Audience profile

I have decided that my magazine will be aimed at a male and female audience age 16-24, however I feel that each issue could differ more to each sex depending on the cover star. The genre of music I have chosen is indie/alternative, the magazine I will produce will mainly focus on upcoming, and major artists/bands of the moment. The magazine will be published every month and will contain 80-100 pages depending on the season/month e.g. in the summer months July-September there would be festival exclusives (Reading, Benicassim, Coachella etc.).

Colour scheme

I've decided on a colour scheme for my magazine of  black, white and grey. I feel that the colours are simple, therefore wont distract the reader for the text. The colours will make the cover look clean and also add a sense of  sophistication. I feel like having 3 set colours will make the magazine look organasied, as there wont be to much for the reader to look at. I took inspiration for the below magazine covers, although they're not all music magazines, I found the magazine cover very interesting and would like to replicate aspects from them.  

Magazine Name, Style & Genre

 I've decided on the name INFLUXX for my magazine.  Influx means ' an arrival or entry of large numbers of people or things.' I'll keep the name capitalised and with an added X to make the title stand out. I think this word can link well to the music industry as new artists and fans are always entering the music industry. My magazine will be simplistic, stylish and bold. Mainly I want to emulate the simplistic covers I've seen while researching different types of magazine covers. The genre of my magazine will be indie/ alternative, I have an interest in this type of music so I think it'll make it easier when deciding the type of things to include. But I would also consider popular music if it was currently big in the music industry 
Below are examples of fonts I would consider for my magazine. I like how they are clear and easy to read, I believe simple text stands out more. I feel these styles of fonts will work well on a minimalistic magazine

Inspiration - Rolling Stones magazine

This is the February 2013 cover of the music magazine Rolling Stone, with cover star Rihanna. I think this cover works brilliantly, its eye catching and undoubtedly flawless. Even though the masthead is partly covered, due to the huge worldwide cult following this magazine it is still easily recognised.  It also uses the golden spiral rule as seen here: 

  

The 'golden spiral' suggest that if an image conforms to this theory then it is seen to be more aesthetically pleasing to look at. The golden spiral is used on this cover with Rihanna as the spiral begins on her eye/nose, to the top of her head and back round to just below her shoulder.

I want to keep the 'golden spiral rule' in mind when taking and choosing the images of my cover star's as I think it works really well in creating a create cover image.

Here is an example of the golden spiral rule being used on an image of a flower

Inspiration

Covers

 

 

 

•  I like the simplicity of the i-D covers as the readers attention is drawn to the artist. Also you don't know what's going into be in the magazine until you read it. Id like the keep the amount of text on my magazine cover to a minimum, therefore not fully informing the reader about the contents of the magazine
• I like how strong continuation of colour throughout the cover of the Georgia May Jagger Numero cover. Even though the Alexa Chung cover uses more of a variety of colours they all still work well go compliment the floral element of the image
• Dazed and Confused- I like how simple this cover, the lack of colour attracted me to this magazine as it doesn't stand out as much as the majority of magazine covers do, due to the bright colours.
• Q-  I like how the gold stands out and will catch the reader’s attention. I also like how the same colours of red, black and white are used continuously on Q covers, I feel this makes the cover easily distinguishable and look organised.
• This issue of Wonderland follow the colour scheme I have chosen to use (white, black and gold) I feel like this look different to the others I selected as the gold catches the readers attention.
• NME- I like how only white and black have been used on this colour, this could be to do with the fact the artist hair colour is very bright and will catch the audience's attention on its own. Therefore bright colours were not needed for the text
• I like the font used for 'Adele' on the cover of Rolling Stones. I feel its different the what your normally see on a magazine cover as it isn't as bold as you would normally see

Contents Page

• I like the layout of the NME contents page. I like the fact that they don't just list all page numbers, instead large images are used that will catch the readers attention, more than just a list of the different articles
• I like how Q uses continuation throughout their pages as red, black and white is carried on from the contents page through on to the double page spread. I also like how they've included an image of the cover, as it shows that they go together
• Even though SPIN just list the information, I like the fact that they have included a large image that frames the text and doesn't make it so daunting
• The MOJO contents is my favourite out of all the ones I have looked at. Even though I don't think ill base my contents page on it. I like the way the text has been shaped around the picture of Florence, I feel its very aesthetically pleasing . I also like how this page only shows you the feature articles, which my be helpful to a reader, as the feature articles for example one about Florence Welch may of been what made them want to buy the magazine, so it'll be easier for the reader to find the correct page.

Double Page Spread

 

 

•  The main thing I liked about these double page spreads is fact that the main image takes up half the page. I feel that this break up the page up well and ill use this design in my double page. All the double page spreads besides the one on the bottom left.
• Even though it doesn't follow the design I want to use I still like the double page spread on the bottom left. I like how the article has 8 images on the artist and the main one catches the readers attention as it bigger than the rest and in colour, where as the others aren't.
• The double page spread on the second row on the right hand side has a really large pull quote at the top of the article. I feel that this will catch a readers attention when they're flicking through the magazine and the boldness of the quote will make them want to read on

Cover annotations

From these cover annotations I have decided I want a minimalistic, uncluttered cover as I feel they look better and draw the audience in more as they wont be over powered by lots of text. 

Contents page annotations

Double Page Spread annotations

 

Preliminary task cover and contents page

This is the front cover and contents page for my preliminary task of creating a school magazine.

 

 

I believe I closely followed the plan I had for my cover, the only difference was that I added more stories as I felt the cover looked bare as there was a lot of blank space. The only thing I don't like about the image for the cover was the quality of it, this is something that I would make sure wasn't carried in to my main task as I feel the quality of the image used is key to making the cover attractive to the audience. I used a black, blue and red colour scheme and carried it through both pages to show continuity between the pages. On the cover I used a range of fonts and sizes in order to make it aesthetically pleasing for the reader.

 

 

I included two images in my contents, as stated on my plan, I feel this had the desired affect as the reader would be drawn towards them and it breaks up the text.  I used four headings on my contents page in order to make it easier for the reader to find what they're looking for.

 

Overall I'm happy with how my preliminary task turned out. I understand there are things I can change and improve, ill make sure I remember these when creating my music magazine, in order not to make the same mistakes twice

 
 
 
 
 



 

Preliminary task - cover plan

I decided to do a mock up of my front cover to make it easier when I came to put it together.  I wanted the cover to be simple and not too over powering, because of this I decided to keep the font and colour scheme simple, though still making sure there was variations in the font and the colours so this cover would be aesthetically pleasing for the reader. For the articles on the cover I wanted to include a range of events so that more readers would be attracted to the cover as there is something for everyone, therefore I will including something about sports as well as things like battle of the bands and the school musical. For the cover image I plan on having a mid shot of a student, the text on the cover will frame this image. I wanted a simple and easy to remember name for my magazine so I called it 'TDA News' as it's a simple and relevant name to the magazine.

Preliminary task - contents page plan

In order to show continuity between my cover and contents page I have decided to use the same font and colour palette, this way making the magazine flow and look well put together. The name the magazine is featured on the contents page again to show continuity within the magazine. 'Contents' will be the largest word on the page, this will make it stand out and will allow the reader to know what the page is about. To break up the text I will include images, one of students and one of the school taken from the balcony, I fell this will make the page look aesthetically pleasing and not too text heavy. The contents will be giving the reader lots of information and for that reason I decided to section it off under key headings like 'key dates' and 'sports' to make it easier for the reader to find what they're looking for. I have kept the overall design for my content simple to keep the focus on the information 

Candidate Information

Name: Dani Gordon
Centre Name: Thomas Deacon Academy
Candidate number: 3112 Centre Number: 22321 
Foundation Portfolio Brief: To construct the font page,contents page and double page spread of a new music magazine