Evaluation: Question 1

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

My finished product (front cover, contents page and double page spread) all contain examples of conventions. For example each finished product has an expected layout. My front cover has the name of my magazine 'VOICE' displayed across the top of the page so readers can see spot my magazine quickly and easily. My contents page also has the mast head of my magazine displayed across the top of the page, spread out. My DPS also has my mast head, in small displayed on one of the pages. This makes the reader aware and memorise the magazine name. Other conventions are used throughout my finished products.  The front cover clearly displays the issue and price of the magazine as well as the bar code. I have also included main features and a strap line. My finished products all show a clear house style which is important from a marketing prospective. The colour pallet of my magazine, is black and white with examples of pink, creating a simple house style. This makes my magazine different from others making it unique. It gives the magazine a personality. My front cover has a central image and both my contents page and DPS both have a main image.

Although my magazine has obvious conventions of media products it also challenges them to some extent. Many magazines are very crowded and busy, as they want to see to the reader as  much as possible. The front cover of a magazine is extremely important as its the readers first impression that ultimately decides whether or not they want to buy the magazine. Therefore, many magazines cram the front cover full of main features, headlines, cover lines and all sorts of different colours and fonts. My magazine challenges this normality as its house style is clean and simple. I often think less is more and if you have a few strong main features, this will too capture the readers interest as they'll want to find out more for them selves. Most magazines use bright colours to captures audiences attentions as colours connote different symbols. I have slightly challenged this in that my magazine displays colour pallet is mainly black and white. I feel that this gives the magazine a unique and different look making it stand out from others. There is huge variety of magazines out there and often readers want something different to their usual constant.

Music Magazine: Finished Product

Media Magazine Double Page Spread

I am very pleased with my double page spread result. I have carried on the house style of black and white creating a professional and 'different' look. I have also included a trace of pink to break up the colours. The enlarged pink 'G' instantly draws the readers eye to the beginning of the article. My main image is taking up one of the two pages. I have created a quote said by the model making the article look personal to the reader. The masthead of my double page spread is, 'front nothing, to everything.' The 'everything' has been enlarged which creates the idea that she has a lot. Underneath the masthead is a sub heading, asking a rhetorical question, again making the article seem personal. 'Different' has been put in bold to make the reader think about what the question is asking. My article itself is in two columns. The first paragraph dramatically sets what the interview is going to be about, creating curiosity and interest in the readers. The questions asked have been put in grey and 'centred' to make it clear to the reader where the question starts and finishes. My magazine logo, 'VOICE' has been put in the bottom right hand corner of the right page to remind the reader which magazine their reading, making the masthead become memorable and significant.

Music Magazine Contents Page

I am very please with the results of my front cover. My research has helped come up with my finished design. I have kept the overall look simple but effective. For my main image I edited two photos together to create a multi exposure effect making the image different and unique. My second image in the left hand corner has been chosen from my second shoot. The use of a piano for a prop ties in a music element and feel. The colour theme here has carried on the house style of black and white. I have also included one example of pink which is effective as it stands out. I have divided the text into two sections; 'REGULARS' and 'FEATURES.' This creates a very simple look which is easy for the readers to understand. The large numbering makes it easy for a reader to establish which article they want to flick to. The font used for the numbering is messy and almost looks out of place for my magazine. This effect makes the magazine look edgy and daring, almost creating the idea of breaking the rules. The page description next to the numbering has various fonts pulling the reader in to the most important and interesting articles. 

Media Magazine Front Cover

This is my completed music magazine front cover. I am really pleased with the final result. I have taken all my research into account when designing the cover. The colour theme is primarily black and white but I have also included examples of blue and pink to help target at both genders. I have also used the colour grey to help balance out the colours giving it a modern and professional look. My main features are all related to the chart music industry today to establish what type of music magazine it is to readers. I have used different fonts to help the main/most important information stand out to the reader, drawing them in and making them more curious to read more. I have priced my magazine at £3.00 as I believe this is an affordable price for my target audience. From a selling point of view I have tried to make sure that the reader would be attracted to my magazine. I have used phrases such as, 'you need', 'right here', and 'right now' this repetitive and direct phrasing makes the reader feel as though the magazine is targeting them personally. I have kept the text away from my main image as I think the image is very strong so I wanted to ensure that the text didn't take away from the overall look. I have also kept my front cover simple and made sure that the text didn't over crowd the page avoiding a busy and complicated look. 

House Style

Throughout my research Iv'e been strongly aware that I wanted to develop a distinctive house style between my front cover, contents page and double page spread. It has emerged as a simple clean style with a bold font. The use of black and white is particularly effective in creating a modern professional look. My pre-visualised idea relates to my target audience as it has a modern urban feel. The high fashion element links to the music industry today and the interests of young adults as well as their aspirational appearance. 

My research showed me that most young adults would be willing to pay £2-£3.99 for a magazine which is an affordable price. I think its important that my target audience can read a high quality magazine but within a price range their suits their life style. 

My house style ideas have been inspired by the likes of VOGUE and ELLE but the contents of them has been inspired by popular music magazines such as NME and Q. I want to try and create the right balance between the two looks and have a finished product of a high fashion/modern urban design that links to the chart industry and the high class, edgy image it portrays today. 

Rolling Stones double page spread - house style inspiration

Contents Page and Double Page Spread Photo Shoot Results

After completing this photo shoot and beginning my research into magazine contents pages, I realised that I need a further second photo shoot as magazines have a variety of photos within a contents page to try and entice the reader into different aspects and features of the magazine..
Within this photo shoot I used a different model to show the reader what else the magazine has to offer. My model is based around a piano in the photos which shows a music element which relates to the music magazine brought. The photo shoot is meant to be fun and bubbly, immediately associating the magazine with a positive atmosphere. 
When manipulating my photos on Adobe Photo Shop I kept the tones simple and neutral which will make a constant house theme between my photo shoots, giving my magazine an individual image and identity.