1. Evaluation 1
In what way does your media product use, develop or
challenge forms and conventions of real media products
2. When designing my music magazine, I decided to keep some of
the generic conventions specific to my genre, the purpose for
doing this is to ensure my magazine retains the same professional
quality others music magazines do. In addition by producing a
magazine which follows some of the norms expected allows
consumer to relate and compare the magazine, rather then them
being put off by their obscure and uncommon conventions.
However rather then just follow the typical conventions I did
chose to expand and build upon them to make a modern and
unique magazine.
For example the title of my magazine follows the traditional
convention of a indie rock magazine, as the abbreviated initials
stand for Euphoria magazine. I chose the name euphoria due to a
lot of indie music being described as euphoric and is a word that is
often thrown about in music reviews which is also the main focus
of my magazine. As for positioning I continued the convention of
having the masthead at the top left side of my magazine to draw
as much attention to the banding as possible and to ensure my
product didn’t look too out of the norm. when designing my
masthead I analysized other rock magazines in order to gain an
understanding of what was to be expect of the masthead. Its for
that reason that I chose to design my masthead around the
already successful and well-known logo of Q magazine which uses
a simply but effective red and white colour scheme.
4. I had my artist look directly at the camera to
almost entice the public to look deeper with the
magazine through the use of buy it. This follows
the usual convention and is used in all magazine
including my specific music magazine being indie
rock. I also had her stand side face with a tilted
head to draw attention to her while leaving space
for cover lines.
Using the generic convention for an indie rock
magazine I designed a red masthead with the
abbreviated letters of my magazine in white.
These follow the conventions of magazine such
as Nme and Q which are considered to be very
successful rock magazines. As for the
positioning I also placed it in the top left cover
where it is conventional to do so, to keep us
with the customs of modern day magazine and
to appeal to the public.
I did however go against the typical convention
with the positioning of my artist. Rather then
place her in the centre of the magazine I placed
her slightly to the right side, in order to ensure
that no attention was derived from the text on
the left and ensures the two don’t mix, as I
personally believe the model can sometimes draw
to much attention away from the content, and
the language can often get lost.
5. Using a sans serif font I designed a simplist title
naming the band being featured on my
magazine. Sans serif font are actually the
convention fonts used and this is evident in
magazines such as Karrang, Nme and Q. I
choose to using white wring as it portrays a
degree of professionalism and is a common
colour to use in magazine depending on the
background.
The positioning of my cover are nonconventional
as they remain only on side of the artist. As
explained previously I prefer the content and
main image separate from each other as the
image normally dominates the cover. I
understand this is convention due to the main
focus of the magazine being about that artist,
however I don’t agree that it should derive any
attention from the content which is there to
inform you of what that magazine is going to be
about.
Conventionally I have included other images of
what else lies within the magazine, and have
placed it in the corner of my cover. This is to
ensure not to much attention is focused on
them however give a brief understand of what
else is due to come in the magazine.
6. Typically the barcode is placed at the bottom of
the magazine, I instead placed it in the top right
corner of the cover where there was a sufficient
amount of space and where I believe it would
looks more fashionable. I then arranged the
price of the magazine and the date to work
around that barcode to ensure it was well
compliment. This is actually convention for the
price and the date to be seen together I due to
there aesthetic i would now agree upon this
decision.
In modern magazines a plus sign is often as
‘and’ sign to expresses that there even more in
the magazine. I made a slight variation of this
using a cross and the antichrist to made a
unique and interesting plus sign. So in one
respect I continued the convention of the plus
sign however on the other hand I changed it
slightly.
Traditionally the name of the artist and the
quote is placed underneath the actually artist
and I decided to keep this convention as it
makes sense to keep them together underneath
the artist they are refer to.
8. Conventionally the masthead and title of the
page is displayed at the top center of the page.
Again I chose to stick with this convention as
naturally when reading you start from the top
and as the titles function is to explain what that
page is it only makes sense to have in the top
center. I also put my masthead and title
together which again is the norm in magazine
and therefore I chose to keep that.
Like most magazines I also chose to code my
pictures so the reader is aware of which number
relates to what picture. This is used in
mainstream magazines such as Nme and Q and
was the example I used to make my page. This
convention system also makes it interesting to
read as you have to find the picture it relates to.
I positioned the images separate from the text
which conventionally it varies however this is
typically most used format for magazine. This
layout again is used by magazine such as
Kerrang! and Nme. The positioning of the
images also allows for the attention to be
distributed so not all of it is based around the
pictures. This is particular effective because due
to it being a contents pages the contents within
it is actually important and needs a certain level
of attention
9. I used a light grey line to neatly space my
features and to make it more legible for the
reader. The lines are very common and can be
found in most magazine including music ones. I
chose to use the convention to ensure my media
product follows the same profession standard of
magazine and to ensure my target market isn't
put off by using to many unconventional
features.
I used a range of punctuation to exaggerate and
emphasise certain parts of my magazine. For
instance the use of large bold speech marks are
used to not only quote the text but to also
promote it. I also used exclamation marks to
help as a way to provoke and advertise certain
aspect of the magazine in that circumstance the
promotion of a up coming E.P.
I also used and enlarged the artist names and
used the as a sort of subheading to introduce
the text. This again is a common convention
used in most magazine in an attempt to
broadcast there name. I chose to do this as I
believed it was an effect way to start the
descriptive text below it and because I like the
aesthetics behind it.
11. Conventionally in most
magazines, new
paragraphs start with
the enlarged first letter
of the first word. This is
done to draw you to the
content of the page and
to keep your eyes
entertained. However I
adapted it slightly
rather then use a letter
I used a symbol which
is often related to indie
rock in an attempt to
further address my
target audience and to
have an edge against
competition.
Typically in a double page spread you wouldn’t see any other images other then the main one which is
meant to represent your featured artist however I unconventionally decided to add small amount of
Polaroid pictures to help emphasise the genre of the magazine and to perhaps attract me audience using
and unusual format. These pictures are positioned directly under the main image to ensure they derive
the attention away from the main image.
Using rebellious costuming I used dressed my artist appropriately to fit the genre of my magazine is a
custom in all magazine to ensure the artist/model fit the type and genre of the magazine. I position my
artist dead centre of the left side of the page to ensure all eyes were on her. In addition to this we all
naturally read form left to right so the first thing you would see would be my artist, knowing this it only
made sense to position her here. I also used non verbal communication with the direct contact, this
again is a norm in most magazine as it almost invited you to read on and find out the story behind then
face.
As expected of
a masthead I
placed it in
the top left
corner so you
are aware of
the magazine
which is
publish this
material.
Further more
it also
introduces the
whole
magazine.
12. It a common
occurrence to see a
large letter
representing the
first initial of the
band being featured.
I decided to use this
convention to install
the same level of
professionalism in
my magazine. I
chose to have it in
the same colour I
had been using for
the rest of my
magazine to
continue the theme.
As well as a title a magazine is entitled to introduce its featuring artist, this is
normally position above the article central to page. I decided to keep the artist name
at the top but instead I place it to the right of the page so I could show off a range of
design and symbols relevant to indie culture. I don’t this to address the audience so
that can relate and hope buy the magazine.
Conventionally when the artist is quoted it is placed directly underneath the
image used to portray that artist however due to me instead using images in
that position I decided to place the quote directly on top on my model. I did
this so the consumer are to clearly see it and due to it provocative nature it
also encourage them to read on.
I chose to use
the tradition
layout of a
magazine for
my text by
segregating it
into 3
columns. I
decided to do
this due to the
elegant
aesthetic that
come with it
and not the
mention due
to it being a
common
convention
readers are
mostly like
accustom to
reading it like
that.
