Evaluation
Magazine
name: Wyke Weekly
For
my second assignment I had to create a college magazine suitable for my
college.
When planning my magazine cover I
looked at an existing front cover in which I highlighted the conventions to
help me achieve the best front cover I possibly could. I gave reasons as to why
the company have used their specific fonts, colours and images. This helped me
to define why I would use my font, colours and images and what this would connote
to the audience. I then started analysing a front cover, contents page and a
double page spread. I did this to help me achieve and understand the meanings
of what images, colours, fonts and backgrounds I could consider and also why I
would consider them. I broke down the analysis by looking at the language of
the front cover, contents and double page spread. I noticed how the red, black
and white colours ran throughout the particular issue to hold a specific theme
and to allow the audience to relate magazine when they see these colours. The
front of this magazine has quotes featured inside the magazine, this is to pull
the audience in and to show them a sneak peak of what is inside the
magazine. I then looked at the
institution section on the analysis, I named the company and why they have
presented the magazine this way. I analysed the ideology where I noticed the
different ideas the audience could connote from what is in the cover page. For
example, as NME have used reds, this suggests danger, evil or perhaps love. I
then looked at the audience and who the magazine is aimed at, by looking at the
image of Miles Kane and Alex Turner I connoted that this magazine is for mainly
males aged 16 – 20. I also looked at the representation on the front cover,
contents page and the double page spread.
After this, I then started looking and
comparing three different magazine covers, to help me determine what’s
appealing to the audience and what isn’t.
I then started the practical work, I
started taking shots for my main image, I took plenty of various, close up,
medium close up, long shots, high angles and low angles. This is to establish
the difference to how my magazine would appeal the audience. I used a camera to
take my shots as this would help me achieve the most high definition images.
After doing this I produced a spider
diagram, in which I discussed initial ideas. I wrote the different images,
mastheads, plugs, company name, font, colours and feature stories. This is the
plan out all the different ideas I could have considered.
I then started to produce a mood board,
I did this to finalise the different colour themes, images and fonts I would
use. This is so people viewing, would get a certain feeling or sense as to how
my magazine would look. College’s tend to hold students aged between 16-20. The
college magazine will have different articles and information about the college
they attend therefore will be perfectly suitable for the age range of 16-20.
I produced mock ups for my cover page,
contents page and double page spread; this is so I knew roughly how my magazine
would turn out. I did this to let me have a chance to play around with how I
could present my final piece.
After this, I started to piece together
my final cover. I produced my cover on Photoshop, where I added text and
enhanced the different colours and flesh tones to make the magazine more
appealing.
When planning, designing and creating
my final product, I struggled as I had never used blogger before therefore this
held me behind as I had to catch up on how to use blogger and how to create a
blog. I overcame this problem by checking my blog often and in my spare time to
allow me to become more comfortable and familiar with this website.
My media product uses conventions such
as masthead, plugs, pull quotes, main images, props, barcodes and dates. I have
made sure I have included all of these to show that I understand how to use
them and the meanings of them. I have also used these conventions to make the
magazine look more realistic and professional.
On my college magazine, the main image
is two very pretty girls who are clearly studying from a book, this is good as
this shows the audience that they can achieve and become the A* student they
want to become. Viewers may suspect that this magazine is just for girls as it
has to girls on the front however it is for girls and boys as it is a college
magazine relevant for any college student.
During the process of creating my
product I have learnt different techniques on how to use a camera, for example,
I have learnt different camera shots and how they can affect the connotations
of the magazine. I have adapted my knowledge of using Photoshop, I have learnt
how to make the text on the cover page dominate rather than the image, this is
good as it will catch the audience’s attention and stick in their mind.
I have learnt how to make a front cover
look more realistic and relevant to what the audience are wanting. I know how
to adapt text to make it stand out more to the audience which I think is key. I
have learnt how to manage the different connotations and elements on a magazine
cover/advert.
If I was to produce this product again,
I would possibly use a male and a female on my front cover as I feel at the
moment, males are not interested in the product as there are two females on the
front and no males.
