to remember the name clearly. The main image on the front cover is black and white, which is not something I want to include on my front cover, but it would have to be used if I wanted to add brightly coloured drawings otherwise the front cover would be too colourful and confusing.

This front cover is also an example of how drawings can be used on a front cover. Out of the two I have shown I prefer the use of coloured drawings, although this is also very effective. I like the pose that the model in the main image is pulling, it adds some fun to the style of the magazine, and makes it seem more appropriate for a younger audience, a similar audience to which I will be aiming for. I would use a similar shot for the person I am putting on my front cover, and will consider having my main image in black and white, with maybe certain aspects from the image in colour.

This magazine has gone for a minimalistic look, which I think works really well with the neutral colours and older style of clothing that the model is wearing. On the other hand, the use of all neutral colours could be seen as boring, so this is not an element I would be including in my magazine. I will be including the use of a blank neutral coloured background however, so that if I do decide to use the technique of brightly coloured drawings, my front cover won't look overcrowded and messy.

The font that has been used for this magazines title is an element of the front cover that I like, I think that the font is really unusual, and not something that most magazines would use for their own text. The font is big, rounded and what could be described as 'chunky', which makes it easy for people to read, as well as grabbing their attention next to other magazines, who generally seem to go for similar fonts for their mastheads. I want to use a bold, rounded font for my masthead, as this magazine has done, as I think it would stand out and grab my audiences attention, as well as fitting in with my genre and style of my magazine.

This magazine uses individual boxes containing the letters that make up the masthead, and different colours for each letter. I like the use of the different colours for the masthead, I think it looks effective and adds a streak of vibrancy to the front cover, which wouldn't have been there without the extra colours. I would consider using this for my masthead but I think it would make my front cover look too busy with a vibrant photo as well. However, if I decide to have a black and white main image then there would be a bigger possibility of me using it.

This is a magazine that I really like, I like the font that they have used for their masthead and I like how every issue has a different colour palette, and seems to revolve around one colour. I also like the random and quirky images they have used, and the accessories that don't seem to fit in with the magazine as I think it makes it stand out. This magazines style is something I really want to include in my magazine, and it is the magazine that will influence my magazines look the most.