First finished magazine cover draft

Main Image- Draft

Draft

Analysis of a double page spread

The main image is of Shakira who appears to be in a recording studio, this gives the impression that Shakira is serious about her music career, however she appears relaxed with her feet up which implys she enjoys her work and feels comfortable in the studio. The word "Danger!" is part of the title and it is strategically placed where Shakira's red shoe's are which is an implication of danger. Another image on the spread is one of her looking over her shoulder with her hand coming around her waist as if like a claw which gives Shakira an animalistic impression, also, in quotes it says "I now go after my desires in a predatory way- with teeth and claws", this adds to the animalistic quality about her.

Analysis of a contents page

Q magazine stick with its main theme of red, black and white. The logo of the red and white "Q" is near the top alone with, in black and white, the word "CONTENTS", alone with the date, website and MySpace page.
The page is over taken by the main image which is the band The Courteeners, the connotation behind this is that the main feature in the magazine is the popular band and it is to show off the fact that they have a feature on them. The image of the band is a neutral setting off a hill and field, their costume is simple and casual in monochromatic colours which implys they ahve a relaxed carefree atitude.

Music Magazine Cover Analysis

Q Magazine is one of the UK’s leading music magazines, it was also one of the first UK music magazines to be published. Q also has a music channel on UK TV which proves it’s popularity.

The mast head "Q" is situated on the top left hand corner, the background being red and the letter "Q" in white which contrast with each other. The colour red is also a passionate colour which insinuates a passion for music. The letter could stand for many things, one of them being Quality as in Quality music. In actuality the magazine was first set to be called “Cue” as in “cueing a record” however it was changed to the single letter of “Q” to make it look more prominent on news stands. The type of font an elegant calligraphy giving the notion that the magazine is to a high standard. The mast head is slightly covered by the main image of Lily Allen, this insinuates that the magazine is popular enough to be able to recognise it despite it not being the completely on show.

The main image is of a popular music artist, Lily Allen. Her costume is minimal yet expresses a lot. She is positioned with her back to the camera and looking over her shoulder with a finger at her lips and one hand on her hip and her relaxed yet sensual expression, this gives a sexual impression. The costumes she wears on her lower half are strategically chosen, because she is topless the thick black tights with the hot pants and high heels make her look sexy and powerful, however if she were to not wear the tights she may be considered to look slutty and too revealing. Also the print on the hot pants draw attention to that area on her body. The two puma's in the main image add an exotic element to the cover, these animals are strong feline’s which gives the impression that Lily Allen is a feminine woman yet powerful.

The main cover line is located on the centre of the main image with the words in bold black and white capitals “LILY ALLEN” which lap over her derriere. The whole main cover line is “SEXY BEAST LILY ALLEN & HER WICKED WAYS…”, the colours are black white red and blue, the white red and blue link to the fact that Lily Allen is British and Q is a British magazine. The words “sexy beast” relate to the two puma’s and the sexiness of the main image. The words “& her wicked ways” draws readers in because it would make the readers want to know about why her “ways are wicked”.

The cover lines include the names of big, popular and well known bands in bold black capital letters with a blue arrow pointing towards them on each, this draws attention the big name bands rather than the information of what is inside the magazine about these bands which is in a much smaller font.

Music Magazine cover analysis

Kerrang! is a rock music magazine. The magazines name is onomatopoeic and it refers to the sound made when playing a power chord on an electric guitar

The mast head 'KERRANG!' is situated at the very top of the magazine cover, the black and white monochromatic contrasting colours stand out against each other therefore it would be eye-catching against other magazines on a shop stand, the image has the appearance and effect of cracked glass therefore adding to it's rock theme.

The main image is the famous rock band Green day. The bands hair, make-up and costume harmonise with the mast head with the main colours being black and white. The front man of the band, Billie Joe Armstrong is placed in the middle with the other two band member, Tre Cool and Mike Dirnt placed either side of the front man farther into the background, this ensures the audience knows who the front man and main person of the band is. Billie Joe is dressed in all black with black hair, leather jacket, eyeliner and a pale complexion, this emphasises the fact that this is a rock band, the other two band members are similarly dressed which adds to their rock image again. The band members that are farther in the background have complacent yet confident expressions, however Billie Joe has an arrogant maybe cocky expression, the readers may interpret this as him thinking he knows they are a very popular and successful band.

The cover lines include the names of music artists inside the4 magazine and down the left hand side it has pictures of various artists with a bright red border making it stand out against the black and white theme, above it says 'DOWNLOAD POSTER SPECIAL!'

The main cover line is placed just with the main image in bold white which contrasts with the black of Billie Joe's jacket. The main cover line says 'GREEN DAY' in bold white capitals with 'EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE PUNK MEGASTARS!' also in white capitals only much smaller. The word 'YOU' is in italics to emphasise the fact that it is the readers involvement in the magazine which could draw people in because the readers may want to know what other readers asked the band and if their questions have been answered by the band.

Conventions of a Magazine

The mast head is the title of the magazine normally situated near the top of the magazine.
The dateline displays the day month and year the magazine was published, although monthly magazines are published a month before the start date. It is usually placed with the price.
A main image consists of a model, often a celebrity making eye contact with thr camera.
Cover lines tell the reader what is inside the magazine without them having to open the magazine. They are placed around the outer edge of the cover.
The main cover line is a much bigger cover line or the main story which takes up about a quarter of the area.
A selling line is a short, sharp description of the title's main marketing point or perhaps setting out its editorial philosophy.

LIIAR

Language- Media language sends a message to the audience through visuals and sound such as images and video's.
Ideology- Ideology is a set of aims and ideas that directs one's goals, expectations, and actions.
Institution- The orginisation of the magazine.
Audience- The readers/consumers of the product.
Representation- How the ideology of the product is shown.

Music Magazine Brief

Our main task is to create the front page, contents and double page spread of a new music magazine. All of the images I use will be a mimimum of four original, produced and taken by myself, all text will also original and written by only me.

Final College Magazine Cover

My original plan was to use bright eye catching colours however after looking at my main image I realised neutral colours would work best therefore I went for autumn yellows, oranges and burgundies on the mast head and the cover lines to go with the gold chair, brown wooden table and the models auburn hair.
I wanted my model to look as if she was hard at work, I feel that she does look hard at work yet relaxed and in a calm atmosphere.
Firstly I edited the brightness and contrast on Adobe Photoshop, then used Publisher to add the mast head, cover lines, security code, date and the other decoration.
A weakness on my college magazine cover is the red-eyes on the model that I couldn't get rid of. Also I found it difficult to find a font for the cover lines so I ended up just using word art because it is a simple font. I think that another weakness is that it does not look like a realistic college magazine cover. I think that one of the strengths it that the colours of the mast head and cover lines and main image all match together in neutral colours, however it may not appeal to some students as it is not vibrant or eye catching.
When I do my music magazine cover I will take more consideration into costume and setting, and possibly do more planning and research on different types of music magazines. I will also look more into a particular theme of music, for example, pop, rock, R ‘n’ B, jazz and I will make sure it looks obvious that my cover is in that theme.
I originally wanted my model to be smiling while doing her work or holding a book to show she has an enthusiasm for learning however considering the colours and the lighting of the room it did not look right or natural for the model to be smiling therefore I had the model looking concentrative and focused on her work, which I still think appeals to my target audience -student with an eagerness for learning- because she has the look of a hard worker.
My time management could be improved when I start planning and creating my music magazine cover. I managed my time well when I was researching existing college magazine covers. However when I drew up my hand draft I forgot to upload it and instead uploaded two IT drafts first, then I uploaded my mood board and then my hand drawn draft so it is out of order. I was in a slight rush to take my main photograph because I kept forgetting to take my camera to college to take a photograph of somebody so I ended up taking a photograph at home. I would have like to have taken a photograph of somebody in the library with a book shelf as the background however since I took the photograph at home I was not equipped with a book case at home so I had to settle for a plain background. All in all I will definitely take more care, time and consideration into my time management when doing my music magazine cover.

Hand drawn college magazine cover

Contents Draft

College magazine mock ups

For my real college magazine cover I will have the Wyke main building.

Target Audience

My target audience will obviously be Wyke students however in particular students with an enthusiasm for learning and their studies because my model will be holding a book and smiling to suggest her love for knowledge.

My college magazine cover will consist of

bright eye catching colours to make is stand out. I willbe using one main model in a close up shot holding a book which insinuates an aptitude for learning and books.

College Magazine Cover Analysis

The masthead of the college magazine cover is in two contrasting colours, lime green and pink, these colours would stand out on a stand against others, these colours also suggest fun and enjoyment becaause of the brightness in the colours. The dateline, fitted in the mast head is simle in white yet is easily visable against the lime green. The two models in the main image have an expression of happiness and excitment, which connotatively give the impression of energized students in high spirits making the college apealing to other would be students who enjoy the socialising aspect of college. The art work behind the models is bright and full of colours which will give readers the impression this college is art based. Nowhere on the photograph does it give away that it is a college magazine, for example there are no books or computers, it also give no insinuation that these students are student or student who are hard workers.
The information for the inside of the magazine is shown on the cover, showing only the interesting parts, this would make people want to read on.

College Magazine Analysis

The title of the college magazine, the mast head is placed on the top centre of the cover, the bright yellow colour stands out because of the contrast between the yellow of the title and the brown colour behind it which goes with the nuetral theme, the font is a fancy calligraphy making the college seem a high standard.
The model appears to be laid down with books as her pillows and listening to her ipod, this could give the impresson that she is a fairly inattentive and unfocused student, however her appearance, clean-cut, smart looking and well presented suggests she is smart enough to not need to work as hard. Her relaxed ambience insinuates an easygoing, ejoyable, carefree college atmosphere.
The sell line 'Class of 2009' but emphasise on '2009' by colouring it in white whereas the 'Class of' is in yellow to match with the mast head.
The information on the inside of the magazine cover is shown on the cover, situated on the left centre.

Other examples

Examples of College Magazine covers

Research and planning

I must;

• Research into similar products and a potential target audience.
• Organisation of models, locations, costumes or props.
• Work on layouts, drafting and mood boards.
• Evidence of time management.
• Use of digital technology or ICT in the presentation.

Brief
I will be creating two magazines. The preliminary task is to create the front cover for a college magazine. For the main task I will be creating a front cover, contents and double page spread of a music magazine.