...

1. Initial Plans
Ben Harris

2. Initial Reaction
My first reaction to the brief was that I could make a gaming, movie, or music magazine. If I was to create a gaming magazine, I could
create a small, graphic novel that could go along with them, in a pack like other magazines come in. Also if I were to make a
magazine, I have had some experience with creating magazines as in one of our projects we were asked to make a magazine along
with a website. This was in the print project where I made a gaming magazine cover, double-page spread, and a website for the
fictional magazine company. I could follow the layout of my gaming magazine cover, but make it a music magazine cover, as the
layout looked generally like a music magazine cover would look, but just about gaming; Another idea that I thought would be good, is
to create a fake band and make products that relate to the fake band like band t-shirts, and other merchandise like a band poster. I
am good at using Adobe Photoshop, therefore I can use this to my advantage in the final major project. I think that Photoshop is one
of my strongest skills that I have learnt and improved this year. I could even hand draw some of the merchandise and then scan it in,
as some old bands that are not as popular have hand drawn album covers, that look messy, but fit in with the style of being a small
garage band. If I were to hand draw the album cover and then scan it in, I could also edit the cover using Photoshop trying effects
out, and changing the saturation and hue. I felt happy that I could choose what to do for my final project, I felt as if I had more
freedom to create what ever I wanted. One of the good things about creating a fake band and merchandise for that band would be
that its something that I would enjoy doing therefore, I would work harder and put more time into my work inside and outside of
College. In one of my previous projects, I made a website for my magazine company to sell their magazines on and have information
about the company as well as the games they talk about in their magazines. I could do also do this for my band, instead selling
merchandise, tickets for concerts they are playing at, and general information about who the band are. I could also have some band
art on the website this could also be displayed inside the magazine, on the double-page spread. When making my website from the
previous project, I quite enjoyed making it. Therefore, I think it would be a good idea to make a website again, as I know what to do
and enjoyed it last time meaning that I am more likely to put more effort into it.
I could follow a similar layout to my gaming magazine cover and have the name
of the magazine at the top with a bar behind it. Along with the main image that
this magazine issue wants to focus on in the centre of the cover.

5. Mind Map discussion
I think that print and graphics would be more of a viable option for me as these are the two things that I have most
enjoyed and felt as if I have developed in. If I were to create a fake band and create a poster for that band and
some merchandise, I think that I would enjoy that the most. Also the fact that I am passionate about music,
therefore I would spend more time on this project perfecting it. However, if I were to pick creating a band it
would be hard to get some images as I would have to take them myself. Which is one of the disadvantages of
creating band merchandise and a band website. I would enjoy making an album cover out of most of my ideas
the most especially if I were to draw it using Adobe Photoshop. I think that creating a band is my most
developed option, as I could do a lot with it, especially the merchandise. I would have lots of products to create
whereas with some of the other options on my mind map, I wouldn’t have as many as I would if I were to
create band merchandise. The reason that I am siding with creating a band the most is because, I have lots of
merchandise ideas as well as ideas on how to create some of the merchandise. Also I think that I would enjoy
that the most out of all of my other ideas. My mood board will help me with this project a lot, as I can use it to
refer to on what my initial ideas were and further look back on the plans that I had to begin with. I can also use
it as a list to what I need to do, as my mind map has all of the ideas for my project on there. It will definitely
help me as if I were to forget about one of the products that I was going it make I can just look at my mind map,
and see all of the ideas I have had, seeing which ones I have already done.

6. Pros and cons of each of my ideas
One of the big concerns that I would have with creating a magazine is that I would have to gather all of the
images myself and depending on what the magazine is about that would very difficult, especially if the
magazine is about films and TV series, which was one of my ideas on what the magazine could be about.
However, one of the pros of me creating a magazine would be that I have had lots of practise already and
know the basics of creating a magazine cover and double-page spread.
One of the big disadvantages of creating a portfolio is that I haven't had much practise doing this before, so I
wouldn't know what to do. However, it would be quite an easy option to do as I can concentrate on one
thing such as photography. However, I don’t think that I would enjoy it as much as the other two ideas,
even though I could do some similar ideas like make a poster advertising something like an event.
If I were to create a band and create merchandise for the band, one problem would be that I will have to create
something unique as there are already so many bands out there, I will have to make the name unique, the
logo, and the style of their albums, posters, etc. However, one big influence that wins over the other ideas
is that I can incorporate lots of ideas into this such as the bands logo on a mug or a T-Shirt and it would be
quick to do. I could then have these on the website’s store for sale.

10. These are some magazines that I found on Google
images that I liked the look of. They are all
Kerrang magazine, and all follow a similar layout
design.

12. Mood Board Analysis
All of the images that I have collected in my first mood board are very old school metal styled. One of
the reasons I chose those images was because I love the style of them. I like how the colours have gone
slightly dim and that they were once colourful. I like how they are very graphical. If I were to create a
album cover like the ones that I have collected. I would make mine very similar using lots of colour and
make a modern iron maiden one of the band I have created. If I am going to create an album similar to
the ones that I have chosen to put on my mood board, I will use styles similar to the Iron Maiden album
covers. When it comes to t-shirts they are all very graphical and most of them include the band or
musicians name. Looking at band t-shirts, I am wanting to make a graphical one that includes a design as
well as the logo. I have noticed that in all of my mood boards that I have created, there is a lot of black
and white used. I think that this is because the colours black and white are often associated with rock ‘n’
roll. There is also a lot of red being used, throughout each mood board I have created. I think that when
it comes to me creating my designs I will use a lot of red as well as black and white.