Time Management Update

As of last week I have finished and finalised my magazine designs, including extra adjustments and improvements I made in referral to the suggestions from my audience feedback.

Final magazine deisgns

Finalised designs - improved via audience feedback

I collected several sets of audience feedback on all three of my magazine pages. My front cover, contents page and also my double page spread.

Front page: For my front page I was told from my audience feedback that my front cover had a suitable colour scheme for my target audience and that also it looked similar to other pop magazines on the market today such as Top Of The Pops and that they couldn't think of any changes that I should make -

Contents page: From my audience feedback I was told that I should space out the page numbers and perhaps add colour as they were previously quite hard to read. So, I took this feedback on board and have separated the page numbers, so they are much more clear and easier to read. I have also made the page numbers significantly bigger as before they were fairly small. In order to do this I had to delete an image.  I also added some colour to the editors notes so it didn't look so plain.  -

Next, for my double page spread from my audience feedback I was told that I should remove the three boxes that encased my article text as they felt it would look better without. I also changed the position of the page number to the right hand side as it was previously on the wrong side -

Further progress with my magazine

This week, december 9th (although I have posted this a week later) I started to create my double page spread. I felt as though I was falling behind but now I am caught up and am on the appropriate week and doing the appropriate work flow according to my action plan. Here is a screenshot of the progress for my double page spread:
I have inserted my double page spread image. My reasoning for choosing this image is because from my research I have found that in double page spreads the main image which is used is usually a single medium long shot with the artist looking directly into the camera.

I had previously written up my article and had it proof read and I changed it accordingly to fit in and be relatable to my target audience which is girls aged 14-16. I used a variety of fonts which I believe connote the fun and youthfulness of a pop magazine. I have showed continuity to my magazine by using the same colour scheme: White, pink and purple. I have chosen to have the ratio of pictures to text at 50:50 as from my research I found this to be the preferred ratio. I have created a bleed of the
colour white onto the next page as this was also a key feature of pop double page spreads. Again, I used photoshop to remove the background from my image and place it on the right hand side of the page. At the moment, I think that my image looks fairly bland and does not stand out enough - I will ask about this in my audience feedback questions and collect the views from others at a later date. I have also shown continuity through out my magazine by using the same colour scheme through out.

I have used 3 columns of text as from my research I found that this is the most used layout for a double page spread in a pop magazine. In the subtitle of my double page spread article I used alliteration "pop princess phoebe" this is a common convention of pop magazines as it gives the article a rhythm and creates an exciting momentum to it. It also makes it more fun for younger readers. I have also added the masthead logo in the top right hand corner because from my research I found that this was a common feature of a pop magazine double page spread.

I have then created continuity within my magazine by adding page numbers on either side of the corresponding pages, and next to them I have added the magazine's masthead. This shows continuity through out the magazine.

Continuing on from this, I decided to go back to my contents page and play around with a few of the fonts, swapping and changing them to more 'pop' appropriate ones. I am still missing one image from my contents page which I will have in the upcoming week.

I have added a bubble with the slang term "OMG" as I have seen this used before in pop magazines and although it perhaps looks rather miscellaneous it adds to the crowded, exciting feel of the magazine. I may add more of these, depending on my contents audience feedback.

I decided to add some outlining to the page numbers and the editors notes as I thought this looked a lot better and less plain. I have added two more bubbles on the image with the words "for your eyes only" and "swag" as these are common in pop magazines. They make the reader feel involved and as if the magazine is talking directly to them.

Lastly...

Finally, here is my front cover design and my finished product side by side. I have done this to show my progress within the task and also to highlight certain changes. I have decided to move the three cover-lines over to the left hand side as upon detailed reflection into my pop magazine research I noted that the majority of pop magazines positioned their cover-lines on the left.

Audience Feedback - Double Page Spread

Double Page Spread:

From my feedback on my double page spread article I have concluded that if I want to improve my image I should make it brighter in order for it to stand out.

I found out from my second double page spread audience feedback that I should perhaps consider removing the boxing which encase the article text as it looks too secular.

An overall review of my magazines:

In this text post I have provided audience feedback on my music magazine. I asked 5 questions which I have included in a separate text post, after this. I have used teenage girls because they represent and are within my target audience range 14-16 year old girls. Therefore, they know best the conventions of pop magazines and what looks good and what does not. They also can provide me with valuable information on key sections of my magazine to improve. 

Audience Feedback - Contents

 From my feedback, in order to improve I have learnt that I should perhaps play around with a variety of fonts and I should also split up some of the blocks of text as perhaps it is unclear to read. Also it was suggested that I should make the page numbers less bold in order to make them easier to read.

Audience Feedback - Front Cover

Front Cover feedback:

From my feedback I have found that the colour scheme works well for my chosen target audience, and that also the actual content of my magazine is suitable and typical of a pop magazine. 

Audience Feedback Questions

What do you think about the layout of my front cover? Does it look similar to other pop magazines you have seen? If so why?

What do you think of the colour scheme I have chosen? Pink, white and purple? Do you think this is a suitable colour scheme for my target audience? (Girls, aged 14-16)

What do you think needs to be improved/changed on my contents page? Layout, images etc

Do you think the coverlines are suitable?

Do you think that the mode of address I have used within my magazine is suitable for my target audience? Is it too formal, too informal or just right?

Is the content of my double page spread article typical of a pop magazine? Would you change anything? Why?

What do you think of my main image for my double page spread? Does it look too plain or does it stand out? What could I change? What could be improved? What do you think about the image? 

Target Audience Profile

In this blog post I will explore my target audience in greater depth - I have touched upon this in my magazine pitch. Furthermore, I have created a prezi to represent my target audience:

Time Management Post

I have produced my front cover and contents page designs, they are both nearly finished I just need to add two more images. Referring back to my action plan, it states that my next objective is to start designing my double page spread and then to get some audience feedback on it. In tomorrows lesson, 9th December 2013 I will begin creating and finalizing my double page spread complete with images and article. 

Progress within my task

I have finally taken some effective photographs for my magazine which I have displayed in an earlier post. Subsequently, I have started adding my images onto my magazine design. Here is my front cover thus far:

As you can see, I have actually decided to change my layout slightly. I have moved the coverlines and accompanied images to the opposite side, as upon reflection back to my research of pop magazines I have noticed that the majority of them have the main image on the right and the coverlines on the left hand side. I think this looks a lot better than before.

Next, I have added a 'highlighter' effect on my splash and also other information. I have done this because from my research I found that this was used quite a lot. It makes the information stand out, and especially as I have a white background it gives me the opportunity to use white colour fonts. I have also added a barcode: 

I think that my magazine is slowly starting to look similar to other pop magazines on the market 
today. 

Next, I inserted an image onto my contents page. I also removed the background from this image on photoshop. 

After this, I moved onto adding more images onto my front cover. I added 3 posters at the bottom and two coverline images across the left hand side. All of which I photographed myself.

I also added a highlighter effect behind the text of my splash and coverlines because I have seen this used on other pop magazines, also it is useful so I could incorporate white coloured text into my magazine which proved difficult otherwise as I have a white background.

Progress with images

In this post I am going to show my progress in regards to the images I am using for my magazine.

In this screenshot I am using the programme Photoshop to enhance my images. As this is the image I am using for my front cover, I felt as though it was fairly dull, and perhaps did not stand out enough for a front cover image. Furthermore, I increased the brightness of my image and reduced the contrast, and so because of this I have created the image on the left.

Next, in order to achieve a completely white background I had to cut around Phoebe. I did this by using the magic wand tool and then carefully erasing around the edges. I carefully removed any excess background and made the edges appear smoother. I am doing this here: 

For this image of Jess, I also used photoshop to enhance the photos brightness. 

Here are some examples of pop magazines from my research into the generic conventions of pop magazines. These show that the types of front cover images that are used are bright, and usually close up shots.

My research shows that the images used tend to have clear neutral backgrounds as to not detract from the main image. 

Photoshoot Images

Here I have created a compilation of images which I have taken for my magazine so far. I will outline which ones I think work best and why, and why perhaps others don't work so well.

Firstly, photographs I have taken of my front cover and double page spread model, Phoebe:

 I think that this is a nice potential front cover image, from my research I learned that many pop magazine use close up images of the artists.

 I think that this is a good photograph as it takes on board the 'silly' and 'fun' aspect of pop magazines, they often feature artists doing silly and fun poses. I learnt this information from my detailed research upon pop music magazines and have subsequently come up with this image.

 I think that this image is an excellent 'action shot' to be used in my double page spread as an extra photo.

 Perhaps this photo is not the best as it appears to be rather blurry, not of the best quality and slightly messy.

I think that this image would be good for my front cover image as Phoebe is looking directly into the camera and it is a close up shot.

 I really like this image especially, and I think that it will be perfect for my double page spread. I think it is effective because I referred back to my research, and noticed that many double page spread articles in pop magazines feature the artist looking directly into the camera and also have an all white, clear background. So, taking my research on board I chose to take my photos in front of a white background and in doing so I believe this makes my images look much more professional and clean cut, as I did not have the best camera to take them with, the clean background really adds to the professional feel.

 I do not think this photo works too well as it looks perhaps a bit too staged, also Phoebe is not looking directly into the camera which is a main convention of a pop magazine image.

 I think that this is a good image as it is close up and fairly clean cut.

 I really like this 'action shot' photo as although it is completely natural and goes against the usual characteristics of a pop magazine (i.e, clean-cut, professional) I think it'd be excellent to use in the double page spread as an extra image.

Next, I photographed Jess:

 I really like this image, and as Jess will be featured as one of the posters or possibly one of the cover-lines, I will be needing maybe 1 or 2 images of her. I think this is a good image as it is clear and also close up.

 I decided on a rather different pose such as this as I thought it would bring fun and creativity to the magazines overall feel and appearance. Quirky and outlandish images are creeping their way onto to many pop magazines on the market today.

 I believe this image is perhaps too dark and not quite clear enough for a poster, and also I think I will need a close up shot opposed to a LDS or MLS.

 This photo is a lot clearer as I used the flash on the camera, the image appears brighter.

I decided to take a photograph of the two together as I could perhaps feature it as a cover-line, something along the lines of "Exclusive pictures of Phoebe C and Cher Lloyd in the In The Mix studio!"

Next I took some images of my other models:

Jamie:

 I think this is a nice image because it creates a different aspect to my magazine and also adds that informality which is notorious within pop magazines.

I took another, more 'classic' shot of Jamie which is face on and against a white background. This image would be ideal for front cover shots.