Main Task: Interview with my target audience

Interview with my Target Audience

This interview was taken with Dean Curran and David Hutchings

Front Cover: The first question was about the colour of the cover. It was described as being dark and shady, which suits the theme of my magazine, the use of red was connoted as symbolizing blood or danger. The second question was about the typography. The title and Masthead stand out with the black/white 3D effect, I did this so it would stand out more on the shelves (so it would literally pop out) it suits the cover image with the use of Gothic text and also suits the moody rock theme. Some extra comments included; they both like the use of threshold on my central image, the cover lines could be stronger and bigger and it could look cleaner and more professional. While vague the advice to make the cover more professional was useful since I decided to add a banner to the cover after that, since most covers I studied included a banner (if the masthead didn't cover the very top of the cover)

Double Page Spread;  The first question was about the colour of the pages: it was described as being bland, compared to the rest of my pages which included a lot of colour but the one section of colour placed behind my text was decent and similar to the rest of my pages, I just needed to make it bigger. The Typography doesn't match the rest of the magazine, I believed showing contrast between my pages would allow for the pages to seem more appealing, I was wrong. so I got the same fonts as my front cover and contents page, The images images were nicely edited but needed more with colour, I believe that the black and white images should stay since it suits the theme of the magazine and contrasts the other pages, which both include colour. Because of my feedback I decided to make the red and black pattern behind my text bigger, changed the position of one of my images as well as changed the font of my title to the same as my  front cover (or something similar)

Contents Page; Firstly the colour matches the rest of my magazine and was used effectively to separate different texts as well as made the background more appealing, but the red box (behind one of my texts) felt out of place since there was a red/black pattern placed behind it, so i made the text bold and white so it would be easier to see in front of the pattern. The typography was good since they were similar to the front cover but the contrast between the texts doesn't suit the page well, the titles are good and similar to cover, since they also include a 3D effect which makes the page stand out. The images create atmosphere and show that its a music magazine well as well as shows the genre due to the colour effect on guitar (coloured guitar with a black and white background behind it)

Main Task: Music Magazine Contents Page Final Product

James Donovan Contents Page (Final)

This is my final product for my Contents Page:

For my layout I tried to make this page more organised and 'boxy' instead of the way my other pages were laid out, this makes this page different from the others yet follows the same themes and style as the other pages, this is also laid out similarly to another contents page I have studied, it was highly information based yet was vibrant and colourful. From the feedback I received I tried to make sure I kept a similar colour scheme as the rest of my pages, I added an image which showed that it was a music magazine since the rest of the images in my magazine mostly consist of actors. I made sure the typography was similar to the rest of the magazine (similar fonts, colours and effects) In the end I think this contents page turned out well, It has went through a lot  of changes and has been developed into a contents page suitable for my music magazine. 

Main Task: Music Magazine Double Page Spread Final Product

James Donovan Double Page Spread (Final)

This is the Final product of my Double Page Spread

I started with my Image, I decided to keep with the same theme as my front covers central image by making the image a Threshold, but this time I made the image black and white to make it different from the cover. I also made my title try to stand out as much as possible, without it colliding with the text and images. So I made one part of the title 3D (like the masthead on the cover) but the other part in colour and 2D, this is to add contrast in the typography, it is also similar to another double page spread that I studied, this page featured a title that was a quote from the artist featured in their magazine, their titles typography was also similar to my title since it also had contrasting fonts and colours in each word. For my text I featured an interview with the artist featured in the main image, to make it stand out I originally placed black boxes behind the text but it wasn't appealing to the eye and looked out of the place from the rest of the page, instead I created my own pattern in Photoshop out of red and black brush presets, this was to make the boxes similar to the colour scheme on the cover.  

Main Task: Music Magazine Front Cover Final Product

James Donovan Front Cover (Final)

This is the final version of my front cover.

I decided to use rock as my genre, the style of rock I was looking for was moody and dark. The Central image is a Threshold, I chose red and black because they both add a dark yet artistic use of colour to the cover when used together. The Masthead is supposed to be large, bold and eye catching in order to stand out, all of the mastheads I studied from other music magazines featured a large masthead that went across the top of the page, the best ones (in my opinion) were in 3D, so I added a shadow affect by copying a white version of the masthead and placing it over the black one, this created an effect that added to the theme of the cover as well as made the masthead stand out without looking odd or out of place. I used the same method for my Headline which is smaller and placed in the middle of the page.  I tried to make sure the headline didn't collide with the main parts (the models) of the central image so I placed it where nothing else was placed rather than having empty space. The Cover Lines and Banner are not as bold as the masthead and headline, this is to add contrast between the texts, the uses of fonts and scales make the typography stand out. 

Questionnaire Results

For my questionnaire I asked 15 people to look at three front covers of music magazines, based off of different genres of music.

The first question asks about the age of the viewer: the majority of people answered 10-16. a couple people answered 17-20 and a few others answered 31-40

The second question asks the question (which would be the basis for the rest of the questions) which front cover was their favorite... I have created a pie hart displaying the result I received.

Question 3 asks if the typography grabs the readers attention, most people who answered put yes, mostly due to the sizes, fonts and colours. 

Question 4 asks if the central image is interesting, those who chose rolling stone as their preferred cover mostly answered yes due to its creative/unique style.

Question 5 asks if the colour of the made their proffered magazine made the magazine stand out, most people answered yes but one person answered no; their preferred magazine was form Classic Rock which has an image of Axle Rose in front of a black screen, so can agree that there is a lack of colour (comparing to the other covers)

Question 6 asks if the magazine is considered eye catching, most people answered yes due to many different reasons. People who chose RollingStone mostly said it was because of the collage style and creativity, people who chose Classic Rock said it was because of the artist used in the central image, the person who chose Metal Hammer said it was because of the genre of music.

Question 7 asks if the layout of the page is decent, all of the covers have a similar layout; a central image with a direct mode of view, cover lines on each side and a large masthead that goes across the top of the page. So everyone who took the questionnaire answered yes 

Question 8 asks who the target audience for the selected cover is, most people, who chose RollingStone or Classic Rock, said it would most likely be fans of the artist featured in the central image.

Question 9 asked if the central image is appropriate for the cover, most people answered yes  because they all featured an image of the artists in the headline. 

Question 10 asks what does the headline say and what does it mean, the covers all talk about the artist featured in the image, but RollingStone's headline is different, it calls Jay Z the 'king of america' meaning hes successful or at the top of his game.

Question 11 asks if the cover features enough information about the contents of the magazine, all answered yes, because all three of the covers feature a decent number of cover lines.

Main Task: Music Magazine Double Page Spread

This is how I designed my Double Page Spread, I used Photoshop and Indesign to create this document.

 This first image is of me, we took this picture in town. Firstly I removed my spots, blackheads and any other marks with the 'Spot Healing' tool. Then I made the image monochrome by selecting 'Image' then the 'Black/White' option.

 This next image is of David, we took this picture in the green screen room, First I made the image into a Threshold; I did this by selecting 'Image' 'Adjustments' then 'Threshold'. After that I removed any of the shaded parts of the green screen by selecting them with the 'Magic Wand' tool then colouring the selected parts in white with a brush tool.

Here I added my Background to my Double page spread, I chose this image because the Threshold is similar to my front covers image. I also started to add my basic text (meaning where I roughly plan to put my text)

I began to add my actual text as well as boxes that would be placed behind the text, making it stand out. I put the boxes behind the text by making sure the text is at the front, I did this by right clicking on the text box then selecting 'Arrange' then 'Send to front' I also added a couple of my images but removed one of them since I wanted to place it on my contents page instead

 

 

 Here I moved the text in order to fit in with the page, I also made the text wrap around the two images in the page. I began to create my headline, in every music related double page spread I studied the headline was a quote or statement by the artists featured in the magazine, so I created two different copies Title and made one of them white, I then placed the white text in front of the black to add a 3d effect, this is similar to the masthead on my front cover. I then made the rest of the text 2d and changed the colour to red to add contrast between the text in the title.

 

Here I added the same pattern of my contents page onto my double page spread, I used this behind my text instead of a blank box to make the page more eye catching as well as keep a constant theme going throughout my three pages; Thresholds, Black and White or Red

 

 Here I began to make my final image for my double page spread, I chose a drum set because I had to put more music related images in my magazine. I started to remove the text with the 'Spot Healing' tool, then, to keep with the theme, I made the image monochrome.

 
 

This is the final product of my Double Page Spread, I decided to make the central image the main focus of the page with the text being based around the "Artist" featured in the image, this is similar to other double page spreads I studied, I made sure my typography and imagery suited the theme I went for in the rest of my magazine. 

 

 

Main Task: Music Magazine Contents Page

 This is how I designed my Contents Page, for this project I used Photoshop and In-Design to make my images and the the Contents Page.

 This first image I wanted to turn into Monochrome, I did this by selecting 'Image' then selecting the 'Black and White' option.

This image I also wanted to turn into Monochrome, again  I did this by selecting 'Image' then selecting the 'Black and White' option, after doing so I noticed the scratches and marks on the horse statue stood out more while in black and white, so I adjusted the 'brightness and contrast' to firstly hide the marks, this made the image too dark, then I decided to use this to make the marks stand out more, I did this because the scratches and marks made the statue look older which suits the dull theme I wanted for my Magazine. 

This next image I wanted as a background Image, the cracked stones adds to the dull and 'edgy' theme that I wanted for my magazine, I started by making the cracks and marks in the wall darker and stand out more from the rest of the wall, I did this by selecting one of the larger parts of one of the cracks with the 'Magic Wand' tool, Then I selected all of the other cracks by going into 'Select' then 'Similar' this highlighted all of the cracks, then with the Paint Brush and the desired shade of black I coloured in the rest of the cracks

Here I started to make my contents page, I estimated that I would need Four Columns. I began by placing a title spelling 'Contents' and I used a font similar to the fonts featured on my Front Cover, I began planning ahead placing a background to the text of my contents page, so I only placed a 'Rectangle Frame' tool behind the text, I did that by right clicking on the box, selecting 'Arrange' then 'Sent to Back'. I also added my first image to my contents page, I did this by placing a 'Rectangle Frame' then selecting 'File' then 'Place' then selected the desired image.

 I then began to add colour to my boxes, I did this by selecting the box then changing the colour from the toolbar. I began to add the names of the "Bands and Artists" featured in my magazine.

I added a Backdrop to my Contents Page, I did this by making a 'Rectangle Frame' then going into 'File' then 'Place' then selecting the image I wanted with the box already selected. I also added another Image and I added another Background for the text on the lower part of the page as well as wrote down my contents.









Here I began to create a Background with a colour scheme that is similar to my Front cover; to get the right shade of red I placed a screenshot of my front cover into Photoshop, then when I selected my brush colour, I clicked on the red in the cover to get the same colour.

Then, using the 'Paint Bucket' tool I covered the entire page in the same shade of red that is in my front cover. then using a brush pre-set, I covered the image in black spots which is a pattern I intend to use behind my text in my other pages as well, to keep with a consistent pattern and colour scheme

When I put the pattern behind my image and text I added a red box to go in front of the pattern but behind the text, this is so the text can be read clearly.

Here I copied a new version of my title and made it white, this was so I could create a 3d effect that I have used for my masthead in my front cover, only this time the colours are reversed, this is to make the title of this page different from the masthead if only slightly.

I also did the 3d effect to the 'Features' and added a black box behind the 'Artist Featured' to make the text easier to read in front of the stone background.

 Here I began to create my final image for my contents page, which would replace the image of the horse since it has nothing to do with music, with this image I wanted the background to be in black and white but the guitar to be in colour.

I did this by cropping out the guitar with the 'Lasso' tool, ten one the image was fully cropped I copied and pasted it into a new layer. Then I made the background black and white on its separate layer.

After placing the image into the page I was nearly finished with my contents page, until I realised that the contents themselves were barely visible and  were missing the page numbers, I added them in in big bold writing and the same font as my front covers Masthead.





This is the final product of my Contents page, in the end I am happy with how this turned out, I made it similar to the rest of my magazine with the colour scheme and typography as well as the images used (the use of monochrome)