Evaluation

As I have now finished my music magazine, I’m at the stage where I can evaluate my project fairly. Here are my evaluation questions, and their answers.

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? (i.e. of film openings)
I studied products such as Q, Rolling Stone and NME to see the codes and conventions of music magazines. I discovered that women are often portrayed as objects rather than subjects and so sought to challenge that particular convention in my work. Most codes of magazines – small fonts in articles, plugs arranged around a central image on the front cover, bold writing on the contents page to grab attention – are there for a reason, so the basic design of my magazine was not particularly revolutionary.

2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?
I wanted my magazine to represent women without discrimination, as humans as opposed to females, so my main aim was for them to be depicted fairly. I featured photographs where people’s skin had not been edited to look clearer, and did not dress up my models to make them seem unapproachable.

3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
Stack is an independent magazine distributor. They give their publications more freedom to use unconventional design and go against traditional codes and conventions and for that reason it might be a good company to sell Riot to. If I wanted my magazine to be available in more outlets, an institution like IPC Media, who have many UK magazines on their roster, might be good. They own several special-interest magazines such as Yachting World and so do not discriminate against publications whose audience might not be as wide as, say, Heat or Company.

4. Who would be the audience for your media product?
The audience for my product would be women between the ages of sixteen and thirty who are interested in music and are dissatisfied with the coverage that music made by women receives in other publications. Men may also be interested in my magazine, as the stereotype that feminism is somehow biased against males is an outdated and inaccurate one.

5. How did you attract/address your audience?
I used traditionally feminine colours such as pink and purple to show the magazine was targeted towards women, and contrasted this palette with bold fonts and graphics. I used plugs that would appeal to music fans (“How to buy vinyl”) and included the names of several artists on the front, so if a person was particularly interested in even one of those acts they would purchase Riot. In the image on the front cover, my model stares straight into the lens, utilising the direct mode of address. I tried to make the design of the magazine attractive and aesthetically-pleasing. The unique selling point of my magazine was its good coverage of women’s music, so I used language that did not demean women or talk down their contributions to the music industry.

6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
I used Serif DrawPlus to make Riot. Mainly I learned the benefits of continuously saving your work, as the program proved to be unreliable and froze regularly. Many of the special effects that Serif allows you to use can look tacky and unprofessional on an actual magazine, so not being tempted by the various features was important.

I also learned how important good photographs are. I feel my magazine would have looked a lot better if a professional photographer with a high-resolution camera had taken the pictures instead of it being me with my middle-range digital camera. Access to proper equipment would be important if you were creating a real magazine that was going to be available to the public.

Keeping a blog was relatively easy and I had no problems with creating posts or adding pictures.

7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to full product?

In my preliminary task, I made several mistakes that would have made the product entirely inappropriate for public consumption. The plugs on the front cover overlapped onto the model’s face, the fonts were unprofessional, the small Polaroid on the front cover looked out-of-place, and the contents page was messy. I feel that having more time to get used to Serif DrawPlus really helped with creating my music magazine and avoiding some of the issues I experienced with my preliminary task.
I also bonded more with the other members of my Media class, which was useful if any of us had an issue and needed help.
The preliminary task introduced me to the task of producing a media publication before a certain deadline, which was good when it came to the bigger problem of making Riot.

Finished Products

This is my double-page spread. I used one of the pictures of Amy from our third photoshoot and cut out the background. I then used the ‘feather’ effect to smooth the edges so I could blend the photo into the pink background a little smoother. I used a pink background as this linked in to the colour scheme used on the front cover. It also went well with her clothes, which were all in rich shades.

I wanted the spread to look like an artistic collage so I put the title and the quote at a jaunty angle. There is a pulled-out quote next to the photograph on the left page, which grabs the attention of  the reader and links the two pages together some more. I set the article text out in two columns to obey the codes and conventions of magazines. At the start of my project I made up a font scheme, using the same three fonts throughout Riot, and so on this page I stuck to this to create a sense of unity. The use of a serif font makes the article seem similar to one you would find in a newspaper, which suggests it will have a serious tone.

Originally the article was much longer; however, there wasn’t enough space for it on the page, so I had to condense it. I used language found in music magazine interviews and pulled out a quote (‘Being in a band was the best thing to prepare me’) to use next to the picture of Amy. I wanted to make Veronica Hayes seem interesting and real and so tried to paint a vivid picture of her. This harked back to the comments I received from my research at the start of the project. Women do not want to hear about a female artist’s diet or marriage prospects. I wrote my feature with the fictitious Veronica Hayes by keeping in mind the way men are interviewed in magazines – a more thorough way than women are. For instance, we learn about her history in the music business, her achievements, and her soon-to-be released album.

At the bottom of the page I wrote ‘pictures and words by amy curran’, as all magazines have credits in small writing for every article. There are page numbers at the bottom of each page to help readers find the right features without thumbing through the entire magazine. There are thin black borders at the top and bottom of both pages to frame the text and images; it gives the magazine a more professional look.

Photoshoot

I wanted some more high-quality pictures of my friend Amy for the double-page spread, so we had another photoshoot. She wore a patterned scarf and a navy blazer. I wanted her in a different outfit, to add variety and distinguish this shoot from the others we had previously worked on. I asked Amy to pose in a casual manner, to continue the theme we had going through the magazine, and she stood or sat against a background that I knew I would edit out in the actual double-page spread.

Although the pictures where Amy is sitting down came out well, I am going to use the photograph of her standing in my work. It is a very simple silhouette that I think will be easy to work with.

Double-page spread analysis

To complete the triumvirate of features for our music magazine, I will be designing a double-page spread. To help me in this task, I am analysing two spreads from existing publications.

The first is from Q, and is a feature on prominent pop singer Lady Gaga. On one page is a large black-and-white photograph of the artist.  Like in many pictures of women in magazines, her mouth is open in a provocative manner and she is wearing little clothing. As she is quite a quirky artist, we see her individual style reflected in the messy way her hair is styled, and the large necklace she is wearing. Usually Lady Gaga wears bizarre costumes, but this photoshoot seems to have her going for a more parred-down look.

A classic colour scheme of black, white and red is followed in this spread. This is because those three colours are favoured by Q and thus creates continuity through the magazine. The fonts used are also the same throughout the magazine.

The spread is artistic: there is a large red L on the background of the body of text, creating a feature out of mere writing. Each paragraph begins with a large, bold capital letter, thus breaking up the text and making it easier to discern where a new passage is starting. We see normal codes of magazines used in the small page number and magazine logo at the bottom of the page.

The second spread I am analysing is from NME, and concerns Pete Doherty. Again, one page is occupied by a photograph of the subject of the article, while the other is filled with text. However, the text in this spread is broken up by a large pull-out quote in the centre, and a small picture in the bottom right corner. This adds a more playful and less serious tone to the article.

The colour scheme is simple: orange, white and black. The orange was likely chosen because of Pete Doherty’s jumper and beer being that colour. This would suggest there is a more flexible colour scheme in NME than in Q – the magazine is more adaptable. It values its sense of being innovative more than having a lasting design theme.

The quote in the centre of the text grabs the attention of the reader and gives away one of the subjects of the article: Pete Doherty’s role in his band. His tenuous role is emphasised by the way he is holding two glasses of alcoholic beverages in his photograph. Readers who want more information on Pete Doherty’s struggles with drugs and alcohol would want to read this feature, as would fans of his music, as there is a picture of him performing in the bottom right of the text.

I like the way that both of these double-page spreads look clean, with a photograph on one page and text on the other. The way Q appeals using its classy design and NME appeals by representing itself as a cutting-edge magazine shows that publications can draw in audiences in very different ways.

Contents page

This is my finished contents page.

I used a pale-blue textured background beneath the pictures and text. Originally I used a pink background, but my Media teacher advised against it, as it took away variety from the magazine.

As you can see, the pink background also makes the contents page appeal to a slightly younger audience than the one I am aiming my magazine at. The blue looked cleaner and I was much more pleased with it.

For the text of the header, I was inspired by the blurb on my ‘My So-Called Life’ boxset. I liked the patchwork effect that the white text had against the black rectangular background, and sought to recreate it on my page.

Along the left-hand side of my contents page are the photographs I took. I made them resemble Polaroid pictures by drawing white squares on Serif DrawPlus, and then creating a small shadow behind each one using a vector. I adjusted the size of the photographs so they fitted, grouped each photograph and rectangle together, and set them at a canted angle. This creates a collage-type look. I also put white numbers over each picture, something I have seen in the contents pages of existing publications. This allows readers to instantly find the article that matches the picture.

I wanted to keep the text on the page simple, so beneath the large ‘CONTENTS’ I wrote ‘JANUARY 2012’ instead of an issue number. The tagline was deliberately vague, and acts to intrigue potential readers. The phrases ‘Rock Legend’ and ‘Rising Star’ may be cliches, but they are ones we associate with music journalism. They are what the audience would expect to find in a music magazine such as Riot.

I divided the actual contents themselves into categories using thin black lines. By grouping them in this way, a reader would be able to read a certain type of article as the mood took them. The name of the category is in a thick font at the top of each set of contents, a star placed next to them to differentiate the sub-headers from the smaller text.

At the bottom, I wrote the magazine’s name next to the page number. This is something that would be continued throughout the magazine and makes it easier to navigate for readers.

I originally used many more small decorative black stars on the contents page, but it looked messy and childish.

Deleting the stars next to the Polaroid photographs made the contents page look tidier. However, I like the scrapbook effect that the stars create, and will include them on my double-page spread to create a sense of unity throughout the magazine.

New photographs

As I will need more photographs for my contents page, I decided to have another photoshoot with my friend Amy. She wore a different outfit – a casual red and white striped jumper – and I styled her in more natural poses, as I wanted the contents page to have a welcoming and inviting feel.  I did not have access to a camera with as high a resolution as the one I used last time; however, as the pictures would only be small on the page, this did not matter.

The last photograph was my favourite, as it was the most natural one and exemplified the sort of atmosphere I wanted to promote. I then edited the photo on Picnik, making the temperature warmer and cropping it into a square. I used the rule of thirds to place Amy near the left of the frame, to increase interest.

I did the same with the photographs of me and Sinead, so that all of the pictures for the contents page would share a similar colour palette. This would create continuity and a unique, attractive look for the page.

Contents page analysis

As the next piece I will be producing for my magazine will be a contents page, I have decided to analyse several in order to learn their codes and conventions.  The first is from Q magazine. This particular page is part of a double-page spread; however, as my contents page will be only on one page, I am only looking at the first half of the spread.

There is a red header at the top of the page, which fits in with Q’s black, red and white colour scheme. The issue number is prominently displayed, which is useful for collectors of the magazine. It also demonstrates how long the magazine has been going for. 279 issues translates into many years, as Q is only released once a month. Along the left side of the page are the contents themselves, with article titles in a black capitalised font and smaller descriptive text underneath.

Photographs are placed along the right of the page, with white numbers overlaid on them. The pictures are of celebrities that are particularly recognisable (for instance, if you were a fan of Muse, you would recognise their lead singer from the photograph there and immediately turn to page 48) or situations that are intriguing (Mike Oldfield in the sea in a photo that appears natural and unposed). Underneath the teaser for the Rick Rubin article is a preview of the double-page spead he is featured in. A lot of care has been taken in creating the spread and so even in a small graphic its artistic value is obvious.

This contents page was taken from NME. It resembles a newspaper more than Q does: the colours are predominantly black and white, with fonts that one might find in The Times or another broadsheet. The header reads ‘INSIDE THIS WEEK’, which is curiously phrased: ‘Inside, this week’ would make more sense if referring to the inside of a magazine. The reason for leaving the punctuation out is presumably to make the reader feel they are peering inside the week itself. NME is a magazine that thrives on being up-to-date and this is the sort of image they try to project.

Along the left and right of the page are photographs of the subjects of the articles from that issue. Unlike the pictures in Q, the ones featured in NME are not at a canted angle. They draw the eye deliberately down the page and offer a clean look. In the middle is the front cover of the magazine, which is the ‘Radar’ issue. The idea that this is pointed out on the front page suggests it is imporant and noteworthy.

There is an advertisment for subscriptions in the bottom right corner. Instead of placing the advert somewhere inconspicuous, having it on the contents page means the reader cannot skip it, and is therefore more likely to subscribe. This is financial good sense for the magazine.

I like the contents pages I have analysed very much. They are smart, tidy and simple to look at. However, I want my contents page to be more decorative. It is easy to see the care these magazines put into their design, but the contents page is function over style. It would be interesting to add in more style and interest to the usually-clean contents page.

Front cover

I have added more to my front cover, which I created on Serif DrawPlus.

I changed the font of the text on the logo to create a more playful style; I also moved the text, so it was in the centre of the purple box. Underneath I added a date and price, to comply with the conventions of music magazines. The price is quite cheap for this sort of magazine, as music publications usually cost between two to three pounds.

I feathered and smoothed the edges of the photograph as before the edges had been too sharp. This allows the picture to blend into the pink textured background better. Underneath the photo I added a copyright-free image of a bar code. Some magazines place the price and date next to the bar code, but from personal experiences of buying magazines, it is quicker for the cashier in a shop to find the price if it is displayed more prominently and in a clearer location.

Along the left side are plugs for articles inside the magazine in a purple, serif font. The names of the bands and artists are written in capital letters, with the incidental text in lowercase. This emphasises the parts of the plugs I want the potential audience to notice. In the plug near the bottom, I included a direct quote in capital letters. This suggests that in that article’s case, the subject, not the artist, is important. That technique might be used if the artist was not as famous and did not have a name likely to draw in buyers. For the layout of these plugs, I drew on techniques I had seen used in my evaluation of NME. I thought it made the front covers of existing publications look streamlined and wanted to repeat that sort of look with my own magazine.

There are black bars containing white text along the top and bottom of the cover. This is to add variety, so the teasers are not all in the same colour and font. The black stands out starkly against the colour scheme of purple, pink and white.

The vocabulary I used on my front cover aims to persuade browsers to pick up the magazine and hopefully purchase it. Words such as ‘icons’ and ‘exclusive’ suggest this magazine is important, and the reader might miss something if they were to leave it on the shelf. The use of  ‘starring’ instead of ‘featuring’ makes the magazine into more of a show or event, and ties into the ‘exclusive’ feel. The ‘How to buy vinyl’ plug appeals to the reader’s need for information, and the direct quote from Jemima K fulfils the audience’s need for integration and social interaction, as they can relate to her opinions and use them to discuss with others.

I have made a basic mock-up of my magazine cover. I chose a pale-pink textured background because having a plain colour made the cover look dull, and busier patterns would look tacky. There are black bars along the bottom and top where teasers for articles and interviews inside can be featured.

I cut around the photograph of Amy using Serif DrawPlus and placed her along the right of the cover. This is because most readers instinctively look to the left when they are looking at magazine covers, so placing the teasers there will focus their attention on the text. I made a logo using a purple box and white, shadowed text. It is displayed prominently because as a new magazine, ‘Riot’ will need to improve its brand recognition.

I made up a name for Amy – ‘Veronica Hayes’ – and wrote it in a smart, serif font to the left of the picture. This would attract her fans and draw them to the magazine. I also placed a line underneath the name to separate it from whatever teasers will go underneath. This is something we see on the Lady Gaga cover of Rolling Stone.

I need to change and add to my cover, but for now I am happy with this mock-up.