Before I began to design my magazine, I deconstructed a couple of magazine covers to pick out key features of the cover, contents and double page spread for a music magazine. Mainly, I looked at Kerrang! and Q magazine, asthey are both well known rock-orientated magazines. Ihave used similar coloursto both, though mainly Q's colour palate, and similar font to Kerrang!
Like both magazines, I made the photo on the front simple - just the featured artist and a blockcolour (usually black, white or grey) as the background.
Regarding my contents page, I liked the basic layout of Kerrang! but also the collage effect of photos in Q, so I developed both ideas by combining them.
Who would be the audience for your media product, and how does it represent particular social groups?
My target audience are alternative music fans, aged 15+ and mainly British (though it could easily be sold internationally).
The model on the front cover of my magazine represents young, contemporary punk rockers specifically, taking inspiration from artists like Green Day and Billy Talent.
But the entire magazine isn't styled this way, meaning it still appeals to the wider demographic, rather than appearing specialist and in turn, off putting.
How did you attract/address your audience?
I mainly used language and punctuation in order to draw in my audience, notably in the headlines: 'First look', 'finally split?!', 'rumor', 'review'.
The image on the cover may also attract readers, as it is quite a strong, statement image.
Both the cover and contents page feature a range of the different artists that appear in the magazine, so different sectors of the magazine's genre are still interested.
Audience Feedback:
a) Would you buy this magazine? Why/why not?
b) Positives or negatives about then design
c) Would expect to see this magazine alongside existing music magazines? (ie NME, Kerrang!, Rocksound etc.)
b) Positives or negatives about then design
c) Would expect to see this magazine alongside existing music magazines? (ie NME, Kerrang!, Rocksound etc.)
Marcus Kinsey:
a) Yes, because the first two articles listed are interesting
b) + Minimalist design makes logos eye catching+ Lines across logo look good
- Could come across as plain
c) Items on the front come across as the kind of international music news you get with the bigger magazines, but the design seems more suited for regional/specific music things
Chloe May:
a) No, it doesn't look as though it has any music I'd be interested in until I got to to contents page.
b) + I think the contents page looks really full and vibrant
- Front cover doesn't really show much of what's inside the magazine
c) Yes, though I don't think it would be as popular.
Matt McIntyre:
a) I'd buy it because the articles look like they'd be interesting
b) I like it, its quite simple, but I think thats good, it's not overcrowded and crazy
c) Possibly, it seems similar to Kerrang! so I dont know if it would be able to compete, but it would fit in
b) I like it, its quite simple, but I think thats good, it's not overcrowded and crazy
c) Possibly, it seems similar to Kerrang! so I dont know if it would be able to compete, but it would fit in
Elliot Grice:
a) Definitely! It's just like magazines I already read.
b) + It looks really professional and classy.
c) Yes, it's quite like Kerrang! and Rocksound in content, but looks more clear like Q
Jessica Brookelle:
a) I probably would buy it because I like the design and I think the colours work well, It's eye catching and it's about the kind of music I'm into. b) +I like the design because I think the fonts look professional and suit the audience.
+ The colours used are very consistant and it makes the magazine flow well. The contrasting colours draws your attention towards it and your attention is kept by the bold headings.
- One thing I don't like about it is that I think the interior is a little crowded with small text - maybe bigger font, more pictures or limit the amount of words?
c) I would expect to see this magazine next to K!, Rocksound and NME because it looks very professional, yet suitable for people around my age.
Chrissi Masters:
a) Yes, it's just the magazine I'd pick up, I like the name.
b) + The front cover isn't too busy so it looks more professional.
+The contents looks like a real magazine, I like the way its laid out with the pictures at the top and the double page spread the photography looks very professional.
c) I love it, it looks like a real magazine.
What kinds of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
Mainly, the music industry would be most likely to distribute my magazine, as it's an important marketing tool. Not only do magazines like mine help individual bands promote themselves, but also provides advertising space for bigger companies and businesses. For example (from Kerrang! magazine):
But the magazine's audience makes it more targeted for all the media constitutions, as teenagers are a wide, diverse demographic, who have money to spend. Therefore, many products can be advertised in music magazines like Crash! and all the industries may distribute it.
What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
I didn't use too many different or new technologies whilst constructing my magazine. I used a simple digital camera to take my photos, Adobe Photoshop 7.0 to edit them and then Microsoft Office Publisher to put the magazine together.
It was most useful using Photoshop to edit my photos, as I'd found it difficult to light the shoot properly and I had to keep trying different effects in order to make the photos clearer and lighter.
Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
Compared to my preliminary task, I feel my final product is more sophisticated. The market research was really useful, though easier to do for the music magazine. It meant I had a better idea of what my magazine needed to be like, whereas the preliminary task was difficult, because I had very little comparison.
Also, my final product looks more professional and legitimate.
This is reflected in the Audience feedback, as many people said it looked like a real magazines that they already read.
Therefore, from preliminary to the final product, I've learnt about how the photo shoot and photo editing can work together and how to put together a magazine in order to make it look as polished as existing products.
