My evaluation on my first front cover and contents page.

1. Amanpreet Bhopal 12.7
Preliminary task evaluation

2. My front cover and contents page

3. Question 1
My target audience liked the layout
of my front cover and said that it
looked professional however
some people found it a bit hard to
read.They also liked the way I
had two fonts and it wasn’t all
just “one font everywhere”. On
the other hand, the image used
wasn’t of high quality and that
was something I could improve
upon.

4. They also said that my contents page had good information within
it that would be useful for students and would make them want
to read the articles suggested. However, a lot of people pointed
out that it was very plain and there were empty spaces.To
improve it I could have filled the boxes in with either text or
images.Also, the placement of the image in the middle seems
very “random” and that I should make it into a square rather
than a rectangle as an improvement.


5. Most people I had asked said they would buy the magazine and
they would be interested as the articles had interesting topics.
As a suggestion to improve, one person said that it looks very dull
and in my real thing I should incorporate more colour into it to
make it stand out.

6. Question 2
We were originally asked to produce a school magazine that
could be aimed at either the parents or the students
themselves.
To make the front cover and contents page I looked at
examples of school magazines online to get an idea of the
types of articles used, the images on the covers and layouts
of text.Then I produced a mock-up on paper and then
went ahead and produced it on the computer using the
software called InDesign.

7. Real front cover vs my cover

8. Similarities and differences
They both don’t have a lot of text on the cover and it’s quite
spaced out on the page.Also, there is a clear focus on one
student in both covers who are looking straight at the
camera.

9. However, the real cover has the headline in one corner and
then page information on the other corner. My cover has
the headline going straight across the page with
information on either side of the page. Furthermore, there
is a little sticker at the bottom left of the real cover giving
some tips about children's health and my cover doesn’t
have this.


10. Real contents vs my contents

11. Similarities and differences
They both contain large images and include text on either
side of the image. It’s also split into sections such as fashion
which is similar to my cover.
The differences are that my cover has the title “inside this
issue” and it’s put across the top of the page.The real
contents page has the title “contents” and it’s put on the
side of the page. In addition, the text is on top of the image
in the real one and is quite small. In my cover, the writing
is in a separate box and is a bit large.

12. Strengths and weaknesses of photos
Strengths:The front cover image tells people who the
magazine is aimed at and what it’s about. It is also just a
student so there isn’t anything distracting in the
background.The contents page image has university
written on it which links to one of the articles on the page.
Weaknesses:The image isn’t of great quality and is a bit
blurry on the front cover.Also it looks slightly pixelated
when enlarged to fit the front cover.The contents page
image doesn’t fit correctly and looks misplaced.

13. Clear aim but
Very blurry
Links to university but picture looks
misplaced

14. Strengths and weaknesses of layout
Strengths: On the front cover you can easily see the date and
issue number a well as the headline and straplines. It isn’t
overcrowded and it organised nicely.The contents page is
similar in that it isn’t overcrowded and is divided by
sections so you can easily access the information.
Weaknesses:The front cover (although isn’t overcrowded)
needs a bit more straplines as there are only three.The
contents page is very empty and the image placed in the
middle goes across the page which looks very random.

15. Easily see the issue number
and date and the cover isn’t
overcrowded. However, it’s
too plain
Divided in
sections
but very
empty and
placement
of the
picture is
random.

16. Would the articles appeal to the target
audience?
The articles would as they include interesting things that
students would want to know such as easy ways to get
organised.This is because students go through a lot of
stress during exam season and learning how to be
organised before hand would make a difference in their
stress levels and overall performace.Also, there are articles
for those students who are looking to go to university as
well as there is information on finding the right
universities.

17. Improvements:
To improve the front cover I could use a better quality photo
that won’t pixelate and ensure that the colours are bright
enough so everyone can read it. I’m also going to add more
colour into it and add more straplines so that there is more
information on there.
To improve the contents page I could add more information/
images in the empty boxes and also make sure that the
images used aren’t cut off and are square shaped in an
appropriate place.