Looking at Music Magazine Covers that we think could be similar to our own.

We searched via the internet looking at front covers of famous magazine in which we like the layout of and that could help create our own. Here is an example of my research. I analysed the cover in terms of colour, layout, size, headings and more. I will hopefully start my magazine soon using this and others as a guide. I will soon, analyse more and also begin creating my own magazine using the codes and conventions I have analysed today.

Deconstructing a Music Magazine.

19th October 2009
Today, we looked at several music magazines in attempt to deconstruct the codes and conventions of them. The magazine I had chosen to do was 'Q' from April 2001. The main image was a member of Aerosmith pointing towards the camera as if to reach out and grab the readers attention. It also gives a clear description of what is inside the magazine itself.
There were no other images on the front cover which could suggest the fact that readers must focus only on the main image. The only main heading was 'AEROSMITH' is giant yellow letters which obviously sets up the main story of the magazine.
There were other headings also that give more information on what is included in the magazine itself.
The only promotional feature of the front cover was a rating of the magazine which was five star. This helps promote the magazine as readers will realise that is a big selling, high rated magazine.
There was a massive range of articles in the magazine that included;
-Mail
-Top 40 Albums
-Gossip
-Strangest Songs
-The rise of Anastacia
-Famous last words ... and more.
The target audience in my opinion is adults, mainly males as most of the adverts inside range from car adverts, to beer, loans and the navy to medicine and men's deodorant.
After deconstrucing the codes and conventions, we began looking at front covers we liked on the Internet.

Music Magazine Research

I have now began working on research for music magazines. With only a bit of time left at the end of the lesson, I managed to have a look at two major music magazine brands which were 'Q' and 'NME'. I am using the montages shown above to compare and contrast, analyse, and also to help gain experience into what is presented on a music magazine. Either in my own time or in the next lesson, I will be researching more magazines and also buying them for my own personal view to help with contents pages and double page spreads. I am focusing on student (target audiences) related magazines, a good exapmle for me to look at is NME. The style and themes of NME inspire my own designs. I like the particular designs.

Finishing the Preliminary

12th October 2009

In the lesson today, i was notified that the target for finishing the premlinary was at the end of the lesson.

After logging on and opening my magazine cover draft, I finished the front cover by adding some sub headings of things included in the magazine. I included things such as college related things such as EMA, University and music. I also tried to include other things that attracts audiences.

After saving my finished front cover draft, i began on my contents page.

For this, I used an over all theme of text messaging using text related fonts and colours. I think this is a suitable idea as it relates to many students and also makes it more interesting for them to read through. I also added pictures of college surroundings and also information related pictures such as 'Bus Times' poster and 'Today's Menu' board as it is a part of (our) college and also gives the impression that the magazine may provide and good amount of information.

Beggining the Practice Magazine!

5th October 2009

During the time allowed to take pictures, I set off out around my college with a camera. In that time,I had taken several picture of various people who agreeded to allow their picture to be taken. As I knew that that we were practicing our student magazine, I thought about the key codes and conventions of a student magazine and my first intinct was to take pictures of students. With others out of the class, I took pictures of various friends and students using the rule of thirds and shot sizes (mid-shot) for my front cover and contents. I also took pictures of various locations around college to help set the theme.

On returning back to class, I uploaded them onto my computer and memory pen. I began a new magazine that I will continue in the upcoming weeks. I used my favourite, and the most suitable photograph and messed around some of the filters on Photoshop to make it look more interesting and professional. After uploading the picture, I began looking and different fonts, colours, shapes and features to begin setting up my front cover using many codes and conventions that I had to think of.

As shown, as of this date, this is what my magazine cover looks like so far. I will continue editing the cover either at home or at the next lesson.

I have learnt more things using the software and hardware featured in todays lesson.