today i created my contents page, i have kept it in the same style as my front cover. i used green due to i contrasts with the pink and also i made sure that the word contents was very clear and visible. when it comes to my main copy i will need to fill up the gap at the top right in order for there not to be any free space. next i will create a double page spread which will about a band that is meationed on the front cover and contents page as a new exclusive story of a brand new band.
production log 08-02-10
production log :01-02-10
this is the first draft of my front cover i think that i have done well with this cover and i feel when i design my main and final magazine i will make it very similar to this due to i will use the same colour sheme and layout. i am going to design a contents page and double page spread in the similar way next in order to know what looks good and what wont work.
magazine research (blender)
Blender music magazine
Blender known sometimes as a steamy magazine. In other words it looks at music which is popular at the time. The font used for the masthead and cover lines make the magazine look more modern and current, therefore appealing to younger generation.
The words that have a specific meaning such as Fergie are highlighted and in a contrasting colour. This makes it eye catching and causes the reader to scan round the magazine quickly getting key information on whats in it without realising. the way Fergie(the main and only image) is overlapping the masthead show thats the magazine can afford to do this due to it is a very well known magazine and also the magazine is trying ti sell the magazine though using a sexual appeal and a famous person this is a good market strategy. this magazine is mainly aimed at young men, it would appeal to them due to the content of women of the year, the return of led zeppelin, and also because the main images tend to be young, sexy female artists.
This double page spread from Blender magazine focuses on the up-and-coming band, ‘Electrik Red’. The article consist of both photographs and block text. The image on the left is a long shot of the four members of the band. They are all wearing tight-fitted, low cut clothing in black. This connotes sex, fun, confidence, and assertiveness. They’re leaning into one another, holding hands, and generally being very close. This suggests friendship, and a tight bond within the group. The photo on the right hand side is once again a long shit. It shows the four girls leaning against a new car, outside a vast white house. The backdrop connotes wealth, power and fame. They are all wearing very skimpy outfits, of which show a lot of flesh. The outfits aren’t what you would typically wear on a day-to-day basis. This connotes sex, confidence, individuality, and helps to build and characterise their unique identity.
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All of the font on the page is sans-serif which connotes modernity which links very well to pop culture. Its structured into columns which shows organization, thus making it easier for the audience to read.
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The text itself is quite informal, almost chatty. It says things like ‘Electrik red is not your average girl group’ which is straight to the point, thus catching the audiences attention, making them want to read on and find out why.
production log 18-01-10
today i carried on with my research i looked at the the contents page of Q, NME and kerrang i found that they all are very simple contents pages that make it very clear on what is on what page and what it is about. both Q and NME have one picture on the contents which go with one of the pages but Kerrang has a few pictures due to it helps people to identify the bands easily. Also Kerrang magazine is on bands individual and there gigs whereas Q and NME will focus on a gig and bands in general. i also looked at some double page spreads and found they all have the same basic layout of the main picture on the left and the text on the left- the text tends to be in columns. next i will finish anaylsising 3 other magazines and their front covers, contents and double page spread.
production log : 14-01-10
today i looked at the contents page of the magazine Kerrang. i found that it very well laid out and specific things are highlighted on order to catch attention. i have not yet finished analysis the magazine full yet as i need to finish the contents and wrote about a double page spread to will then do the same with my other 5 magazines. i will do this by looking at my magazine in as much detail i can do. this will help me in deciding what type of magazine i be designing and use affective techniques like the magazine i have anaylsised.
production log 11-01-10
Today i looked at three magazine front covers Q, Kerrang and NME i found a simple pattern in these magazines such as the picture location, the fixed logo and the use of bold bright colours for the names of bands to create something that will catch the reader interest. i will need to analysis these a bit more and then i will analysis 3 more magazine which are clash, vibe and blender. this will help me in deciding what magazine style and idea is best for me to do.
Magazine research 3 (NME)
NME is like Q very simple and basic colours. IT focuses on one genre like Kerrang which is indie.
The magazine trademarks (NME) is always in a fixed location. It’s colour and font remains the same though out the issues which helps reader to identify the magazine when buying it.
“The Last Shadow Puppets” “First major interview” this is a scoop and a hook to attract potential buyers. The text is framed as a sidebar and grounds the image above. It highlights the name of the band again in this magazine just like Q and Kerrang.
Also like Q is puts it sub stories at the side also known as cover lines entice readers to the magazine’s articles. The red text creates passion and danger “Tom Clarke, VS Faris Rotteer” is designed o sound like a battle and the text colour reinforces this. The black text elaborates on the story further and is less attention grabbing. It is witty and raises new issues. The image in this magazine is also placed in the center of the magazine in order to sell the magazine more such the Q and Kerrang have done.
the contents page
The contents page for the NME is spilt up in to six parts News, Radar, Reviews, Live, Features and Plus.Cover lines that are shown on the front cover and what they want you to focus on have an arrow pointing to them saying’On the cover. Page numbers are next to the articles as this helps the reader find what they are looking for. the contents keeps to the same colours as the front cover black, red and white. unlike Kerrang and Q this magazine has a unique aspect on the left hand side “band index” this is a clever way of allowing the reader to find a specific band they want to read about straight away.n the middle of the page is a small piece of information about the Kasabian which attracts the reader to the contents page this helps with the bottom of the page where it is advertising a subscription service for NME. by using the bands small quick article which continues on another page allows the reader to spot the advertisement.
double page spread
This is a typical example of a double page spread from NME, in which one page is taken up entirely by one image, which is a conventional feature for double page spreads as I have seen for Q and Kerrang. At the top of each corners, there is the word “Live!” which suggests to the reader that this article has all the latest news and is up to date with information, implying a certain amount of exclusiveness. Because of this, it appeals to the reader as they are gaining something other magazines won’t have, and getting rid of any competition they might have. The colour pink show that it is quite a passionate gig with Florence and the machines and her music which is quire passionate. The title “call of the wild” make the audience feel that they only wild and fun people go to these gig showing that they need to go there cause it will be a good gig.
Magazine Research 2 (Kerrang)
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front cover
Kerrang is a weekly publication that features journalism on the rock music, now well-past its thousandth issue. Kerrang! Surpassed NME in terms, of sales, as the UK’s most-read music magazine. It’s a magazine that looks at one specific genre.
It very much like Q in the way it uses basic colours in order too simplify there magazine and not make to look like their is to much going on in the magazine i.e to many different colours. Kerrang uses more dark colours in-order to suit it music genre. Black is associated with power, elegance, formality, Death, evil, and mystery therefore this will help the selling of the magazine as it gives the magazine a sense of mystery.
Kerrang magazine also has a main story of a band (Biffy Clyro). The trade mark for this magazine is Kerrang this is used to catch the readers eye because it is a very well known and is easy to identify. The main image is placed in front of the trademark again because they sell the story more then the trademark. Kerrang is well known for its well known bands coverage this is why it as been known as a The picture is also a mid shot and is the placed in the center of the magazine and behind the text explain what the picture is going to be about in the magazine.
Unlike Q this magazine has more then one sub story and has placed them at the bottom of the magazine due to the main story more of a selling point. Although both magazines use the same idea of highlighting the bands names to catch the reader. Kerrang use a pug consisting of a free poster which they have put in bold white writing and have placed a red paint stroke behind. Also at the bottom is an another selling point of the magazine, by using the main bands that are in the magazine.
The contents page
Kerrang’s contents page is always packed fall of what’s happening in the magazine. It is very tidally set out in order for the reader to understand it. When a topic for a number of pages is being shown it is highlighted. This is a good way to keep the reader engage, in order for them not to get confused and draw them away from the magazine. From the contents you can see that the magazine talks about bands and such things as up coming gigs.
But they are about different subjects on each band such as live reviews on fall out boy and feature on Biffy Clyro. In the content on the top left it gives you a sneak insight on what the next kerrang magazine is going to look like and what it is going to be about. This helps the selling of their magazine by allowing the reader to know what that next magazine is going to look Like and they will notice in it the shop rather quickly. This increase the chance of the reader buying the next magazine. All the pictures of the bands tend to be mid shots which allows the reader to identify the band easily if that does not work their names are just below in bold clear writing making it easy for the reader to read. Altogether the magazine is very simple and plain in order too allow the reader to find an article clearly.
The double page spread
These two pages advertise the band’s new album this is what Kerrang magazine tends to do they will have an exclusive interview or information on a particular band and they will write about them and what they have been doing and what they will do. Kerrang’s double page spread usually consists of a main large picture a few medium sized picture and then article talking about the topic which. the main pictures tend to take up most of the page on the left with the writing and the few pictures on the right page. Within the setup and pictures of the double page spread, where the article is expressed as a “World Exclusive”, makes it seem unique and special, where it is only available to the readers of ‘Kerrang’-it is also emphasized that the band has “invited” the magazine specially to their recording studio, so that readers can get an insight into the life of a famous band and the ‘celebrity lifestyle’-increasing fandom for the band. on the left hand side of the double page spread there is a teaser section of which it talks about the new songs which are going to be in the album making the audience think they are getting a sneak preview of there album before anyone else.Each of these pictures has been manipulated, to create a black and white effect, which matches the dark (almost gothic) emotional rock style of the band and its music. This is complemented by the bright red colour of certain text on the double page, which also relates to the bands style, with connotations of anger, blood and excitement.
Magazine research 1(Q)
Magazine research 1(Q)
Q is a very well known magazine, it is a very simple magazine which is designed for all genres of music. It uses basic colour such as read, white and yellow this is due to the magazine tries to sell it self by the stories like the Coldplay exclusive. This will draw the reader in very quickly if they find the band interesting to them.
Q’s trademark is in this top left hand corner, it is placed clearly in a specific place in all their magazines in order for readers to easily identify it. Although it is placed just behind the band and a small pug which has been placed in front of the trademark in order for readers to notice them both more clear in order for the reader to no what the magazine stories contain. In this magazine the center of visual interest is the exclusive story of Coldplay.
They have used a very plain but bold and large text ( large then all the other texts of the front cover) so that the story is clear for the reader. The different colour on the name Coldplay identifies the main thing / band being spoken about in the magazine.
The picture of Coldplay is a mid shot and is placed in the center of the magazine behind the text. The picture takes up most of the magazine due to they are the main story. The text is placed in the center of the picture in-order to see it clearly, also to make the face of the Coldplay band members easy to see.
The dateline for the magazine is placed under the trademark along with the price this allows the reader to know when the magazine was published for.
To the left of the magazine their is a sub story, The sub story is very noticeable due to they have made a specific name of a band (U2) very clear and noticeable in order for the reader to notice the story.
At the bottom of the magazine is a follow up. This is of all the gigs, albums film and DVD s that have recently been, the magazine rates them and allows reader to find out what bands ect are good to see or buy. The reader will want to buy the magazine in order for them to know if a gig is good enough to go to or not.
In conclusion this magazine is very basic and simple but sells it self though the use of its stories. It use’s big fonts on specific bands in-order to gain the readers attention. I feel this is something i will need to do with my magazine because it seems to be a way this magazine engages its readers. As the stories are interesting to the reader i do not have exclusive on popular bands so i will need to make up an interesting story in-order to make my audience want to read it.
Q’s contents magazine is simple just like the front cover it has a main image on the contents of James Blunt this shows he is the main story of the magazine. The logo or masthead is kept in the top left just like the front cover in order too make it easy to locate at all time. The contents splits it’s list in to two part you have the features and the every month. Features is the new stuff which are in the magazine such the bands and gigs. It allows reader to go straight to specific topics in order for them to read what they want. i feel that this contents page is very lacking in trying to wow the reader and therefore i will not use this so much as a guild line for my magazine.
The double page spread
The double page spread again splits it’s self into two part you have the main picture on the left hand side and the text on the right. This seems to be quite common for music magazines. The picture is of born to run the picture of them is of them standing in front of a ruff untidy area. This is to keep with the bands rep i.e quite rebelic. The layout of the text tends to go with that theme by not making the blue background tidy and putting it at an angle. this allows the audience to think that the band is different and don’t play by the rules.The colours that are used are white, red and grey; I think this makes the magazine look quite serious in order for the picture and article to have more of an affect to the reader. Again i feel this magazine is not really affective towards the reader and it is very bland.
ideas
my idea’s for my magazine
Main task: design the front page, contents and double page spread of a new music magazine (if done as a group task, each member of the group to produce an individual edition of the magazine, following the same house style). All images and text used must be original, produced by the candidate(s), minimum of four images per candidate.
Idea 1
Doc’s Diagnostic: Looking into the depth of band
My first idea is to have a magazine that looks at all genres of music. This is a magazine which looks into the depth of bands and what they really do and think also upcoming gigs etc. I’ll be keeping with a colour theme of white.
Idea 2:
Clash of the bands
This magazine is also a magazine looking at all genre of music but will look at conflict between bands and different music’s such as; Metal and rock, RnB and crunk.
idea 3: \m/
This magazine is going to be your normal magazine like Kerrang. it will have the same basic layout with the main band of the magazine at the front and sub story’s on the side. the name of the magazine is \m/ which is the rock sign.
what I think?
I personally feel that a rock magazine such as Kerrang or an all round music magazine like Q is the way to go due to it gives me more of a wide range of techniques to use on my front cover and many different styles. I will being researching all magazine in order, to find out what they all have in common and what makes them unique and successful.
