School magazine preliminary task

1. Preliminary Task
Anastasija Popovic

2. Introduction
For my AS Media Studies Preliminary Task my assignment was to design and make
school magazine front cover and a content page while following magazine design
codes and conventions.
To successfully fulfill preliminary task requirement this project was divided into three
main stages of production:
Pre-production:
 Secondary & primary research
 Rough draft/flat plan
Production:
 Photoshoot
Post-production:
 Front cover & content page CAD
Project evaluation:
 Critical project & final outcome analysis

3. Secondary Research

4. Magazine Design Terminology
Mast Head (short for Master Head)
Mast Head is the name of the publication. It is generally situated on the top third of the cover
and will usually fill the whole width of the page. If it’s shorter than the width, it will be in the top
left corner as the left third of the magazine is the only part visible when stacked on shop shelves.
It will usually be made with a custom font, using colour, size and kerning to help appeal to the
magazine’s target market.
While the colour may change, the Mast Head is generally kept consistent across all issues to help
make it recognizable.
Tagline
(Sell Line / Strapline / Magazine Deck)
Positioned close to the Mast Head is the
tagline. Taglines are a smart and witty way
to define what the magazine and can act as
a mini table of content to show what will be
inside the magazine.
Skyline (Banner / Strip)
Skyline is usually on the top or bottom of
the cover. It highlights titles or names
related to that particular issue, much like a
mini table of contents.
Pug
Generally located on the corner or attached to the
side of the cover, these elements are used to
promote exciting news or promotions, for example, if
the magazine is free. The idea is to make it stand out
from the rest of the magazine by using bright colours
and high contrast.
Thumbnail Images
These are smaller images that can support
visually key articles featured in the
magazine.

5. Puff (Qualifier / Flash)
Puff is an eye-catching graphic or text to draw
attention. A popular convention is the sticker effect,
using drop shadow, a strong outline or using a star
shape. However, it can just be text that uses a symbol
like an asterisk to attract the eye.
With both pugs and puffs, you should be careful not
to overuse them as it generally looks more stylish to
have the front cover clean and neat without lots of
distractions.
Main Image
The largest element of magazine cover
design will be the image. It’s common to
have a person looking into the camera as
this is a great way to get the customer’s
attention.
Alternatively, you may wish to use an
illustration or even typography. Some
publications may call for images to be used
in a very creative way, using negative space
to make a powerful impact.
Frames
Frames can help to make the magazine stand out
on the shelf, but it does reduce the available
space for the main image and additional
information
When it comes to professional magazine cover
design, consistently is vital as this helps readers to
recognize the publication and to learn where to
find the relevant information.
Main Cover Line
This is the title which is about the main
story or about the main image which
anchors this image.
Cover Lines
These are lines of text on the front cover which
allows the audience to see what sort of content
is within the magazine.
Buzzwords
Usually within the main feature article,
these are words that are used to entice
the audience.
Header & Footer Bar
This is a stripe that highlights the content
of the magazine, it could be slogan, punch
line, description or added extra.

6. Masthead
Date Line &Issue Number
Website
Price
Strap Line
Left Third
Main Cover Line
Main Image
Cover Lines
Kicker
Right Third
Middle Third
Bottom Third
Middle Third
Top Third

7. Typography
The chosen typefaces is contrast and
combination of serif and sans-serif
fonts. The masthead noticeable and
eye-catching and belong into hand-
written italic serif font which connotes
tradition, class and formality. The
selling lines are done in capital sanserif
font that is clear and easy to read.
Language
The overall visual and textual language
connotes relaxed formality. The
written elements are short and snappy
which is purposely done and aimed at
desired target audience. The textual
elements easily understood and they
entice the audience without reveling
too much information.
Mise-en-scene
The model’s dress code is traditional
school uniform that depicts formality,
but as the model is leaning on a
banister with smiley face as well that
gives more relaxed overall look. The
background gives sense of openness
and airiness in contrast to dark
uniform. The color scheme is
complimentary in combination with
the image and written elements.
Layout
The composition of this front cover is
very formal and it is well organised
while implementing main design key
points such as image, masthead and
article headline placement and
arraignment.
Camerawork
The main image is an eye level
medium long shot of a female student
with additional head space. This
allows the masthead and text to be
placed on both sides and at the same
time the model and background are
clearly visible.
Mode of address
The visual and textual modes of
address communicate with desired
target audience in a formal and
relaxed way. The image is of a casual
girl next door student which readers
can relate and identify with. The
featured articles are written in a
simple, straightforward and easy to
understand way so the students can
relate to and be attracted to read the
magazine.
Colour
The main color scheme is blue, black,
green and white. These contrasting
but at the same time complimentary
colors ties with the school attributes
and when used for written elements
that makes them easy to read. They
stand out from faded background.
Additional bright colored text is used
to draw attention and raise interest.

8. The issue date is placed below
masthead on the left hand side.
This is strategically placed in order
to visually divide layout and to
make it easier for the audience to
know about date the content is
from. The plug on the main image is in a
yellow circular shape placed on the
top left corner. The plug stands out
and highlights and points out to
the main magazine article.
The image of a teenage student is
deliberately used so that desired
audience can relate to and to
interest them to read the article
and the rest of the magazine.
The masthead is written in clear,
bold and easy to read san-serif
font. This font is simple, formal and
modern. The orange background
make it even more noticeable.
The layout is done using strict grid
and column design rule which
makes this page very rigid and
formal but at the same such
orginesed content page makes it
easy to navigate and read.
The social media icons have been
placed at the bottom as additional
and supporting information and to
ensure that desired audience could
find out further information which
can be shared and used as
advertising platform.
The main article titles are written
in clear, bold and easy to read
capital letters. Addition article
summary is written in a same but
smaller font underneath. This
provides summary of a specific
article. Page numbers in a pale pink
color are the same size as main
article titles.
The focus image on the content
page is a medium long shot of a
collage student seating outdoor.
The image mood is informal and
relaxed and visually is pleasing
which will most defiantly attract
desired audience.
The front cover image is placed
below main content page image in
order to link between both pages.
Next to front cover image a short
article summary including the page
number is provided so the
audience can easily find the main
magazine feature.

9. Primary Research

10. The purpose of a questionnaire is to gather
data from a target audience. The
questionnaire includes open ended
questions, closed ended questions, or a
combination of both.
As participants fill out a questionnaire,
they're giving valuable titbits of data. The
data collected can be quantitative or
qualitative.
The survey findings will give a valuable
information in regards to overall magazine
visual design and content that will appeal
and attract my desired target audience.
The best way to present survey results is
with a chart or graph.
The survey findings will be beneficial in
formulating magazine style and design
specifications. This findings will be included
in my school magazine overall design.

11. What year group are you in?
yr7
yr8
yr9
yr10
yr11
yr12
yr13
Are you male of female?
Male
Female
According to survey findings most
participants that took part in this
survey and nevertheless that have
expressed interest in reading a school
magazine are upper secondary
students. As I have identified my main
target audience I will make sure that
my design as well as content appeals to
them.
Around 60% of participants in this
questionnaire are female. Therefor I
will make sure that the magazine is
directly and predominantly aimed at
them, but I will as well take into
consideration that magazine does not
exclude male audience.

12. These findings clearly demonstrate
that most students involved in this
survey are interested in reading
school magazine. It is obvious that
there is need for such publication
that will provide formal and
informal information to students.
Most students would prefer to read in a school
magazine about school life such as after school
activities, creative workshops such as fashion as
well as additional recommendation. Additional
article options will be featured in a magazine but
mostly as a secondary and supporting articles.
Would you read school
magazine?
Yes
No
What would you like to read
about?
Sport
Food
Advice
Career
Horoscope
Fashion
Opinions
Clubs
Recommodation

13. The main three colors that will be
included into magazine overall design
are red, grey and white. These colors
are part of school logo as well and this
will make complete magazine feel and
look easily associated with the school
Most participants, around 70% are
keen to have puzzles and quizzes to be
included in a school magazine. This
feature will mostly be displayed on the
last pages of the magazine or perhaps
within specific subject articles. This will
provide to readers educational element
and if there is prize provided I am sure
that this feature will become regular in
my magazine.
What colors are eye catching to you?
red
orange
white
green
grey
blue
Puzzles & Quizzes?
yes
no

14. In this chart it is evident that students
prefer that magazine style to
incorporate informal and formal style,
that is slightly leaning towards more
fun and relaxed style. This style is
appropriate for the target audience but
as a designer and editor I will make
sure that magazine is appropriate for
the age groups and that follows school
ethics.
This questions results clearly reflect my
own opinion about length of articles
that should be featured in a school
magazine. Beside being overwhelmed
with lengthy articles and loosing
interest, most students are
overwhelmed with everyday workload
and therefor prefer for articles to be
short, interesting and snappy.
Magazine style?
formal
informal
both
Length of articles?
long
short

15. Most students, around 60% would like
to be featured in a school magazine.
With this question my intention was to
find out if students would like to read
and be featured about their
achievements within and outside of
school. I think that it is important to
praise students and to give them space
so other students can be inspired by
their success.
Up to 80% of students included in this
survey expressed interest in
participating and winning prizes. That
finding is linked with quizzes question.
This enticing feature is well established
in magazine publications and it is way
to attract desired as well as additional
audience.
Would you like to be featured in an
article?
yes
no
Participation and prizes?
yes
no

16. Flat Plan/Rough Draft

17. Front Cover Flat Plan
Issue Number & Date
Main Image
Masthead
School Name
Cover Line
Barcode
Cover Line
Cover Line
Cover Line
Supporting
Cover Line
Image
Supporting
Cover Line
Image

18. Content Page Flat Plan
Page
No. Headline
Subheading
Front
Cover
Slogan Issue Number & Date
Masthead
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
School Name School Logo
Main
Cover
Image
Headline
Subheading
Headline
Subheading
Headline
Subheading
Headline
Subheading
Headline
Subheading
Headline
Subheading
Page
No.
Page
No.
Page
No.
Page
No.
Page
No.
Page
No.
Headline Image
Headline Image

19. Front Cover/Content Page
Photoshoot

26. Front Cover Masthead Design

28. Front Cover/Content Page
CAD