Week 7

During the half term, I went out and took some pictures. The pictures involved location shots. One of my main locations included a graffiti tunnel in South Bank, Waterloo. The scene was very urban and youthful, I then found it a good location to take pictures of.

Week 6

This week we studied different magazine genres in detail. We looked closely at connotations and opinions of elements such as denotations. We also looked at and compared contents page styles between different magazines as they all range from different styles. We also looked at different marxist perspectives on the magazines. Marxism focuses on capitalism and its effect on people. We matched the magazine images and articles to the different persepctives.

Week 5

This week we gathered our results from our survey. Market research is very important as it lets us know what our audience looks for and finds appeling. I also noticed a correlation between elements such as race and preference to types of music. The questionnaires helped me a lot as it made me change my ideas for the better. From the results collected, I entwined the answers into my plans for my magazine. For example more people liked the name '1996' for a magazine rather than 'Boomboxes and Base' Because of this, I would chose the more popular option, therefore appealing to my audience more.

Here, I produced a questionnaire concerning my next task. Producing a music magazine. I asked questions such as 'How old are you?' and 'Are you male or female?' Questions like this allowed me to get to know the person answering the question on a personal level. By doing this, it allows me to spot any trends or patterns I could apply to my magazine. Therefore appealing to my target demographic easily. I then went on to ask more music related questions such as 'What genre of music do you listen to the most?' and 'What interests you the most about magazines or magazines in general?' These questions allow me to see what is more popular amongst my target audience. I could then apply these ideas and points onto my music magazine. The two images above shows my questionnaire and the ones that have been filled out. All together, 15 people completed my questionnaire. I included males and females in my questionnaire so the answers are not biased in any way. Also, I want my music magazine to appeal to both sexes.

Week 3

During this week, I looked at different software's I could use such as Survey Monkey which is an online survey generator, Prezi which is an advanced more 'fun' version of PowerPoint and Bubble.US. which is an online mind map you can create. I decided to look up Prezi into further detail. I found this particular website interesting. This was because i'm used to using PowerPoint which is more simple and frankly quite boring. However Prezi allows you to choose from different themes and animation styles. It also allows you to make your presentation seem 3D. The other two websites will also come in handy as mind maps and surveys will become much more relevant later. Also during this week, I started on creating my presentation on ideas for my music magazine. Although i'm still in the process of editing previous work, I think that it is a good idea to think ahead.

Here is a picture I took of Frank Ocean at a concert. (This particular image on this post seems blurry, the actual image isn't. Sorry.) I came across this picture and thought it would be a good idea to use it as my front cover for my next task. Even though I may change my mind, I feel that this is the best option as capturing a good shot of a celebrity is rare. Also, I am correcting and editing work concerning my preliminary task, however I'm also thinking of ideas for my final task which is to produce a music magazine.

Week four

This week we started looking our main task. This week we created a survey which helped us narrow down the interests of our chosen demographic for our music magazine. We used SurveyMonkey which is a website which allows you to create online surveys. Using this software shows that we were able to use a range of softwares. I also used Prezi. This allows you create online powerpoints with added animations. I used this to map out some ideas I had for my music magazine. I looked at what sort of images I would use as well as text and layout.

I was given the task to analyse the different features of a given magaine cover. Here is what I came up with, this is an issue of Ebony Magazine.

The image on the front of the cover is of an African/American singer and song writer, Jill Scot.

This image has been chosen as it is appropriate to the masthead of the magazine, Ebony.

With ebony meaning a very dark or brown colour, it seems to link with the main image of Jill Scott and her son as the magazine mainly features current black iconic figures. Also, the main image has been chosen as it is a positive one, Jill and her son are seen smiling sending out a positive message even without the need of reading the text.  

Ebony is a monthly magazine for the African-American market and demographic. A new issue is released every month and the front cover features African/American.

The Ebony magazine has been running for 60 and more years. Around 40% of African-Americans read EBONY. This helps them connect to their community and culture. Approximately 7 out of 10 African/Americans will have read at least one issue of Ebony, thus making it the most widely read monthly consumer magazine in Black America.

The singer/songwriter featured on this particular issue is Jill Scott.

Jill Scott (born April 4, 1972), is a Grammy-winning American singer-songwriter, actress and poet. Since 1999 Jill Scott has made a reputation and has become an icon for being a classic, with the help of her 2000 multi-platinum selling debut, ‘Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1’

The shot in the magazine is of Jill Scott and her son. Jill is seen behind her son, holding him in a playful way as he is leaning to this side smiling. The image looks very playful. Jill is wearing a pink blouse which looks very feminine. Both Jill and her son are seen smiling, which conveys a positive, happy message.  The image is set against a plain white background as the main focus is of Jill and her son, although cover lines are peppered all over the page.  The colors used on the front cover of this magazine are black, light brown and pink. The brown used in the text links in with the whole idea of ebony, being dark brown colors. The pink used in the text adds femininity to the cover of the magazine despite the main focus is of a female. The lighting used in the image is very clear; a very small part of the image is hidden behind the masthead very much like most magazines.

Week Two :

Week Two : During week two, I scanned my flatplans so that I could post them on my blog. I also created my contents page and front cover electronially althogh the layout changed, for the better. Also, I took pictures of students and teachers to add to my magazine. I completed both pages and evaluation of them. Overall, I am happy with my work although I think there are slight improvements to be made.

Week One :

Week one : I started creating my flatplan ideas for my school publication. I also spent time on working on things such as colour schemes so that I would have a rough idea of what I would do once I start working on it electronically. Also, I looked at other school publication magazines for ideas and inspiration. This really helped me because I'm not used to looking at school publications, without this, I do not think I would of been able to come up with as much ideas. On week two, I would be creating my publication on the computer using publisher.

Week 3

During this week, I focused on finishing my preliminary task.  After creating roughly four flat plans, I decided on keeping my final one which was then later used for my school publication. For my school publication, I had to make sure that the front cover suited my target demographic. The school I focused on was an all girls school, Harris Girls Academy East Dulwich. The main theme color for this school is blue. Thus making my main color scheme and theme for the publication mainly different shades of blue and white. As well as color scheme, I made sure elements such as cover-lines were appropriate to the target demographic which was parents and students. By doing this, it attracts more readers as well as making the school appealing. Also, I used a formal tone, however some of the language used on the cover-lines came across as chatty. Doing this makes the publication more interesting to read. It also gives the impression that the school values the students ideas and interests. 

Here I have different font style ideas for my masthead. I decided to keep the masthead blue in order to match with the main theme colour, blue. I decided to go with the forth one down as I thought it looked the morst formal adn suited the oage more. I experimented with different shapes, sizes and colours. This helped me a lot with my design as it saved a lot of time.

Here is my colour chart. This helped me to see what colours would go together well. My main theme colour was blue, I used different shades in the chart so I can decide on what would work well on my contents page and front cover.

Here is my final contents page. It looks very similar to my front cover as I didn't want 'too much' going on. The main theme colour is still different shades of blue as that is the school's theme colour. However, i feel that the comical and interesting taglines make the page stand out. There are other pieces of information on the contents page such as class of the term and an inspirational quote from a teacher. Adding all of this to the main front cover would of made it look too busy. I also think this benefits the contents page as it makes it more interesetig.

Here is my flat plan for my final front cover. Although I did not initially produce the flat plan for my final cover, I thought it would be a good idea to make it and compare it to the actual final front cover. It is more simple yet effective.

Here is my final front cover. I slightly changed the layout to the page whilst in the process of completing my front cover.
So far, I am happy with the changes I have made. I think it looks clearer as well as better. I decided to remove the background for the main image (of the 6th form student) as I looked at other school publications as well as other magazines. I noticed that most magazines and school publications do not have a background to their main image. Instead, it isn on a plan background. However, the other pictures do. I showed this on my final front cover and I am happy with the decision I made. I added a speech bubble to a picture on my front cover to add a comical element to it, although it still related to the theme of the publication, school. This may appeal to younger dempgraphic rather than older students and parents.