1. IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR
PRODUCT USE, DEVELOP OR
CHALLENGE FORMS AND
CONVENTIONS OF REAL MEDIA
PRODUCTS?
EVALUATION- QUESTION 1

2. RESEARCH & PLANNING
When I began planning my magazine design and creating my basic flat plans for my music
magazine, I had to bear in mind the forms and conventions of real music magazines and
magazines in general. To begin I did my research of music magazines and chose the conventions
I’d like to incorporate into my magazine e.g. pull quotes (text wrapped around), strapline/
tagline etc. As my magazine is based around a genre where there is a significant gap in the
market (Ska & Rocksteady primarily), I couldn’t find any music magazine of that genre to relate
to and help me choose what conventions to use. Therefore, I based my magazine similarly on
NME and Q magazine in particular, however this slideshow is only going to show examples of
NMEs cover, contents, and double page spread.
As well as incorporating the forms and conventions of real music magazines, I also challenged
these at some points, which will be explained in the following slides.

3. FRONT COVER OF NME-
CONVENTIONS Iconic masthead
Puff & plug
Slanted cover lines
Side banner- includes extra
images and cover lines
Barcode, pric
e, date and
tagline
Main cover line- large
and bold
Artist banner
Main image
Pull quote
Black, red and white
colour scheme is
suggested.

4. MY FRONT COVER-
CONVENTIONS
Iconic masthead-
bold and the largest
text on the cover
Tagline/ strapline
Puff & plug- drop capital
‘50’ as the number grabs
the readers attention and
indicates they’re going to
get something extra, that
they wouldn’t find
elsewhere.
Top banner showing
the reader what else is
‘exclusively’ included in
the magazine
Side banner containing other
smaller images with smaller
cover lines. I have still kept three
images likewise NME, but I have
changed the positioning so it is
slanted as like that look. I have
used two tone as the backing for
the left third.
Pull quote
Main cover line- second
largest text on the cover
Artist banner
Barcode, issue
number, date and price
Black and white image with red
and blue and two tone colour
scheme to communicate genre
and suit target audience.

5. COMPARISONS BETWEEN CONVENTIONS-
FRONT COVER
• On my front cover, that was based around the NME cover I analysed for conventions, I have included numerous
conventions of real magazines. Firstly I created a masthead using ‘dafont.com’ and the font ‘Independant’ as it suited
the genre of Rocksteady and looked a little 60s. I also made it the largest and boldest text on the page so that it can
easily be recognised. I also incorporated a puff & plug which the readers are immediately drawn to. Puffs and plugs
usually show something exclusive or extra included in the magazine and mine does. However, I added a number to it
which is also a common convention of magazine front covers, to catch the readers attention immediately and get
them to want to read on and to make them feel as if their getting something extra that you can’t get elsewhere.
• Likewise NME, I added an side panel with extra images and smaller cover lines so that it would appeal to everyone. I
thought that if there was just one story/ cover line on the cover, that some people not interested in the artist, would
just not pick it up, so this way it can appeal to everyone. However, as mentioned I decided to make my slanted to
make it a bit different and added the two tone pattern which I didn’t originally plan to use. I feel this makes the
magazine gender neutral too and clearly communicates the genre. For the magazine to be aimed at both genders I
don’t feel as if it needs images of both males and females and content to specifically suit each gender individually, so
by using a neutral colour scheme and non gender biased content, it suits both genders as well as my intended age
group (16- 50 or even older). I have also added an artist banner as I feel this is another effective way of addressing
the content and the wide range of music to suit the audience. I also made this at a slant to make the cover cohesive
and interesting to look at.

6. • Although the NME cover I analysed didn’t have a top banner, I decided to
incorporate one as other magazines have them, and I feel again, it is another
way of grabbing the readers attention and showing what additional content
you get with the magazine. This can also make it appeal to more readers. I
have also included a tagline similar to NME and most magazines, however
unlike NME, I haven’t put it alongside the barcode, and instead under my
masthead so it can be easily recognised and associated with the masthead.
• Also, I have used a close up portrait style shot for my main image. This is a
typical convention of magazines to make the reader connect and feel like the
artist is looking directly at them. This kind of shot is often seen on music
magazine often as it’s more personal etc.

7. CONTENTS PAGE NME- CONVENTIONS
Masthead- can be easily
recognised away from
the magazine
Main image- On this contents page
there is one main image which
immediately grabs the readers
attention. This is accompanied with a
short but snappy cover line and bold
page number so the reader can easily
find it.
Band index- Acts as a simple
navigation method for
readers.
Contents=
The contents is split up into
various categories to make
it easier and quicker for the
readers to find where to go.
However, I feel too much
text has been squeezed
onto one page.
These small arrows
highlight the most
important features.
Date
of the
issue
This is an advertisement
banner which boosts
magazine sales. This is a
very common
convention on contents
pages especially in
music magazines.

8. MY CONTENTS PAGE- CONVENTIONS
Masthead- can be
recognised easily
‘This week’s artists’ side panel-
Likewise NME with their ‘band
index’, however I haven’t included
page numbers as I feel it will make
it more intriguing for readers.
Having this also shows straight
away all of the musicians included
which could also make a wider
audience buy it.
I have included three images in a grid like
fashion, which a lot of magazines do. I
think this makes the contents page more
visually appealing and offers a variety of
significant features included in the
magazine, whereas NME only highlighted
one. These are accompanied by
short, catchy captions containing buzz
words such as ‘exclusive’ and
‘favourite’, which make the reader want
to read on and also feel like they’re
getting something extra from the
magazine.
I have kept the text to a minimum and the
overall contents on the page to a minimum, as
it looks more simplistic and I feel this is more
effective at grabbing the readers attention
rather than a cluttered page. I have also used
two different fonts to make it more cohesive
and interesting to look at/ read.
The numbers of the pages the images relate to are
in large, bold text and in red so they stand out. If a
reader just looked at the image and liked the artist
they could just flick straight to those pages without
having to read anything else. This is an easy
navigation system. I have also incorporate the
checked two-tone pattern into my contents page to
give my magazine a consistent look.
Advert- similar to NMEs
one but positioned at
the side without an
image.

9. COMPARISONS BETWEEN CONVENTIONS-
CONTENTS PAGE
I have used numerous conventions of contents pages on my contents page, however I feel my
contents page does also challenge the conventions slightly. Firstly, I have included my magazines
masthead on the contents page, so it becomes memorable for the reader and so that if they
were to just see the contents page, they would recognise what magazine it came from. I have
also included large, colourful page numbers to aid simple navigation, as most magazines do. I
have also created a small advert which advertises a subscription service for my
magazine, likewise NME does. I have kept to my red and black and white/ two-tone colour
scheme and also added minimal blue. I also put some of the text and lines at slight angles to
make it more visually pleasing and to give it an edge, similar to the genre it is representing.

10. However, in general I feel my contents page doesn’t conform to the typical conventions of
contents pages. This is because I have more than one main image, all showing different
stories within the magazine, in no order of importance, however in most magazines there’s
one main, important feature. Another way that my product challenged conventions of
magazines is the side bar named ‘This week’s artists’ that I created. Although NME has
something similar, I haven’t included page numbers as I feel it will make it more intriguing for
readers. Having this also shows straight away all of the musicians included, which could also
make a wider audience buy it. I’ve never seen it in any other music magazines and it gives my
contents page a uniqueness and also makes it visually interesting for readers. I have tried to
kept the text to a minimum and the overall contents on the page to a minimum, as it looks
more simplistic and I feel this is more effective at grabbing the readers attention rather than
a cluttered page.

11. DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD NME-
CONVENTIONS
Pull quote/ title-
consumes a page and
a half. It’s bold and
visually interesting so
it will be the first thing
the reader reads.
Page
number
and web
address
Main image-
medium
close up
Drop capital
Introduction to
make people
decide whether
they want to
continue
reading
Date, page number
and masthead
Main body of text neatly organised into four
columns on the left page.
Small text box
containing a
caption to
accompany
the image

12. MY DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD- CONVENTIONSShort introduction to let the
readers decide whether they
want to read on or not. I have
included a drop capital in this
as it is a common
convention, and have filled it
in red so it stands out, making
the reader read that bit first.
Pull quote with
text wrapped
around it
Page number, artists
name and website/
masthead.
Main image-
Sticking to my
theme of
black and
white images
and still using
red.
Page number
and artists
name- same as
other side.
Caption containing artist, place and date
the photo was taken. This is common in a
lot of magazines.
Enlarged letter ‘J’ to
represent the artists
name- this is unusual
and adds to the
uniqueness of my
magazine and the
genre/ artist being
interviewed-
challenging the
conventions.
Lines to separate the text from
the introduction and basic info.
i.e. page numbers
Main body of text is organised
into neat columns- convention
of almost all magazines.

13. COMPARISONS BETWEEN CONVENTIONS-
DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD
My double page spread is probably the most deviant of conventions of magazines compared to my front cover and
contents page. Firstly, I have included a main image which fills up the whole left hand page and I haven’t included a title
at all or a pull quote on this page, which is unusual, however, I feel it looks effective and gives my magazine the
uniqueness I was trying to create. Another way my double page spread challenges conventions is by putting the enlarged
letter ‘J’ (representing the artists name) behind the main body of text. I got this idea from Q magazine so it isn’t
completely original, but I feel it is a simple way of grabbing the readers attention and again giving the magazine a sense
of individuality and so it can be told apart from other music magazines.
However, I have made use of many conventions too including the introductory paragraph but instead have put it above
the line that separate it from the text, including a drop capital too. I have also structured the text as most magazines
usually do in 3 columns running down the right hand side page. NME challenges this however, and has four smaller
columns that spread across both pages, as well as the pull quote spreading across both pages. I have also added a pull
quote with the text wrapped around it which is a typical convention, but I feel it looks good and grabs the readers
attention. I chose an interesting part of the text that leaves unanswered questions which will hopefully make the reader
want to read the entire article. I have similarly used a smaller version of my masthead below the main article, and have
incorporated it into the web address for the magazine.

14. Overall I think my magazine both makes use of the forms and conventions of
real media products, but also challenges them. I think this mixture is good
because as well as it being recognised as a legitimate and realistic magazine
design, it also as individuality and the uniqueness I set out to create.
BY ELLA ASH