Monday, 30 November 2009

Final Font & Title


This is the font and title i have chose for my frpnt page. People's comments on my questionnaire showed me that 'Uproar' was the most popular idea. And this was my favourite font to use.

Organising a photoshoot















I might get a medium close up of someone so the focus is on them. And it could show clearly what mood the person is in.



















This was my second idea for a photo. It is a high angle shot taken from skins. I could take a photo like this to show upcoming events or something that has already happened that will be featured in the magazine, such as the bash.






















This was my last idea. I could take 4 different photo's and put them all together so it shows different events. One could be of someone looking stressed due to exams or something related to college. Or one could be of someone studying, or something related to fashion, as these are all things featured in the magazine. Also the image of people kissing could represent relationships.






Week 2 Review

In week 2 i completed most things on my action plan. Firstly i made some rough designs for a front cover. I took ideas from other magazines and looked on other peoples blog sites for some ideas. I came up with 2 designs and this week i will choose a final design.

I also decided on a title for my magazine. I chose 'Uproar' as i wanted it to be quite original and short, so it doesn't take up too much of the page. I went on dafont.com to find some samples of different fonts i could use for my title. I put my 6 favourites on and in week 3 will choose whic one fits in best with the rest of my front page.

I haven't started planning my photoshoot yet so this week i will go on the internet and find some examples of shots to use. I will take a variety of different pictures that fit in with the contents and ask for comments on which one is best.

Tuesday, 24 November 2009

Font Designs


These are the 6 favourite fonts i found on www.dafont.com. I think they all stand out and are quite young so will appear to the target audience.

Possibe Design 2


For my 2nd design i used quite a dull background so people's attention will be drawn more to the pictures. The cover lines are in bright colours and there is a bright pink strapline at the top advertising special offers which should attract readers attention. I decided to put the title down the side of the page to make it more different and unusual, but i realised that this may not be effective as people are used to seeing the tile in the top third of the page and don't automatically read downwards if they are just having a quick glance. I think the title needs to be more of a main focus. The pictures are positioned at random angles and the captions underneath them will describe whats in them, for example, an upcoming event.

Possible Design 1

This was my first idea for a design for my front page. I considered people's responses to my questionnaire which suggestd that the picture was the main focus of the front cover and it one of the main things that attracts someone to the magazine. This is why i used a picture to take up the whole background. I also used bright colours such as purple and red to catch people's eye. The masthead is at the top in the centre and cover lines are dotted around the page in different places and angles so they dont take much focus off the picture. The strapline at the bottom also stands out.











Monday, 23 November 2009

Week 1 Review

In week 1 i managed to complete nearly everything i included in my action plan. I wrote up a textual analysis of 2 other student magazines, "Student Times" and "Student ID" which helped me find out what kind of things are effective on a front page and what combinations of fonts, colours, and pictures appeal to the target audience.

I also chose my target audience. Due to the feedback i got from my audience questionnaire, i decided that i would aim my magazine at all students aged between 16 and 18. It would probably appeal more to girls because the colour scheme and fonts are quite bright and girly. However, the feedback i got from boys suggests that bright colours such as yellow, orange and red would appeal to them as well, and is something that attracts them to the magazine. Also, the contents of the magazine will be aimed at both males and females, as it will include student offers and upcoming events which relate to everyone.

My audience questionnaire was quite successful, and helped me a lot with deciding how to design my magazine. The responses i got gave me a general idea of what would be most popular to include, such as upcoming events and special offers for students. Fashion was also a popular idea but mostly from the girls. The most popular title ideas were "Uproar" and "College Ketchup" which i am yet to decide which one to use.

The next thing i am going to do is design possible ideas for a front page, taking the answers to my questionnaire into consideration. Having a picture as the main focus was quite popular as it gives people an idea of what to expect inside.





Thursday, 19 November 2009

Questionnaire

I am trying to find out the types of thing students look for in a magazine. Please could you take the time to fill in my questionnaire to help me with my student magazine front cover :)

1. Do you enjoy reading a student magazine?

2. What sort of things do you like to read about?
- Career options
- Upcoming events
- Fashion
- Discounts for students?

3. What attracts you to the magazine?
- The colour
- The picture
- The contents

4. What type of colour scheme do you think is most appealing?
- Bright.. yellow orange and red?
- Basic.. black and white with not much colour?
- Something of your choice?

5. What do you think is an ideal title?
- The Student Voice
- Freestyle
- Uproar
- Students Revealed
- Student Splash
- College Ketchup
- Suggest your own?

6. Do you think there should be a lot going on or should it be kept quite basic?

7. How much would you expect to pay for a student magazine?
- 50p
- £1
- £2
- free

8. What should be included on the front page?
- Pictures
- Some of the contents
- Special offers
- Other

9. Do you think a picture should be the main focus of the front cover?

10. Would you prefer separate magazines aimed at males and females?

Thankyou!

Monday, 16 November 2009

Action Plan

Week 1:
* Set up my blog
* Write out action plan
* Find some examples of existing student magazines
* Choose a target audience
* Audience questionnaire

Week 2:
* Choose a name for magazine
* Organise and do a photoshoot
* Update blog
* Rough design

Week 3:
* Complete 1st draft and ask for comments
* Make any changes needed
* Update blog

Week 4:
* Evaluate and make sure everything is finshed
* Update blog
* Ask for comments

Textual Analysis of "Student id"


* 'Student id' is the Ludow College magazine and each issue costs 60p.

* The masshead is done in an eye catching font which would appeal to young people.

* The use of colour on the page stands out most, as it uses bright blocks of yellow, orange, and red. This will draw attention to it so people are more likely to pick it up.

* The contents of the magazine are done in bold and positioned randomly all over the page, this is to show the mass market what is featured inside.

*There are pictures in the bottom left quarter of the page, which are overlapping eachother.

Textual Analysis of "Student Times"


* The 'Student Times' is a free magazine that is produced by student and aimed at students.

* It has quite a dull background which doesn't appeal very much to it's target audience of young people.

* The main focus of the front page is the picture which is aimed at the mass market. The headline goes across the picture, and uses the biggest font. There is a lure written underneath "Peter Kay - te bloke from Bloton is back' to make you read the full story inside.

* The masthead 'Student Times' sounds more like a newspaper than a magazine, and the layout is quite traditional, expecially with the colours, blue and white. It uses a basic font as well.

* The banner along the bottom of the page stands out because it's bright green and contrasts with the rest of the page. It is a special offer for student railcards.

* It also has an offer for a niche product, a price-cut at Toni & Guy, which is positioned on the arm of the person in the picture. It is in bold and black so it stands out, but it only takes up a small proportion of the picture so it doesn't steal focus.