Evaluation: Question 1

In what way does your product use, develop or change forms and conventions of real media products? 

Both my cover and contents page change the normal forms and conventions of a magazine. My contents page because it is unlike many contents pages. The reason I decided to make the contents page vastly unconventional was because it would make the page unique and unlike the majority of most contents pages that you see; it also gives the magazine a 'personality' of its own. 

My front cover is also unconventional as it's supposed to be a special edition version, and therefore I was going to make it simplistic, but I decided against that as it looked too plain. In the end I decided to make the main image of the cover placed more to the right instead of in the centre like on most magazines as I thought this made the cover look more interesting. I also made it so the main cover line stands out and was bigger than the masthead; this was so people could instantly see that that is the main article of the magazine, as well as showing that it's a special edition magazine. To counteract the fact that the main cover line is bigger than the masthead, I made it so that it was eye-catching and could still be easily recognised as the masthead by making it a colour that would stand out and putting it where a masthead is usually placed. All the conventions and forms of my magazine are a lot like those of Kerrang! and Rock Sound, as those were the two magazines I used as a guideline for making and designing my own.

Evaluation: Question 7

Look back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full project? 

Through the progression of the project I learnt a number of skills; I learnt the basics of InDesign, and through the process of me making my designs for my music magazine, I noticed that I was learning more about InDesign and with me experimenting more with the many tools of InDesign, I could change the layout of my designs, as well as experiment with different styles and formats. As I went along, I also changed my designs significantly, this was because I started to look at other magazine formats and conventions for inspiration to see what I could add to make mine better.

Also, through the progression, I changed many things in the magazine; from the beginning to the end of the process of the project my ideas and designs had changed drastically as I realised things that I'd like to changed, and decided there were ideas that I had come up with that I didn't really like in the end. For example, I was going to make the main cover line of my story about a band splitting up. In the end I decided I preferred the idea of the magazine being a 'special edition' magazine dedicated to something. In the end I decided to use the band breaking up idea for my double page spread which in my opinion worked a lot better.

Evaluation: Question 3

Evaluation: Question 2

Evaluation: Question 4

Who would be the audience for your media product? 

My media product is aimed towards the same sort of people that the magazines Kerrang! and Rock Sound aim for, this is why I used both of these magazines as the basis for my own. It's also aimed towards people from the ages of 13 - 25, as well as people that would like to know about the latest gigs, read live reviews of the latest music videos and albums, and up-to-date information on some of the biggest bands/singers. This was why I decided to make it so the magazine is a monthly edition and therefore each edition has the recent information from the month just gone. To make sure that my magazine reaches the target audience of someone from the early teens, to mid twenties, the price of the magazine is around £3 as this is the average price for a newspaper, therefore within the price range of the intended audience. Overall, the main audience for my magazine is people that are dedicated to music and want to know all the gossip and main news about some of their favourite bands/singers.

Evaluation: Question 5

Evaluation: Question 6

Double Page Spread Final Design

  Instead of the purple I used in the draft of my DPS, I used blue as it made the writing easier to read. To make the whole page more aesthetically pleasing I tilted the heading slightly, I also used the same font as I used on the cover and the contents page to continue the theme, I also used some effects to make the heading stand out and therefore become eye-catching if someone was just flicking through the magazine The one thing I would do if I were to get the chance of doing this again is making sure that all of the text columns line up.

Double Page Spread Draft

To come up with a brief idea for a double page spread, I looked on the internet for inspiration. In the end I found one that I liked the look of and I decided to use it for the basis of the layout on mine. To make my DPS spread affective as well as interesting, I made it so my title stood out and was something that would draw the reader in and make them want to read the rest of the article just to see what it's about. I was going to make this design my final design, but when looking at the image below, I could see just how unconventional some of the DPS is.

This was the DPS that I used as inspiration for my own

Contents Page Final Design

As the picture I used in my draft wasn't of the best quality, I tried to find one from the photo shot that wasn't too bad.  I decided to continue with the idea of using a concert image for the main image for my contents photo as it's a unique idea and I also thought the picture went along with everything on the page without looking out of place, especially with the colour scheme complimenting everything on the page. I also like how the image looks, as it looks like the picture is taken from a phone not a professional camera, and therefore gives the crowded and humid feel of a gig. I made sure that the design of this whole page was the same as that of the front cover, it did this by using the same colour scheme as well as using the font that I decided would be something that could be used to signify the magazine.

Contents Page Drafts (Part 2)

I wanted the main image to be of a singer at a gig, as this goes along the same lines as the contents page I was using for inspiration and I thought that it was a good idea. I also thought the picture went along with everything on the page without looking out of place as the colour scheme was kind of the same and complimented the design. I liked how the image looked, as it looks like the picture is taken from a phone not a professional camera, and therefore gives the crowded and humid feel of a gig, but in the end I decided that this sufficient quality. The design of the whole page is kinda of on the same lines as the front cover with the colour scheme and the same use of text, this was because this is the type of scheme that will continue throughout the magazine, the colours may change depending on the article, but the layout and design will all be rather similar. In the end I decided the design was lacking in certain areas, so I continued to make changes.

Contents Page Drafts

 

This was the contents page that I decided I wanted the basis of mine to look like. This was because it was exactly what I was looking for in the ways that it's unique in the way that it looks unlike the majority of most magazines contents pages.

These are the first two drafts for my contents page, so far I like how they look and I'm sure they're going to look a lot better when the picture is added. For my contents page I had to make sure that I was using the same sort of scheme that I used for the front cover of the magazine. Like the contents page above I will be using a picture that was taken at a concert that I recently went to, which I hope goes along with the whole scheme of the magazine and fits in with the layout of the contents page.

Magazine Cover Final Design

 This is my magazine final design. I was going to make this simple as it's supposed to be a special edition magazine cover, but in the end I decided against that as it just made the cover look plain and uninteresting.
For this design I tried to make the masthead noticeable and stand out, I did this by using the bevel and emboss effect on InDesign which made the font rounded and slightly 3D. I did this as I wanted it to be the thing that makes the magazine recognisble. When it came to the colours, I stayed with the normal red, black and white which are the colours that are usually used on this sort of magazine. I also decided to go with a cracked sort of writing for the masthead so that it went along with the name of the magazine, I also used this throughout the magazine as I decided to make this a theme through the whole of the magazine.

Magazine Cover Drafts (Part 2)

These are a few screen shots I took throughout the process of making my magazine cover. As I was going along I changed many aspects of the design so that nothing looked out of place and everything went together nicely. I was going for the rock/metal sort of magazine; kind of like Kerrang! and Rock Sound. So, to make it look anything like a magazine within that genre, I had to make sure I was using themes and conventions that would instantly make any viewer know what the genre of the magazine is. In the end I decided I wanted to make my magazine cover rather simplistic, and with the main cover line of the magazine being official rock chart, I thought the idea suited well.

Flat Plans

Magazine Cover 

This was the first flat-plan for my magazine, but as I was putting the magazine together all of my ideas changed mainly so it went along with the main image I was using. I decided to make the cover rather plain and simplistic as I wanted my magazine to be a special edition; dedicated to one thing.

Contents Page

For my contents page I decided I wanted to use one that already existed for the basis of my idea; so I used a rather unique looking 'Rock Sound' contents page. I liked this contents page as it was unlike most contents pages you see in the average magazine, with it's interesting format and this is exactly what I was looking for.

Photoshot Pictures

Magazine Cover Drafts (Part 1)

Draft 1 

To make this cover better, I need to make everything look more interesting. I also need to add more 'rocky' themes so that the cover would appeal to the target audience that I am aiming for. To make the cover more interesting there would also have to be an image of some sort which goes along with the main cover line.

Draft 2

I then decided to make it so the font was slanted slightly to make the page more aesthetically pleasing and interesting to look at. This was when I decided to change the name of the main featured band from 'Your Place Or Mine' to 'Murder Parade' as it sounds more interesting and is more of a realistic band name.

Proposal

My magazine is specifically aimed towards people from the ages of 13 - 25. This is because the type of magazine I am planning to make seems to appeal more to this age range of people. I decided to aim for people within this age range as I intend for my magazine to be slightly like Kerrang! which is mainly aimed at teenagers and young adults.
The image I intend to put on the cover of my magazine is of just a single person, who I intent to look like a lead singer of a band. To get this image I will take a photo shoot with one of my friends and ask them to stand in variation of different poses. I'll also ask them to dress up in an alternative type fashion in order for the images to go along with the genre of my magazine. Once I've taken as many pictures as needed I'll just pick the pictures that came out the best and go along with the ideal magazine cover I'm looking for.
The genre of magazine I am aiming for is Rock, sort of like Kerrang! or Rock Sound. This is because in my survey these two magazines were the most well known, followed closely by NME which is a magazine that talks about a mixture of genres.
My magazine will be a special edition magazine, dedicated mainly towards to 'Rock 100 chart' but will also have a number of other special content like exclusive interviews and inside information into band members lives and so on. I will make sure that the main cover line on the magazine front cover stands out, this is so that people will be drawn to the magazine and be curious to see what place their favourite band has come, as well as what position other bands they may like have come, therefore making them want to buy the magazine.
The typical content that will be within the rest of the magazine would be mainly the 'Rock 100' charts but also things like; new albums coming out; rising stars; upcoming concerts; following bands on tour; exclusive interviews; gig guides; live reviews ... etc.
On the cover there is going to be the main cover line, which will be the main feature of the magazine and will take up a fair few pages. There will also be a few other cover lines which let people know some of the other articles that are present throughout the magazine, this would appeal to people who aren't interested in the main feature of the magazine.
For my masthead, I want it to stand out and be recognisable, but also something that fits in with the genre of magazine I have chosen. For example, something like: 'CRASH!' would work, especially if I select a typeface that is broken and cracked, as well as picking a bright colour, therefore making the masthead stand out, which in turn would make the magazine cover eye-catching and aesthetically pleasing.
I would make it so my magazine was a monthly edition, this is so that it would be up to date with the Rock/Metal industry, with this being the case I would make it so the colour scheme of the magazine changed depending on the season as well as things that happen within that month like, Halloween and Christmas.
I would make my magazine be the same dimensions as the average magazine: 8.5 x 11.
On the contents page I would use one single image with the contents being within a reasonable sized back on the right hand side of the page. I am planning to do this as I am aiming for my contents page to be unique and unlike the ordinary layout of a contents page.
My magazine would be sold for £2.99, this is so the it's within the price range of the target audience.

Initial Ideas

 First Ideas

I am aiming my magazine towards teenagers and young adults, as well as people that are interested in Rock/Metal music. The image I expect to put on the front cover of my magazine is of one person who of which I would portray as a lead singer of a band.
I have decided that I am going to make my magazine a rock/metal magazine, slightly like the likes of Kerrang! and Rock Sound, with the same sort of contents and target audience. 
I'm planning to make the front page stand out and instantly be recognised as a rock/metal magazine just from the conventions and the layout of the page, I'm also going to make it so the masthead is bright and bold so that it stands out and therefore makes the magazine eye-catching as well as aesthetically pleasing.
I want to make it so that my contents page is rather diverse and unlike most contents pages, this is because I am planning for the magazine to be the same as any ordinary magazine but unique at the same time. 

Survey Results

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

The last question I asked was: 

 What would a music magazine front cover need for it to catch your eye, and make you want to read more?

Here are a few of the responses:

• It would need to have an interesting main image, and a catchy and interesting main cover line.

• A picture of a popular band/singer.

• Colour, Bold lettering,short snappy headings

• For a music magazine front cover to catch my eye and make me want to read more, it would have to have a bold, easily recognisable masthead. The main cover line of the magazine would have to be something that would be interesting and appeal to a wide audience. The cover would also have an interesting main image which relates to the main cover line.

• Something like the rolling stone magazine, with an artist on the front, with smaller headlines around the image

The results for the survey helped me decide which genre of magazine would be better to do and why. For this questionnaire to have got better results, I would have had to ask more and better questions. I would also have to have asked more people, as the results are rather biased for the fact that they're mainly answered by people within the same age range.