Wednesday, 12 May 2010

Tuesday, 16 March 2010

Wednesday, 10 February 2010

Evaluation
I worked in a group with two other people. We did one magazine but worked on three different issues together, We all contributed different ideas and helped each other throughout the process of making these issues. We researched different genres of music magazines and decided to create a magazine with a urban-pop genre.
In what ways does your media product, use, develop or challenge forms and conventions or real media products?
My magazine follows the conventions that adhere to the genre of a music magazine, On all of our front covers we incorporated the same masthead, and then a different image, strap line and kicker, so each issue had the same house style. Our content pages all have the same layout but have different contents, images and colours, We all kept a black a white background for a familiar colour scheme throughout which will be recognisable for the reader, We then decided to add a different colour to each if the issues to make the magazines slightly individual. We all chose to do different layouts for our double page spreads as magazines rarely have the same layout for every single issue of there magazine, We wanted to show that we had thought about this, but the consistency was obvious through the white and black theme.
How does your media product represent particular social groups?
From the research we undertook as a group we found that urban-pop genre magazines undertook the following conventions; they include a masthead, strap lines and a kicker that anchors the main images, also they include pugs and skylines, these were all effective as they attract the audience’s attention with there font and colours. After looking at all this we decided to base our front cover on these conventions: bright colours, bold font, a busy front cover, funky dressed models etc. We started by taking photos for our main image and picking the one that best suited each issue, and which fitted on the page using rule of thirds because that was a convention that was seen throughout all the different magazines we researched. Rule of thirds is when a person within a image is placed in a certain position that helps you structure your composition in a balanced way that pleases the eye. As a group we took a lot of photos to experiment with and decide where the models should be positioned in the photo and what they should be wearing, We all put a lot of thought into the photographs as the main image is one of the most important things on the front cover of a magazine as its one of the first thing that the audience will be drawn to when looking at the magazine. We kept our masthead the same, using a font which looked edgy and retro because urban magazines kept their masthead looking unique and edgy which made the magazine look more interesting and contemporary. The font we used as a group is big and bold to make it stand out and attract the audiences attention, we changed the colour of the font depending on the colour of the background so that it contrasted and make it stand out on the page, Also with my kicker I tilted it to the side slightly to make it look quite untidy, I also added graffiti around the kicker to make it looked messy and rebellious to target our audience. I also The strap lines and pugs on magazines all represent what is included inside the magazine, we followed this convention because we wanted our magazine to look realistic.
Who would be the audience for your media product and how did you attract/address your audience?
Our magazine genre is urban-pop, this is a modern genre which attracts 18-25 years old females who are into fashion, going out, socialising with friends and who are quite rebellious. Our magazines attract this type of target audience because the photographs are funky and modern and are mainly of women who are fashionably dressed in 1980‘s style clothing. Which our audience will aspire to be like. I carefully chose what the model was wearing for my main image. I chose modern and original clothing which would appeal to my audience. I knew that this technique would work as the audience im reaching out to are unique and individual. It also works for many magazines, Especially NME which is magazine i based my Ideas on. I also chose to take a medium shot for my main image as it was direct and personal to the audience. Also my strap lines and kickers are big and bold to catch my target audience’s eyes. The information and details within the magazine relate and attract young vibrant and retro social groups. As a group we attracted and addressed our audience by keeping the magazine busy and full of things that young people like to read about. It also attracts our audience because it looks like you get a lot for your money as the magazine front cover is full and busy. The main image on my front cover is of a solo artist who young females would aspire to be like appealing to their fashion, attitude and career. The interviews and articles that are on my double page spreads include questions and information about my solo artist which people would really want to know, as it is interesting and exciting information, and gossip that everyone talks about. The layout of my magazine has quite a few layers on it, I have over lapped my images onto to section where my interview is, I have also slanted the images to not make it look neat and tidy as this magazine is targeting modern and funky social groups.
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
IPC media time ink would distribute our magazine as it is a well known established publishing firm that publishes only popular magazines. Our magazine has all the conventions of a genuine music magazine and would definitely sell copies as its modern and eye catching. Also NME uses this publishing firm which is the magazine I’ve been basing my magazine and issues on.
What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
During this project I have used different types of technologies for example: cameras and Photoshop. I had a lot of experience on Photoshop before the start of this project as I used it a lot when I was doing my double art and design gcse’s. I have definitely gained a lot of knowledge whilst constructing this product for instance I now know how to upload and process video clips and photographs onto a computer this is valuable knowledge for everyday life. I also used new tools in photoshop for instance the clone tool and lasso tool. I used these tools when I was creating my kicker and straplines. as well as this i tried out new effects on images to help me decide if I wanted to use them on my final piece.Looking back at your preliminary task,
What do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
Before creating my music magazine I conducted a lot of research about different genres of music magazines, there conventions, the way they present there front cover, th way things are placed etc. This has helped me and my group create a better magazine as I learnt about new things I wouldn’t’t have known before the research. For example how to attract the audience with things such as what the model is wearing, slogans and colours.



Wednesday, 16 December 2009



This is my completed double page spread. I have added writing since my last stage. I have written the questions in a light grey colour and the answers in white to show the difference between the question and the answer which will make it easier for the reader to read and understand. Although i have five different colours on this page they all compliment each other which makes the colour scheme work.

This is my first stage to my double page spread. I am planning to write on the big black block in the middle of the page. I will be writing in white font so it stands out. Althrough my magazine i have kept to the same colours this is so the pages flow on from each other and the reader reconises this magazine issue by the colours. I have also added three images onto my double page spread, I didnt add alot of photographs because i didnt want my page to be cluttered with images. I also added a boarder around the images to add more bright colours to the page and to make the images look neat.
This is my final stage to my contents magazine. I have added three images to the right hand side of the page, I choose to put the images on the black background to make them stand out as the photographs are quite colourful. The photograps are of males and females at parties having fun. I have also added page numbers and details of what the magazine contains. I have kept my colour scheme from the front cover through to the contents page.

Monday, 14 December 2009


This is the second stage to my contents magazine. As you can see i have added the subtitles to my contents. The magazine is full of a range of things interviews that lastest news, reviews etc.


This is the first stage for my contents page. i have split the page into two section one one side is black the other is white. I have done this because i am going to put my wirting on one side of the page and my images on the other. I have also written un-luggeds initials to show the audience that even though the masthead has been shotened it is still a reconisable successful magazine.



This is my final magazine front cover. Since my last stage i have added more straplines, an issue date and a pug. My pug will attract people to it straight away as it is bold and there is a prize to win. My magazine is issue two out of three magazines that my group have created. Along the right hand side i have added well known artists names to attract people to my magazine and show them that it hip and up to date. I have also added "Misfits" which is a band we made up for another issue of our magazine. I have made the "25" blue to tie in with the colour scheme and to also make it stand out as it is an important strapline.

This is my third stage to my front cover. I have now added a kicker and strapline along the bottom of the page. I choose to write "Goldieeloxx" big and bold beacuse the interview with golideeloxx is going to be on my double page spread and i thought it was a main feature of the magazine. The graffiti effect i have gone for with the Golideeloxx kicker is ment to make the magazine trendy and fresh and atrract out target aundience 16-25's, it also looks very interesting. I went with greys and white for my font as it would show up well on the black background of my strapline.

This is the second stage of my magazine front cover i have added tht masthead. The title of my magazine is "un-plugged" we choose this title as a group as it relates to music, I choose a blue and white colour for the mast head as the model is wearing blue and white in her outfit and so there not to many colours being used.

Wednesday, 2 December 2009


This is the image i started off with for my magazine front cover. I have decided to change my whole layout of my magazine cover i have previously uploaded. I am now keeping the brick wall as my background for my main image this is because as i am working in a group the magazines will go much better together if i keep this background instead of a plain block colour this is because our magazine theme is urban and vibrant.

Monday, 23 November 2009

I have choose this background colour as the models clothes and the background colour compliment each other. I have also added a bar code onto the bottom right hand corner this is to make it look realistic and professional. The masthead It large and bold to stand out i choose the colour white beacuse it blends in with the colour scheme. All three of my groups magazines have some part of the masthead covered this is so well known and popular with readers and can be reconised without all of the word showing.

Wednesday, 18 November 2009


This is one of the photos we took, and as a group we considered it for the front cover. We liked the colourful costumes and the background wasn't too busy. We also liked the relaxed and urban poses of the models. However we decided not to use this image because one of the girls is already used in one of our other front covers in the same outfit, and we have to have 3 different issues of the magazine with 3 different images.


This is one of the photographs we considered as a front cover for our magazines. We liked this image as the back ground and the bright funky clothes on the model contrast with each other and make the model the main featue of the magazine. It also looks urban which ties in with the genre of the magazine. This image has the conventions of a normal magazine (rule of third) However the reason we never choose this image was beacuse we wanted the model to be on the other side of the camera shot so it would be simple to put he strapline on the left handside.