Planning
Good research into similar texts. Some research into audience, but should try to use graphs to show analysis of findings. Some drafting of the front cover, but not of the contents page. Draft is a bit weird.
14/20
Construction
Proficient use of software to construct pages. Good manipulation of images and text on front cover. The contents page is too basic and should have incorporated photos.
44/60
Evaluation
Some attempt to address the seven set questions. Minimal critical analysis in places as the responses to each question are too short.
12/20
Overall
70/100 Grade B
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Evaluation of the Project
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
My cover uses the media conventions of real covers by having a header, main picture and subheader. The contents page uses the conventions of the real contents pages by showcasing a list of the items in the magazine in an orderly fashion as well as conforming to those magazines that might not be so regimented.
How does your media product represent particular social groups?
My products represent the social groups of parents and teachers by providing a respectable cover that showcases the wonder of the school throughout the years and is disciplined in its approach instead of a cover aimed towards the students that would invariably feature a more haphazard style, common with most young minds.
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
I'd like to think that an institution of ordered, schoollike magazines would distribute my product as I believe my product reflects, simplistically, standards set my many of the competitors in the media world.
Who would be the audience for your media product?
The audience for my media product would be the parents of students and the teachers as it is a respectable school magazine which is normally read by the parents rather than by the students. Therefore the style of the cover was chosen to reflect the target audience, if it had been students, I would have gone for completely different stylistical choices such as brighter colours and more modern phrasing for the subheading, as it was parents and teachers I felt the antique style reflected this target audience.
How did you attract/address your audience?
I addressed my audience by making sure my choices would reflect that. In order to check this, I asked my parents and grandparents for their opinion to which they stated that a simplistic feel with little clutter would appeal to them more, whereas a garbled cover definitely appeals more to younger kids.
What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
I have learnt how to use photoshop on Macs as well as InDesign and IPhoto, skills that I am sure will become useful again as this course progresses. I have also learnt how to use digital cameras in order to take clearer and better photos, how to edit photos and how to manipulate the photo to achieve what I want. Furthermore, I have learnt how the Macs work and feel confident using one again soon.
Audience Feedback
When I showed my cover to family they said that they liked it's simplistic styles and sepia tones but felt that some aspects could've been improved, which in hindsight I feel that they are completely correct. However, despite these minor grumbles, I feel that I made this project at the best of my abilities at this time as I'm still learning new skills and next time I am sure that I'll be able to do a lot more than when I first started the year.
In Conclusion...
It has been a lot of fun doing this project as well as a lot of hard work and I can only hope that my perserverence with this has paid off in my end results. I look forward to the next project and feel that I can leap at it with both hands!
My cover uses the media conventions of real covers by having a header, main picture and subheader. The contents page uses the conventions of the real contents pages by showcasing a list of the items in the magazine in an orderly fashion as well as conforming to those magazines that might not be so regimented.
How does your media product represent particular social groups?
My products represent the social groups of parents and teachers by providing a respectable cover that showcases the wonder of the school throughout the years and is disciplined in its approach instead of a cover aimed towards the students that would invariably feature a more haphazard style, common with most young minds.
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
I'd like to think that an institution of ordered, schoollike magazines would distribute my product as I believe my product reflects, simplistically, standards set my many of the competitors in the media world.
Who would be the audience for your media product?
The audience for my media product would be the parents of students and the teachers as it is a respectable school magazine which is normally read by the parents rather than by the students. Therefore the style of the cover was chosen to reflect the target audience, if it had been students, I would have gone for completely different stylistical choices such as brighter colours and more modern phrasing for the subheading, as it was parents and teachers I felt the antique style reflected this target audience.
How did you attract/address your audience?
I addressed my audience by making sure my choices would reflect that. In order to check this, I asked my parents and grandparents for their opinion to which they stated that a simplistic feel with little clutter would appeal to them more, whereas a garbled cover definitely appeals more to younger kids.
What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
I have learnt how to use photoshop on Macs as well as InDesign and IPhoto, skills that I am sure will become useful again as this course progresses. I have also learnt how to use digital cameras in order to take clearer and better photos, how to edit photos and how to manipulate the photo to achieve what I want. Furthermore, I have learnt how the Macs work and feel confident using one again soon.
Audience Feedback
When I showed my cover to family they said that they liked it's simplistic styles and sepia tones but felt that some aspects could've been improved, which in hindsight I feel that they are completely correct. However, despite these minor grumbles, I feel that I made this project at the best of my abilities at this time as I'm still learning new skills and next time I am sure that I'll be able to do a lot more than when I first started the year.
In Conclusion...
It has been a lot of fun doing this project as well as a lot of hard work and I can only hope that my perserverence with this has paid off in my end results. I look forward to the next project and feel that I can leap at it with both hands!
Production of the Cover and Contents Page
The Long Road to Producing the Cover
Once the planning stage had been completed, I set to work on producing my cover for the Victorian. The first stage, take photos!
Photos
At first, I decided to borrow a digital camera from the school library, not having my own and being too late to borrow Mr. Winn's camera. With the library's camera, I set about taking photos of the school; I believe I first took five or six as I would sort out the best from the worst and combine the "survivors" into one good picture of the exterior of Victoria College's main building. The next hassle was finding a willing volunteer to be photographed for the cover in order to fill one of the tasks criteria. Eventually, however, I managed to get J. Hickling to agree to the photos and it seemed like everything was going to be great. With the photos taken, I headed back to the classroom to upload them on to any one of the free Macs left available in the room. Loading up IPhoto, I uploaded the recently taken photos to the EMac, however I soon had to leave as the lesson time had come to an end and due to having to catch a bus I was unable to stay on to do more work. Unfortunately by the time of the next media practical lesson disaster had struck as I discovered that I had lost all of my photos and with no photos I had nothing to do other than fiddle about with the different fonts on photoshop to decided on the best one for my cover. A saving grace came in the form of my birthday 4/10, where I was given my own digital camera and could now take my photos again and upload them knowing that they would be safe. So with only four days before it was due in, on thursday 8/10, I set to work on the cover with freshly taken photos. At last, it was beginning to take shape.
The Second Stage: Completing the Cover and Contents Page
Using a Sepia effect on the photos, I tried to give the cover a sort of antiquity feeling to fit in with the age and legend of the school throughout the years. Even the font was done in a sort of hand writing esque scribble in an aged brown colour which I felt would help sell what I was trying to achieve. With that all sorted and the text written, the cover part of the project was complete.
Next, it was time to set to work on the contents page. Borrowing a copy of the most recent edition of the Victorian to give me an idea on how the contents pages would be laid out, I loaded up InDesign on the IMac. With an idea formed in my head, I placed the Victorian to my side and set to work, going for a simplistic contents page to fit in with the simplistics styles of the cover. Earlier on, I had planned to upload a picture in the contents page, but when I did, I discovered that it didn't fit in with the rest of the layout and removed it. This may leave the contents page looking decidedly bland to some eyes, but I disagree. The production was now complete.
Screenshots
Once the planning stage had been completed, I set to work on producing my cover for the Victorian. The first stage, take photos!
Photos
At first, I decided to borrow a digital camera from the school library, not having my own and being too late to borrow Mr. Winn's camera. With the library's camera, I set about taking photos of the school; I believe I first took five or six as I would sort out the best from the worst and combine the "survivors" into one good picture of the exterior of Victoria College's main building. The next hassle was finding a willing volunteer to be photographed for the cover in order to fill one of the tasks criteria. Eventually, however, I managed to get J. Hickling to agree to the photos and it seemed like everything was going to be great. With the photos taken, I headed back to the classroom to upload them on to any one of the free Macs left available in the room. Loading up IPhoto, I uploaded the recently taken photos to the EMac, however I soon had to leave as the lesson time had come to an end and due to having to catch a bus I was unable to stay on to do more work. Unfortunately by the time of the next media practical lesson disaster had struck as I discovered that I had lost all of my photos and with no photos I had nothing to do other than fiddle about with the different fonts on photoshop to decided on the best one for my cover. A saving grace came in the form of my birthday 4/10, where I was given my own digital camera and could now take my photos again and upload them knowing that they would be safe. So with only four days before it was due in, on thursday 8/10, I set to work on the cover with freshly taken photos. At last, it was beginning to take shape.
The Second Stage: Completing the Cover and Contents Page
Using a Sepia effect on the photos, I tried to give the cover a sort of antiquity feeling to fit in with the age and legend of the school throughout the years. Even the font was done in a sort of hand writing esque scribble in an aged brown colour which I felt would help sell what I was trying to achieve. With that all sorted and the text written, the cover part of the project was complete.
Next, it was time to set to work on the contents page. Borrowing a copy of the most recent edition of the Victorian to give me an idea on how the contents pages would be laid out, I loaded up InDesign on the IMac. With an idea formed in my head, I placed the Victorian to my side and set to work, going for a simplistic contents page to fit in with the simplistics styles of the cover. Earlier on, I had planned to upload a picture in the contents page, but when I did, I discovered that it didn't fit in with the rest of the layout and removed it. This may leave the contents page looking decidedly bland to some eyes, but I disagree. The production was now complete.
Screenshots
The Print Task - Planning A Cover!
I decided against drawing a picture, as it would have looked far, far worse than the paint one I did already does. Another reason for ditching the pencil for the computer was the hassle of having to scan the drawing onto the computer so I decided to cut out the "middle man" and here is the finished plan. Beware, it's paint at it's worst!
The First Stage of the Project -
How I Made The Plan
First I decided against just inserting a picture of the College as it wouldn't have fit in with the rest of the ideas, so for complete authenticity I went about "painting" my own, terrible, version of it. Then I added windows, an archway, sky and grass and to finish off I made a stick figure drawing of the person used for the finished cover.
Being a preliminary plan to the project, some ideas weren't used in the end. For example on the plan I went for a decidedly more simplistic font type and layout as a basic setting for the project. However other ideas on the plan were used, which is why doing a plan is always useful and helps to keep your ideas focussed on the task as you're aware of where you're going and what your project is shaping up to be, even if you have to make small adjustments here and there so it resembles what you originally planned in your head, if you were unable to adequately put on to paper exactly what you meant.
The First Stage of the Project -
How I Made The Plan
First I decided against just inserting a picture of the College as it wouldn't have fit in with the rest of the ideas, so for complete authenticity I went about "painting" my own, terrible, version of it. Then I added windows, an archway, sky and grass and to finish off I made a stick figure drawing of the person used for the finished cover.
Being a preliminary plan to the project, some ideas weren't used in the end. For example on the plan I went for a decidedly more simplistic font type and layout as a basic setting for the project. However other ideas on the plan were used, which is why doing a plan is always useful and helps to keep your ideas focussed on the task as you're aware of where you're going and what your project is shaping up to be, even if you have to make small adjustments here and there so it resembles what you originally planned in your head, if you were unable to adequately put on to paper exactly what you meant.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Target Audiences - Questionnaire Time!
For a magazine cover to be successful, first I must discover my target audience and what the preferred features for a cover are: Without this information, I will not be able to successfully win over the audience because I wouldn't have known what they preferred about magazine covers.
So here is a questionnaire I did:
1.Age – (Tick which group applies)
2.Student/Parent/Grandparent?
3.Do you currently read the magazine?
4.Preferred choice of cover image?
5.Preferred features?
6.Disliked Features?
7.Preferred things to be included on cover?
8.Preferred colours?
9.Preferred textual font style?
10.Preferred amount of time between publications?
From these questions I gathered the information that:
The main age group was between 30-60, with Parents making up the majority of readership. Around 60% of people asked said that they do read the magazine when it is published by the School as it provides good information on the recent academic year and in a lot of Parents cases to see if there are any mentions of their children in the magazine.
A preferred choice of cover image tended to be something that varied on the College main building theme and a notable proportion said that they preferred features on other activities such as sport and house events rather than academic features. No feature was outrightedly disliked but it was felt by a majority that some of the less interesting ones could be trimmed to avoid boredom whilst reading.
75% of participants said that they would've preferred a sporting theme to the cover but with the main building in the background, instead of the usual academic focus on the school.
Preferred colours ranged from greens and reds to blacks and yellows. But no absolute preferred colour was given by a majority of participants.
When asked about a preferred textual font style, most participants gave a quizzical look before explaining that the font style did not bother them that much but that if they had to decide, the Old English Text, would work best for the magazine.
And finally when asked about time between between publications 100% of participants said that they were happy with the current rate.
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From this, I now have a good idea on what to base my cover on and how I should go about the design element of it. This proves the value of questionnaires as I now know how to make my cover seem aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
So here is a questionnaire I did:
1.Age – (Tick which group applies)
2.Student/Parent/Grandparent?
3.Do you currently read the magazine?
4.Preferred choice of cover image?
5.Preferred features?
6.Disliked Features?
7.Preferred things to be included on cover?
8.Preferred colours?
9.Preferred textual font style?
10.Preferred amount of time between publications?
From these questions I gathered the information that:
The main age group was between 30-60, with Parents making up the majority of readership. Around 60% of people asked said that they do read the magazine when it is published by the School as it provides good information on the recent academic year and in a lot of Parents cases to see if there are any mentions of their children in the magazine.
A preferred choice of cover image tended to be something that varied on the College main building theme and a notable proportion said that they preferred features on other activities such as sport and house events rather than academic features. No feature was outrightedly disliked but it was felt by a majority that some of the less interesting ones could be trimmed to avoid boredom whilst reading.
75% of participants said that they would've preferred a sporting theme to the cover but with the main building in the background, instead of the usual academic focus on the school.
Preferred colours ranged from greens and reds to blacks and yellows. But no absolute preferred colour was given by a majority of participants.
When asked about a preferred textual font style, most participants gave a quizzical look before explaining that the font style did not bother them that much but that if they had to decide, the Old English Text, would work best for the magazine.
And finally when asked about time between between publications 100% of participants said that they were happy with the current rate.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From this, I now have a good idea on what to base my cover on and how I should go about the design element of it. This proves the value of questionnaires as I now know how to make my cover seem aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
A Third Example
Life: This is an old December 1970 issue and as such could be considered fairly basic by today's standards. It has the logo LIFE in the top left hand corner; (it should be noted here that in three of the magazine covers I looked at, the magazine logo was placed in the top left hand corner), in a difference to modern magazine covers this one includes only one main picture, that of the blonde woman with the sack of food on her back, giving the cover a very simplistic feel to it and a small caption is written to the left side of the picture. The main features of the magazine are placed in the top right-hand corner in a simple black font and a similar to Times New Roman style. The issue date and price is given in a white font at the bottom right hand corner.
The main things that jump out at me on this cover are the logo and the picture, everything else seems a little plain and boring but was probably considered very good when it was first made.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Another example...
Teen PeopleFrom the cover it could be said that the target audience is young adult male because of the inclusion of Shakira on the cover, but the writing on the cover seems to suggest a predominantly female audience.
In a similar fashion to Q magazine, a header is placed at the top of the cover; for this magazine it is: QUIZ: WHAT'S YOUR SEX IQ?
One of the main things that stands out about this magazine cover is the use of different colours for the text. This helps it jump out from other magazines because a boring cover with black and white text wont. On this magazine the main colour font used is a variety of pink and green to emphasise that its target audience are young females. This is because the colour pink is generally associated with feminine ideals and the inclusion of this colour as the font reinforces what the magazine is aiming to.
The Beginning
The beginning of media: Here I am going to look at the conventions of magazine covers to try to find out the general formula used when creating a cover of any magazine.
At the top of the cover an explanation of what the magazine is all about is written across it; in this case it is: THE ESSENTIAL MUSIC GUIDE. In a similar fashion a brief aspect of the contents of this particular issue is written at the bottom in this case: All the Month's Albums, Gigs, Films & DVDs Reviewed & Rated.
Around the main cover image other images and headlines are placed, making sure that the target audience realises that the issue is not about one particular subject but that there are other features in the magazine that may stand out to someone interested in buying it. On this issue the main cover features are given as: On Tour With U2, Bloc Party and Made In Hell! In each case a short sentence reveals what that feature is about, for example Made In Hell: The 10 Craziest Rock Couples; this tells us that that feature will be detailing a selection of what the magazine considers to be the 10 craziest rock couples. This information is useful on a cover as the cover is what will sell a magazine in most cases, and a cover with little information or anything that stands out is less likely to be sold than a magazine that does.
Q: In this magazine, they have decided to place the magazine logo in the top left hand corner with the main front cover image placed in the centre featuring an overlap on to the logo. On this cover, the logo is part of the magazine's brand and what will most likely sell it, other than the contents provided. It is bold and stands out well amongst other magazines. As Q is a well known magazine it is unsurprising that the logo is what may help sell it. Ask someone about Q magazine and they are more than likely to know what you're talking about. Here again is the importance of branding and making a logo bold and able to stand out "in the crowd."
The main headline is then placed over the image in fairly large font in order to stand out to the target audience. The importance of a main headline that stands out is great in regards to selling magazines: Any magazine that features their main headline in tiny squashed up writing is almost certainly not going to do as well as a magazine with a bold one.
At the top of the cover an explanation of what the magazine is all about is written across it; in this case it is: THE ESSENTIAL MUSIC GUIDE. In a similar fashion a brief aspect of the contents of this particular issue is written at the bottom in this case: All the Month's Albums, Gigs, Films & DVDs Reviewed & Rated.
Around the main cover image other images and headlines are placed, making sure that the target audience realises that the issue is not about one particular subject but that there are other features in the magazine that may stand out to someone interested in buying it. On this issue the main cover features are given as: On Tour With U2, Bloc Party and Made In Hell! In each case a short sentence reveals what that feature is about, for example Made In Hell: The 10 Craziest Rock Couples; this tells us that that feature will be detailing a selection of what the magazine considers to be the 10 craziest rock couples. This information is useful on a cover as the cover is what will sell a magazine in most cases, and a cover with little information or anything that stands out is less likely to be sold than a magazine that does.
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