Finished contents page

This is my finished contents page. Although it is quite simple, I like this as I think it is not too overwhelming for the reader and allows them to easily navigate the magazine. I have kept my design to the way I planned it in my flat plan by continuously comparing their layouts and I chose to use fonts that had been used on the front cover. I chose to do this as it would keep the contents page intergrated with the front cover and it would look more professional. I also used a website which allowed me to create a signature to use to end my 'Note from the editor' section. I decided to do this as I have seen it used in many current magazines which inspired me to try it in mine.

Update

So far I have currently completed my front cover and I am currently constructing my contents page. I think I am on track to meet the deadline for this.

Update: 4th December

I have finished my contents page on my deadline and have uploaded it to my blog. I am currently starting to compose my double page spread and I am on target to meet my deadline.

Front Cover rationale

My front cover will include a masthead the top thirds of the page. I will do this in red as I think this will help it stand out and be more prominent to the viewer. It also fits in with my genre and the colour scheme I plan to use for the front cover.

I will be using one main image of my model to cover the full page. I like the look this has better than using multiple images. I will cover the main image slightly with the main sell line which I will put in colours that fit with my colour scheme and in tones that fit with my genre that will have been suggested in questionnaires I will conduct.

The left hand side of the page will be dedicated to the contents in the magazine other than the main feature that will be advertised separately. I will advertise things that I think will entice readers such as popular bands, free posters and festival must haves.

The bottom left third will include essential information such as the barcode, date, issue number and price. These are very important but I will make them small so they do not take up to much attention as they are not an essential attraction. I will also include the magazines website, however I will put it under the masthead in the top right third. The bottom right third will include a puff which may entice readers to buy the magazine. I would do a competition of some sort to win tickets to see a popular band. I would do this as I have seen it in many magazines and it seems to be quite successful.

Contents page rational

My contents page will include a banner across the top thirds of the page. It will show my masthead, a contents title and magazine information as well as the website link. I have seen it done in many magazines and think it looks professional so I want to project that from my magazine also. I will also include a note from the editor as I think it gives a personal feel and creates a direct tone with the reader.

There will be a large image on the right hand side that will be related to my main feature with the page number located on the bottom left side of the image with the caption. This keeps the feature as the main focus and can help readers easily navigate to the page.

The left hand side of the page will be dedicated to the other contents in the magazine. I will be including features that are posted on the front cover but also others. I will also be including posters of bands that fit in my music genre. The features will be:

• Festival must haves as festivals are quite popular with my target audience
• Top 20 movie soundtracks as there are popular programmes on my genre's music TV channels aimed at this
• Important issues as it is shown that 1 in 10 children and young adults aged 5 - 16 suffer with a mental health disorder (www.youngminds.org.uk/training-services/policy/mental_health_statistics)
• Updates from bands such as Fall Out Boy and You Me At Six as they are popular bands in my music genre and are shown to be popular from my research and reader profiles.
• Upcoming gigs as it is shown as a common interest by research

The posters will be of bands such as:

• Fall Out Boy
• You Me At Six
• Paramore
• 30 Seconds To Mars

Double Page Spread rationale

For my double page spread I am going to use multiple images without having any more prominent than the others. I am going to do this as it will allow me to show different aspects of my model's life.

I will include page numbers on the outer bottom third of each page as I have seen this done in many magazines and I think it helps aid the reader in navigating the magazine. I will also include a link to the magazines website in the bottom middle third of the page. It will be noticeable but not the main focus as that will be the feature itself. I will also include a pull quote as I have seen this done in magazines before and I think it works well.

The colours that I am going to use for my double page spread will be kept within the colour scheme of my magazine such as reds, greens and purples. I will also use the same fonts to keep everything integrated.

I also want to incorporate my mast head into my double page spread as I have seen it done before and think it looks quite professional.

front cover feedback

Location scouting

When taking my images I decided to use different locations. The first location was on a step outside of my house. Whilst providing convenience, it also allowed me to venture out and try different poses for my magazine.

The other location was on top of a near by hill. I chose this location as it allowed me to experiment with background and setting for the images.

My finished front cover

This is the final version of my music magazine front cover and I am very happy with how it turned out. I like the vibrance of the green grass and the model's blue hair in the image and also the brightness of the masthead, main sell line and contrast of the cover lines. I think these colours fit well together and are also successful at fitting within the music genre of my magazine.
I also like how the layout has turned out as I stuck very closely to the flatplan I created. I chose to use a puff with the chance of winning two tickets to see the well known band Paramore in New York City. I chose Paramore as they are widely popular within my genre and target age which made them perfect. They were also a big inspiration for the rest of my magazine cover.
Overall, I think my magazine is very eyecatching which was intended from the start. I am very pleased with my finished result and if I had to do it again, I would probably keep everything the same.

What I hope to achieve over the next week

Over the next week there are a few things I want to have completed:

• My front cover will be finished
• I will have completed a draft for my contents page
• I will have wrote a draft for my double page spread article

My Media Images

Model Confirmation

I text my cousin to see if she would be my model for my magazine. Here is the text conversation and her confirmation that she would take part.

Colour Palettes

Whilst looking online, I came across a website that allows you to create colour palettes and also view palettes by other people. I browsed some colour palettes and found some that are relevant to my own magazine.

I like this colour palette as the colours are vibrant and eye catching. The black and purple are quite classic within my magazine genre and the red and green go quite well also however I would probably use a deeper red or a red that had less of a pink tone.

I also like this colour palette. I like the blue tone and I also like the variations of the other colours. I prefer the red on this one to the previous one but I prefer the purple on the other one more than the purple on this one. I like both of the greens and think they would both work well on my magazine.





For my masthead, I have decided to go for the colour red. I will use a bright, bold red that will be eye catching and attract my target audience.

Feedback for my magazine pitch

Magazine Pitch

Weather for my images

Before taking my images, I checked online to see what the weather would be like. The website showed that from 10:50 AM onwards, there was a chance of rain. This lead me to take my photographs on the morning before any rain began.

Make Up Ideas

As my cousin is female, I began to look online for make up ideas for my photographs. I looked at girls known within the rock genre and sub genres to gather inspiration for the shoot.


I decided to look at Hayley Williams who is the lead singer of the band Paramore. I liked the idea of using a coloured eyeliner on the lower lash line as it is bright and unusual and very eye-catching.












I also looked at Taylor Momsen from the band The Pretty Reckless. I like the panda eye look that she wears and I think it would fit well with the higher age group of my target audience however it might be too much for the younger viewers so I decided not to use it.

I also looked at Amy Lee who is the lead singer of Evanescence. I like the timeless look of a neutral smokey eye and think that it fits great within my target audience's make up styles however due to my incapability of applying makeup I decided not to go for this look.





In the end I decided to try and recreate the look on Hayley Williams with the pop of bright eyeliner. I think that it can be worn throughout my target audience's age range and it fits well with the overall tone of my magazine whereas some of the others may have been too dark.

Model Issues

I had some trouble with the models for my magazine. I was unable to find a time that would fit with the studio, myself and my models. I then tried to arrange a time with my friend who unfortunately fell ill so I arranged to have my cousin help with the images. However, we still could not find a date to use a studio so I decided to shoot the photos outside on location. My cousin is slightly out of my target audience age range but I used props and makeup which do not make it as obvious.