FINAL CONTENTS PAGE

FINAL FRONT COVER

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Contents Page Image                           Front Cover Image

 

Double Page Spread Image

Masthead

1.

What connotations do the subjects outfits portray?

• The portrait outfits portray a stereotypical pop star of that genre, she looks like a typical girly girl. In the first one, it connotes that she is just a normal person in normal clothes.
• I think her clothes have a modern feel with the essence of a popstar.  
• Very popstar like, but also I can say it can clash with indie style because of the makeup and the poses.
• I think they portray connotations of the pop genre, due to the flowery, loud coloured pattern of the lower two images, but the top image suggests normality over fame.

2.

What do you feel about the cold colour scheme? (Mainly blues and greens).

• I think that the colour scheme works really well as the colours are more stereotypically those of a pop genre.
• If the greens are pastel shades I would think that they would look good but any harsh bold greens may clash with the pastel pinks on the models clothes. 
• The colours look peaceful and bright. Almost like bright vibes and good feeling.
• The cold colours in the background work to draw attention to the model and give across a sophisticated impression of the magazine.

3.

How do the compositions of the photographs effect the overall look of the picture?

• In the first portrait picture, she looks like she has been ‘born’ to perform whereas in the second one it looks really sassy. In the first one, she looks quieter maybe before performance maybe.
• I like the models poses because it adds nice attitude to the photos and I think the high contrast works really well.
• The model looks free and very herself. This is good as it shows her real character and she isn’t afraid to show her real side.
• I like the compositions of the bottom two especially as she looks like a natural performer, not afraid to let her fun side show. The top one works well as well, as she seems very sophisticated once again.

4.

How well do you think the masthead design goes with the look of the magazine?

• It goes really well as it has the ‘pop’ genre colours and the colour scheme fits in with the models clothes.
• I feel that the green may clash but I like the fact that its bold but still quite feminine to add to the model.
• I think bold masthead will be good for these images. Bold and colourful but not too colour because you don’t want it to clash so much with the images. The masthead should stand out so even if its black I think it will work good too. 
• I like the colour scheme of it and the design gives a very modern look to the magazine, which suits your images. 

From my audience feedback, from my photoshoot and final images I am going to use in my magazine, my audience have managed to depict the genre of the magazine based only on the images and the attire of my artist. Along with the obvious genre of my magazine based on the clothing of the model, the audience were also took a liking to my house style and colour scheme which I had based from my audience profile and questionnaire earlier on. Along with the attire of my artist, my audience have picked up on the poses and compositions of the artist and what is meant to be portrayed from these images to help the magazine stand out and express the personality of the artist. Finishing with the colour scheme and masthead design and colours, the audience have taken a liking to the colours and typeface of the masthead and feel that this will help enhance the overall look of the magazine once added to the images of my artist. 

Pre-Production Work

Magazine Contents and Articles

1. Comeback Central
1. Adele
2. Justin Bieber
3. The Beatles
4. Blur
5. The Libertines
6. The Prodigy
7. Dr. Dre
2. Top Albums of 2015
1. Beauty Behind The Madness
2. Chaos And The Calm
3. Communion
4. I Cry When I Laugh
5. Title
6. Stories
7. Delirium
3. Up Close With Echosmith
4. Touring with Ella Eyre
5. Male Domination of the Charts
6. A Year in Music: 2015
7. Introducing Ella-Naomi
8. Spotlight of 2016
9. Rising Stars
10. Must Attend Upcoming Gigs and Festivals

Pre-Production Work

Masthead Designs

I decided to play with the design of my Masthead for my magazine freehandedly in order to experiment with the different styles I could use for my magazine and what each style will help represent in my magazine. I have experimented using the same typeface for both the words "pop" and "Illustrate" as well as treating them as completely separate words with two completely different fonts used within the one masthead. Overall on design, I prefer the more robust and bolder title's than the thinner fonts due to the impact the bolder font would create on my front cover, allowing it to stand out more easily on the cover. 

Final Masthead Design

After experimenting with fonts and some colours to use as a part of my masthead, I preferred the final design for a masthead as I feel like this was bold enough to capture the attention of my target audience, had the potential to hold the same colours as the house style to help the overall theme of the magazine to link together as well as including two different fonts that help separate the two words that make up the title of the magazine as well as portraying two different styles of fonts and connotations to do with these styles which helps represent that the magazine caters for more than just the singular music genre.

Pre-Production Work

Photoshoot

After planning my photoshoot I took a series of photos of my chosen artist in several "costumes" in order to portray a personality of a pop artist both glamorously on stage and in more casual attire to represent the two different sides of the artist to make her more relatable to my niche market: someone to admire and look up to; and someone who is more down to Earth and more like my target audience.

Along with the initial photoshoot I have decided to edit a couple of images which I think could be suitable for the front cover, contents page or double page spread in order to see how they would possibly look once edited completely.

Pre-Production Work

Photoshoot Plan

For my photoshoot I have decided upon using a simple studio style set up in order to create the most versatile background for my subject. I plan to use a tripod and Nikon D70 camera in order to attain the best quality photos to use for my magazine. My magazine is going to be of the Pop music genre and therefore the style of images I am after is something that feels almost alive and happy. Because of my genre of magazine, I have selected a couple of outfits for my model to pose wearing which help display the style and "attitude" I want my subject to express. The floral dress with the pearl bracelets will be used to add a feminine quality to the photographs and well as showcase a more formal outfit perhaps worn on stage. The tan jacket, boots and blue top will be used to add a sense of the subject being more casual and therefore more like my target audience. By showcasing both sides of my model I will show two different sides to the same artist showing how the artist, although famous, is still a person and is therefore still relatable to my niche market.

Pre-Production Work

Flatplans

Front Cover

My front cover flat plan plays with the stereotypical conventions of a normal front cover of a published magazine: by keeping the masthead at the top of the front cover I am allowing the new magazine's title to be the main focus of the magazine and to allow it to be seen easily in a magazine wrack; I have kept the majority of the cover lines flushed left on the left third of the cover in order to allow them to easily be read by the target audience and I have added some cover lines on the right third in order to add further interest and dynamics to the front cover; I have used the majority of free space around the artist photograph to include the main cover line so that it stands out on the page, and; I have opted to use a Puff to add interest in my front cover and force focus on that particular element to the magazine. 

Contents Page

The contents page has been planned to take up an entire double page of the magazine so that the information does not appear cramped, such as it would do if it was on a single page, and so my target audiences attention will be caught and kept through the use of the visual images that would highlight the main articles, features, and furniture throughout the magazine. By bannering the contents page title across the two pages I am separating the sections of the contents page clearly as well as creating white space on the page so that the magazine does not appear too crowded and messy. I have also drawn attention to specific articles more than others by increasing the the size of the chosen pictures on the contents page. I have also included a letter from the editor to add depth to the magazine as well as aiming the make a further connection to my target audience.

Double Page Spread

Finally, for my double page spread I have kept a similar appearance and theme to my front cover and double page spread by allowing the double page to include some white spaces so that the magazine looks less messy and cramped. I have sectioned the double page spread so that the majority of text, and the whole article, is easily read on the right page of the double page spread with the artist sectioned mostly on the left page showing a higher importance to the artist with the fact that they have an entire page just for their image. I have also decided to include an artist signature at the end of the main article to add a personal touch to the interview and give the interview a greater feeling of true authenticity. 

Pre-Production Work

Written Interview

The new chart topping single “Here We Go” from the classically fresh new album “Unstoppable” by Ella-Naomi has caught the attention of the new generation and has spoken volumes in a world too loud to hear your own thoughts.

I was lucky enough to have an exclusive interview with Ella-Naomi just after her advertisement on KISS Radio where I was able to get an insight to the real life behind a new artist reaching for fame in this fast pace world and what it truly means to “make it”.

The charismatic singer left the studio in her favourite tan, waterfall jacket and tan, heeled boots with her makeup completely done despite being simply on the radio. When we got settled in a dressing room, the youthful singer was able to relax and seamlessly settle into the calm one-to-one environment of the interview.

“Sometimes it’s difficult”, the singer admits after taking the time to sip a glass of water, “But nothing worth doing is ever easy. You just need to find something to keep you anchored enough to keep things in perspective, without losing the drive to reach for the stars.”

Ella-Naomi spoke passionately about her influences and what truly drives her to create and share her music with the world,              “Occasionally I will write about a personal experience of mine, but most of my songs are inspired by my friends, family and things that I can relate to in some way.”

““Unstoppable”. I chose the title as it shows how nothing finishes and there is always something to do and something further to gain,” The singer explains about her first album title, “I believe you chose to make of yourself what you wish, and I wish to be remembered. Not only for the good, but the bad as well, because I want to be remembered for being me, and being real, not what someone has made be become. “Unstoppable” explains how I will never stop being me.”

“And “Here We Go” was inspired by the recent changes in my life that have taught me to progress no matter what life throw at you.”

The singer then continued to speak passionately about her fans and how much they mean to her and her new success saying they are the “backbone to [her] success and the only reason [she is] where [she is] today”. 

“Mistakes are there to make, and there to learn from” Ella-Naomi continues from talking about her momentary slip during her first supporting act to Ella Eyre where she missed the last verse to her new single, but let the crowd join in and share the “electricity”  and atmosphere of the stage with her. “I don’t think I make mistakes, because they become a part of the performance when I am live and they improve the authenticity of the performance.”

Growing up without siblings, Ella-Naomi found inspiration from her favourite singers such as Arianna Grande for her “soulful and relatable” music and wishes to be able to do a collaboration with Chris Brown in the future as “it would bring a new feel to [her] music, allowing [her] to further explore the way [she] makes [her] music and [her] mark”.

Along with the influence of her favourite artists to inspire her, Ella-Naomi also draws inspiration and help from her creative partner rapper Spenny B who “supports [her] through tough times and is an influence in all of [her] decisions”. Their bond is obviously strong with the way Ella-Naomi speaks and “having him with [her] gives [her] confidence whatever the new day may throw at [her]”. 

Despite being only 16, Ella-Naomi has captivated us and has achieved so much in such a short space of time that we are sure she will continue to rise through the charts with her upcoming “Unstoppable” Tour coming this year.

Pre-Production Work

Interview Questions

1. What is the name of your new Album?

2. What is the name of your new chart-topping single?

3. Why did you choose a career in the music industry?

4. Have you always wanted to be a singer?

5. Is your family generally musical?

6. What influences the songs you write?

7. Who is your biggest musical influence?

8. Who is your biggest personal influence (family, friends, etc...)?

9. Where do you see yourself in a year? Five years? Ten years?

10. What's your favourite song of all time? Why?

11. Who would you most like to do a collaboration with? Why?

12. How does it feel performing on stage?

13. How do you handle mistakes during a performance?

14. How much do your fans mean to you?

15. What's the craziest thing a fan has said to you? Done for you?

16. Do you play any instruments? If yes, which ones?

17. How often/ how long do you practise for?

18. What has been your biggest "Diva" moment?

19. How do you handle all of your obligations in your life?

20. What do you do to relax after a long day of work?

21. How have you stayed humble? What's your secret to keeping your feet on the ground during your rise to fame?

22. What's your favourite colour?

23. Do you have any pets? What do you have?

24. Do you have any siblings? What is your relationship with them?

25. What three words would you use to describe yourself?

26. What is the first thing you notice about someone?

27. Are you quick to judge a book by its cover?

28. What's your biggest pet peeve?

29. What do you least like about yourself?

30. What do you most like about yourself?

31. What is your eye colour/ natural hair colour?

32. What was the last thing you ate?

33. Favourite smell?

34. Favourite food?

35. Last movie you watched?

36. Are you a summer or winter person?

37. Favourite dessert?

38. Favourite book?

39. Favourite place to visit?

40. Any special talents?

I have used these specific questions in order to interview and further understand my chosen artist. The first 21 questions are more specifically career based so that I could find out the main facts about the Artist and add relevant information about the music industry and their career within my double page spread. The remaining 18 questions are more trivial based around what my chosen artist likes and dislikes and would be included as added information about the artist on the double page spread in order to add a more personalised interest in the article and the artist themselves to my target audience.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RELEASE OF A NEW MUSIC MAGAZINE "POPILLUSTRATE" ON: MONDAY 11TH JANUARY 2016. TO MAJOR RETAIL STORES ACROSS THE UNITED KINGDOM.

POPILLUSTRATE is a new music magazine for the young generation, teenagers and young adults, combining interests from the unique and modern lifestyles of the readers such as social media and technology as well as sport, gaming and other teenage pass-times within this diverse and accessible music magazine containing new, up-and-coming, classic, modern and unheard of artists.

The new monthly magazine will begin in the new year and feature both well known artists from the charts as well as a new artist exclusive to PopIllustrate. The unique and stylised magazine will begin in the new year and feature a collaboration of well-known artists and a new artist exclusive to PopIllustrate over 34-glossy-pages. The first issue will feature: an exclusive interview with Ella-Naomi, a new artist rising into the public's view with her soulful voice and kind heart; an inside look on the newest chart topping singles; a collaboration of unlikely artists; and a match up of the best gigs, concerts and festivals to attend in 2016/17.

A digital edition of PopIllustrate will be available via the App Store/ Good Play or on the new website once the magazine is published.

For more information contact:
Dawn Allen, Editor of PopIllustrate
dawn.allen@popillustratemagazine.co.uk

Design Inspiration

To begin, from my magazine questionnaire, I discovered that my chosen audiences favourite colours consist of blues, purples and greens, with a few reds, showing how I can incorporate these three main colours to create an analogous colour scheme for the magazine. By using red, it would allow any puffs or important information to stand out on the front cover of the magazine. Also, by using edited colours - not pure colours - would allow my magazine to have an edge and create contrast and sophistication to the design of my magazine. I have looked at the possibility of using deep navy as a backdrop to my magazine to allow lighter colours to stand out as cover lines on the page.

Along with the colour scheme of my magazine, I have also considered the use if graphics on my magazine cover and contents page to highlight specific aspects and add further interest to the magazine. I also feel that the use of graphics would appeal to my target audience as it plays to the idea of a younger audience whose attention is caught through strong graphics and images rather than heavy text. I have considered the use of arrows to help highlight articles throughout the magazine as well as separate images and text more thoroughly so that the magazine flows better.

Along with overall colour schemes, I have looked at some magazine covers that I like in order to inspire my music magazine cover and design. All four of the magazine covers show an image of someone significant to the magazine in a mid-shot to highlight what they are wearing and how it responds to the contents of the magazine. This has given me the idea to show my subject, who will be displayed on the magazine cover and feature within my magazine, using a medium shot to capture their clothing and how this links to what is inside my magazine as well as the genre of my magazine.

Along with magazine covers, I have looked at double page spreads to help inspire my designs. I like the use of having one or a few images taking up one page of the double page spread to highlight my subject as well as show them in a number of ways that help relate to the article. I also like the use of different size typefaces and different fonts to almost decorate the page and help to force interest and attention onto specific details of the magazine and articles.

Finally, I looked at varying decorative fonts and typefaces to add interest to specific aspects of my magazine. I like the handwriting styles of some of the typefaces which creates an almost undone finish to the work and looks more informal - specifically than serif typeface - allowing it to appeal more to my younger target audience. I also like the bolder text which is able to stand out more than the wispy handwriting style font and is able to capture the attention of my audience.

Overall, the layouts, colour and typeface I have looked at will help to influence the design and layout of my music magazine as they have helped accumulate my ideas of what styles to include within my magazine. 

Audience Profile

Questionnaire

Music Magazine Questionnaire

Q1. What is your sex?

a. Male

b. Female

Q2. What is your age?

a. 15-17

b. 18-20

c. 21-23

d. 24-26

Q3. How often do you read magazines?

a. Daily

b. Weekly

c. Monthly

d. Yearly

e. Never

Q4. How often do you buy magazines?

a. Daily

b. Weekly

c. Monthly

d. Yearly

e. Never

Q5. What is the most amount of money you are willing to spend on a magazine?

a. £0-0.99

b. £1-1.99

c. £2-2.99

d. £3-3.99

e. £4-4.99

f. £5+

Q6. What is your occupational status?

a. Student (no work)

b. Student (part-time work)

c. Part-Time Work

d. Full-Time Work

Q7. What magazine genre do you prefer?

a. Music

b. Photography

c. Sport

d. Home

e. Gossip

f. Entertainment

g. Gardening

h. Fashion

Q8. What genre of music do you prefer?

a. Pop

b. Rock

c. Alternative

d. Classic

e. Indie

f. R&B

Q9. What is your most used social media site?

a. Facebook

b. Twitter

c. Tumblr

d. Snapchat

e. Instagram

f. YouTube

g. Pinterest

h. Vine

Q10.a. Do you go to gigs/ concerts/ festivals?

a. Yes

b. No

Q10.b. If yes, how often do you go to gigs/ concerts/ festivals?

a. Monthly

b. Quarterly

c. Yearly

d. Rarely

Q11. Where do you get your music from?

a. Shops/ physically buy it

b. Download online

c. Sites like Spotify/ Deezer

d. YouTube 

Q12. What is your favourite colour?

a. Red

b. Orange

c. Yellow

d. Green

e. Blue

f. Purple

g. Brown

h. Black

i. White

j. Pink

Q13. What are your main interests?

a. Sport

b. Social Networking

c. Photography/ Art

d. Music/ Film/ Dance

e. Cooking

f. Gaming

g. Socialising with Friends

h. Shopping

i. Reading

Q14. What type of articles do you like to read in a magazine?

a. Interviews

b. Informative articles

c. Expose's

d. Human Interest Articles

e. Opinion Articles

f. Humour/ Satire

Audience Research

NME Magazine Analysis

Q Magazine Analysis

Evaluation

Final Contents Page

Final Magazine Front Cover

Cover Photoshoot

In order to find the best possible photograph for my magazine cover I took a variety of photographs of my chosen subject I felt could represent the students I am aiming my magazine towards. I took a number of photographs both in a professional area using a black background and studio lighting as well as taking a few outside with a school wall as a background in order to experiment with how the overall feel of the picture changed with different backgrounds. I also experimented with a couple props in order to get the true feeling of a student. By incorporating a coat in some shots, this shows the overall month the magazine is shot for as well as being relatable for commuting students that also wear similar attire. I have also included some books within some shots to show "the typical student" so that the image is instantly relatable to the majority of readers. 

Cover Designs

For my college magazine front cover design, I decided to experiment with a few flat plans in order to asses which composition would look best on my magazine along with my picture.

With both the first and last flat plans I have kept very conventional and safe in the design layout having the masthead at the top of the page and keeping the coverlines down the left third. My second and third flat plans are more unconventional with the masthead in a box rather than a rectangle or down the left third of the page in order to make the magazine appear more modern and new in order for it to appeal to my niche market.

For my final front cover design I have decided upon using the last flat plan is it is the most recognisable, specifically keeping the masthead at the top of the page allows readers to instantly see the title on a magazine rack. I have also chosen this flat plan as it fits perfectly with my photograph and leaves enough white space on the front cover so that it would not look too crowded and obscure the image rather than enhance it. 

Font Experimentation

In order for my college magazine to create the best possible impact and to further relate and engage my niche market I have chosen a Sans Serif font as it looks more modern making the magazine appear fresh and new in comparison to other magazines intended for a different audience or age group. As the masthead is a key element to a magazine, and what 15% of people asked in my questionnaire think is most important in a magazine, I have chosen seven different, however similar, fonts to study and consider for my masthead.

I have decided up the title "STUDENT . ROOM" for my college magazine title as I feel it is original and, at the same time, relatable to my audience. The word "student" is designed to relate to the majority of my niche market and the word room implies a safe and private area where people can find comfort, specifically new students. The two words together create a familiar thought of where students can go for help, to study, to meet and talk to friends, as well as other things which helps relate the contents of what would be in the magazine to the reader before they even know what is inside the magazine. I think this is effective as it shows a clear link and "flow" throughout that magazine that is simple and easy enough for all types of people to enjoy. 

I have decided upon using PORTER for my masthead as I feel it is the most aesthetically appealing as well as looking the most "naturally professional" due to its simplicity, spacing and weight. I have also decided to use GEOMETOS as the typeface for the coverlines as it is similar to PORTER allowing the "theme" of the magazine to flow and I will be using Coolvetica as my smaller typeface on my magazine cover as I feel it will fit fluidly throughout my magazine a link well with the main coverlines and masthead. 

Audience Profile

My Audience Profile is based around a college student between the ages of 16-19 (mostly female) who prefers gossip and entertainment magazines and is constantly a part of some form of social media or technology such as Facebook, YouTube or Spotify who also most favours the colour blue.

Research

College Magazine Questionnaire

Q1. What Is Your Gender?

_Male     _Female

Q2. Do You Generally Read Magazines?

_Yes     _No

Q3. What Genre Of Magazines Do You Prefer?

_Teen     _Sport     _Lifestyle     _Music     _Entertainment     _Fashion     _Gossip

Q4. What Are Your Main Interests?

_Sport     _Social Networking     _Photography/ Art     _Music/ Drama     _Cooking     _Gaming     _Socialising with Friends     _Shopping

Q5. What First Attracts You To A Magazine?

_Photo     _Headline     _Colours     _Layout     _Title of Magazine

Q6. What Is Your Favourite Colour?

_Red     _Blue     _Yellow     _Orange     _Green     _Purple     _White     _Black     _Pink

Primary Research - Questionnaire

     The primary data I have collected from my College Magazine Questionnaire will help influence how I construct my College Magazine as I have taken 20 people and asked them fairly basic closed questions in order to understand further what I should include in my magazine in order to attract a wider audience.

    Question 1 will show who the results of the questionnaire were based around: if mostly females answered the questionnaire then all the answers would be tailored to what girls would want out of a magazine more than boys, but I have tailored my audience who took the questionnaire to be as close to 50/50 as I could make the genders.

    Question 2 was used the see who out of the audience would actually read the contents of the magazine and to see how much depth I should put into the written work or the actual pictures which are used to attract the readers in the first place.

     Question 3 was used so as I could further examine magazines with which there is already a big audience for and see what I could do to my own College magazine in order to attract the same kind of "buzz" around my own magazine; the sports magazines came out on top in this question meaning including some form of sport related picture or text on the front of the magazine would attract a larger audience than if I did not include any sport related things. 

     Along with Question 3, I also decided upon Question 4 being of fair significance as it would tell me what kinds of things people would want to read about; likewise with question 3, sport came out as the most popular interest showing the significance of including a sport related subject would be for the audience of the magazine.

     From Question 5, I know that the majority of people look for some kind of flashy image on the front that is familiar in some way to them and this shows the importance of selecting a good image for the front cover of my magazine. 

     And finally, Question 6 showed me which main colours I should use on my magazine in order to further attract the interest of a wider audience. The top colour was blue so I shall be including blue in my magazine as the main colour and with red and green as close seconds I have decided upon using the primary colour scheme (red, yellow and blue) on my magazine cover as it incorporates the favourite colours of 55% of the people who took my questionnaire. 

Secondary Research - Magazines

• Use of primary colours to draw attention to specific content
• Subject wearing simple clothing with no writing to stop attention disappearing from content of magazine
• Medium close-up photo draws attention to the subject
• Darker background will avoid conflict with lighter colours containing information and allows the subject to stand out amongst the background as well
• Typeface at top of front cover to draw attention to the title of the magazine 
• Must have bar code, date (month and year) and issue number (if part of a series)
• Sans Serif Font to make the magazine feel more modern and to appeal further to the college aged students
• Subject in middle of cover over the centre grid to draw the readers attention straight to the magazine
• Subject looking straight into the camera as the direct eye contact engaged the viewer and makes then feel like part of the magazine 
• Contents and further inside the magazine should have the same colour scheme and style as the front cover to make it appear as part of the whole magazine, and not pieces of separate magazines 

Contents Page:

• The courses - routine, time management, exam help and advice
• Students - life around the college as a student, trips, and phone apps
• Social - clubs, activities, opportunities, and school year plan
• Budget - jobs, savings, and the price of college
• Help - career advice/ ideas, map of the college, advice on smoking, drugs, problems, anxiety, depression, and the college counsellor/ helplines and helpful websites (part of a contacts page)
• Competition page to win something

Research

Video Test

Magazine Cover

I like this magazine cover for the use of colour in order to attract the audience as they have used both green and pink (pink being a variation of red) meaning they have used a pair of complimentary colours to make the image stand out. This is different from other Marie Claire  magazine covers as they most commonly use analogous colour schemes. What also helps this magazine cover stand out is the use of a famous actress on the front which is universal to so many people that most people would pick up the magazine because they know who she is. The font has also been used well with a Sans Serif Font to make the magazine appear more modern and the use of different font sizes increases the focus on specific pieces of information.