Magazine front cover Recreation

This activity has allowed me to develop my skills in Photoshop in accordance to a front cover design. I also now have experience in creating the different conventions of a front cover including a masthead, page number, dominant image, main sell line and sub sell lines. To create the dominant image I chose a picture from Tumblr and also Used dafont.com, I got a range of typography which I thought was relevant and the closest to the original design. I altered the background using the drop tool feature and then added a gradient to make to fade out into a darker shade of blue. This will help in my own production as gradient backgrounds make the page look a lot more professional and less like a Photoshop background. I have also learnt that the background needs to be pretty simple and straight to the point so that it can contrast well with the dominant image which leads the front cover. This activity will help my own construction process as I can adapt these conventions to my own front cover as I have now already had practice at building one.

Billboard Recreation

This activity has allowed me to develop my skills in Photoshop in accordance to a billboard which I have never attempted to construct before. I have an average idea about the canvas size now and also about different conventions that make a billboard successful. The conventions I have recreated are a masthead, essential information, images and strapline. I have learnt that the background of a billboard needs to be pretty simple and the images need to lead and direct the page. This will help my own construction process as I can adapt these conventions to my own billboard as I have now already had practice at building one. The images I gathered from google however to successfully complete my own brief I will need to use images that I have taken myself for my own magazine. I used Photoshop to edit the strap - line behind the lead characters which was a really useful skill I have learnt which can be adapted to my own production. I also learnt about using grids to align the text in the middle of the billboard which will be useful when trying to align my own text specifically on my contents page.

Location Scout

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1tvX2Vz4xp4rIJODLM7Hsrttn3TW9QvwKeW-7c623fTM/edit?usp=sharing

Creating a location scout has helped me to choose 6 locations that will be the most effective at creating a successful magazine. I have learnt how to manage my time well and to prepare things in advance in order to achieve a better outcome. When carrying out my Photoshoot I will save a lot of time without having to find locations and finding places to park. It has also helped me to see what locations will be suitable to shoot images of models in oppose to locations that are suitable to shoot objects and landscapes. Finally this task has helped me figure out what connotations my images will have for my target audience and what they will associate with the images.

Reader Profiles Research

Before creating my own audience profiles, I have researched into how they should look like and what they should include.

Looking at two different companies reader profiles has allowed me to see what i should be doing for my own companies reader profile. For my reader profile, I will include images of what my target audience wears, listens to and does for fun etc. I will also include useful facts about my target audience that I have gathered from my survey.  

Audience Surveys

I have created a survey for my target audience using survey monkey, Doing this task will help me when creating my reader profile and also when it comes to designing my final product I will know what my readers would prefer to read about. I will be adding my results to my blog and be finally deciding what i wish to add on my magazine and website as sub genres. 

Competition

In order to make sure my magazine will be as successful as possible, I will look into the facts and statistics behind leading magazines that are currently on the market. These magazines are also of the regional culture genre which I have decided to base my own magazine on therefore it is important that I establish if they will be of any threat to my product. The magazines I have chosen to look into are The CRACK, Luxe and SPARK. All 3 magazines are extremely popular in the industry and the most well known of the region. By identifying what makes them successful, I will be able to compete in the market by making sure my magazine offers even better features. I will also be looking at the stereotypical features and trying to make my magazine stand out from the rest so that I can advertise it as being  an original, innovative and unique approach to a regional magazine.

The Crack magazine is a free culture and listings magazine. The magazine was started in 1985 and is published monthly in print and online, it covers entertainment and culture for the North East region of England such as comprehensive listings and previews on music, art, film, theatre, dance, comedy, gay-interest concerns and clubs, as well as articles relating to local fashion and local issues. The Crack is available in the foyers of public spaces such as pubs, cafes, restaurants and shops and also in those of cultural venues such as galleries, libraries and cinemas.

Luxe magazine is a cultural magazine launched in 2009 that is based in Houghton - le - spring in the area of Sunderland. It its launch year it was delivered to 1800 peoples homes but has since risen. It costs £5 monthly subscription and is delivered to peoples homes. It covers topics such as food recipes from some of the region’s most celebrated chefs, inside interviews with influential and interesting people from throughout the North East, hottest travel destinations, local events, as well as the latest news and trends from the world of fashion, beauty, interiors and motoring.  

spark magazine is one of the UK’s most successful community media projects, From its centre at the University of Sunderland, its run by volunteers from both the student and local communities. Spark operate a full-time FM community radio station, a monthly Emagazine, and TV Channel online at SparkSunderland.com.

Spark is Sunderland’s local radio station. Based in the Media Centre of the University of Sunderland’s St Peter’s Campus, Spark make use of  the industry standard equipped studios and extensive experience to produce and deliver great radio. It provides a platform for local people to inform the community of news and events which are of interest to our target audience and offer an accessible medium where people can talk to others; from their neighbourhood, about issues which concern them. Having the ability to focus on Sunderland allows them to provide localised programming; local music, events and developing issues.

Generic Conventions of a Magazine Double Page Spread

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1TmDFRGW6BorAYJdJss1dLmC7_LBXiARn718ecBoX0_s/edit?usp=sharing
Doing this activity has helped me evaluate which generic conventions I will be including in my magazine in relation to what is normally on a double page spread. I have considered my findings from my magazine deconstructions also to decide that I will include the following on my DPS: a masthead, pull quote, by-lines, bottom banner, drop caps, columned text and a stand first. Even though I am including the majority of the generic conventions, I will arrange them in a way that is unique to my own magazine and therefore not generic.