Evaluation

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.