Qualitative Survey Responses

I have done some audience research and asked people in my class who were in my target audience (male and female aged 16-19) questions to find out what they like and dislike about music magazines.

1.What attracts you to the magazine?

2.What kind of colour scheme do you find appealing for the magazine?

3.Would you rather see a male or female on the front cover of the magazine?

4.What types of articles would you like to see in the magazine?

5.Which of these magazine covers do you prefer and why?

6.What do you like about these two magazine front covers (Colours,font,images etc)?

I then showed some of my audience some questions on front covers of two music magazines similar to my own.

7.Do you like the double page spread article to be to be mostly

images or mostly writing. Why?

8.Would you want  the language to be formal or informal?

By carrying out these questions I have gathered some quantitative data about what my target audience would like to see in my magazine and what would be effective. This is extremely useful as I have gathered direct opinions from a group of people who are within my target audience and this will help me to decide on what things I should include in my magazine.

Music Magazine Double Page Spread Analysis

For my research into music magazine I deconstructed three already existing double page spreads. the three double page spreads I chose are ones which I like the style of. The coloured annotations are what I like about the different features and what im going to be using in my magazine.

Music Magazine Contents Pages

As part of my research into contents pages, I deconstructed 3 already existing contents pages which are similar to the genre of magazine that I will be making myself. the coloured annotations are what I like about the different features and what im going to be using in my magazine.

Music Magazine Front cover Analysis

For research into music magazines I chose three already existing music magazine front covers and deconstructed them, the three covers I chose have the same genre,target audience and style I like and that I would like my magazine to be like. 

Mood Board

I created a mood board as a way to record my music magazine ideas. I have different images of magazine front covers, which their layouts and colour palette's appeal to me. I have cut out different styles of text out of other magazines because i liked the font style, colours and size. I have included different advertisement that I want in my magazine. I have also put down different artist which i would like to put in my magazine.

Practice Music Article

For the task I had to produce a an article. I didn't find this task too challenging because I researched existing articles in music magazines. I looked at magazines with the same type of genre that I want to use for magazine and tried to use similar dynamics that are in existing magazines.

I would change a few things to the article based on the feed back that I was given such as changing the layout, put the paragraphs into columns to make it look more like a magazine article and I would also make it a double page spread design.

Initial Magazine Design

I was given a task to create mock ups of a front cover, contents page and double page spread which included some aspects of what I have written in my essay, in which I used simple software and images sourced from the Internet. Here are the three pieces I produced.

For my mock front cover design I got given a grade B. The advice I received off my teacher to make the cover better was to take better care of the scale of things because the barcode was very large in comparison to other things, my teacher also advised me to have the masthead behind the model image. but overall I was told it was a really good piece of work.

For my contents page I have been given  a grade B, this is because I showed good design work and included all the conventions of a contents page. My teacher said that it was well designed and an excellent piece of work.

For my Double page spread I got given a grade E, this is because the layout is incorrect and my use of spacing is poor. the advice i received from my teacher was to use a stronger more eye-catching image, my teacher also advised me to have a look at real magazine double page spread for ideas and tips on column, layouts, and necessary conventions to use in double page spreads to boost my grades up.

Initial Magazine Research and Ideas

My initial task was to research three already existing magazines, to find out their target audience and the reasoning's behind this. To do this I chose the three magazines with a different target audience I did a brief analysis into the ways in which they appealed to the audience through colour scheme, images, cover prices. This helped me get a understanding of the way semiotic signs are used for each magazine. 
 

 

After this I wrote a 1,000 word essay on my chosen idea for my magazine design. using the following brief set by my teacher:

In the essay I included what the front cover would look like, which celebrity(s) would be on the cover, the colour scheme I have used, the costume that i chose the the cover model(s) to wear and any other mise-en-scene ideas. I then described an idea for a main article for the magazine including the topic, artist and imaged used. I then came up with a list of ten articles that would feature in the magazine and would be included on the contents page, which included everyday articles and exclusive features and articles that would appeal to my target audience. This has given me ideas of what things I should be including in my magazine such as articles that will appeal to my target audience and style of the front cover.

 

 

The grade I received for this piece of work was a C, I was pleased with this grade as it was something I had had very little knowledge about, but I knew I could improve this. My teacher said that had I had good idea for design and layout. My teacher then said I should have the articles to all be for the chosen target audience, I will take this into account when doing my magazine coursework.

Magazine Front Cover Elements

when doing my research into magazine front covers I have found that it is particularly important that the magazine is appealing and eye-catching to the potential buyer. This can by the style of text, font, colour, framing and overall design of the magazine front cover.

 My magazine is a music magazine with a hybrid genre, it is aimed at 16-19 year old of both genders therefore it will have a large readership. With the age group being of the ages 16-19 year old the front cover must be fun and lively to attract the reader.


 
The front cover of a magazine will normally have a well known star which is relevant to the audience and who the reader aspires to be and/or idolises, with using one main image this has a greater impact and is easier for the eye to process quickly. The models pose is also a main factor to the appeal of the potential buyer, for example on a pop teen magazine a super-smiler pose will be shown. This is a full face shot with a big smile, the model will show confidence.



For my magazine front cover I would have my model in an invitational pose with emphasised eyes, mysterious look and a slight smile. This will appeal to my audience being   both genders.different model poses I have found are the chocolate box pose: a full face shot focusing on flawless beauty, the super-smiler pose : full face shot with a big smile and confident look and the invitational pose:emphasised eyes, a mysterious look and a hint of a smile.

For my AS media studies course work I have been asked to create a music magazine. This will include the front cover, contents page and a double page spread article. I am aware that i must only include my original photography and articles. 

These are a few examples of the type of magazine genres that I would like my magazine to reflect and the layouts and colours I like.I will use the blog to record my research and planning.