I am answering evaluation question one using Slideshare.

1. FOLLOWING AND CHALLENGING
CONVENTIONS: INSPIRATION FROM
EXISTING PRODUCTS
Front Covers

2. MASTHEADSWhen creating my masthead, I took inspiration from existing
products within my target genre: classic rock. To the right is
my own masthead and three others from existing classic rock
magazines: MOJO, NME and VIBE. I made my masthead
conventional by using particular features that existing
mastheads use:
• I chose to use one word – ROCK – as these mastheads are
all one word thus making them memorable for the
audience
• I chose to only use one particular colour (green, however
containing a black shadow) as these existing mastheads
only use one colour
• I have positioned my masthead in to top left corner, like
MOJO, NME and VIBE in order to conform to the
conventions of a classic rock magazine
I believe I have challenged conventions by positioning my
model across the masthead. This can be seen as a benefit by
conveying the main article immediately to the audience,
however, this can also be seen as a disadvantage as the
audience may not understand the institutional name of the
magazine.

3. FEATURE STORIES
I also took inspiration from existing magazines when creating
and positioning my feature stories. I followed the convention
of placing the feature stories down the side of the main
image as well as using a variety of font styles and colours as
demonstrated here by my front cover and three others:
NME, MOJO and Kerrang! These magazines use font and
colour to highlight certain stories and distinguish between
different articles so I attempted to replicate this in order to
conform to generic conventions.
I followed the conventions of positioning my feature stories
on the right, similar to MOJO and Kerrang! However, NME
have challenged conventions by positioning their feature
stories on the left side of the page.
As you can see, I have included the use of different colours
similar to all three of these existing magazines, therefore I
am conforming to the conventions of a typical front cover
magazine.
Mine
MOJO
Kerrang!
NME

4. MAIN STORIES
Conventionally, main stories are advertised on front covers in
a large, bright font using the artists/bands name or a pull
quote. In these examples, from NME, Kerrang! and MOJO,
we can see this convention has been followed. I have used
this convention in my own product, advertising my main
article in a different, larger font and two different colours:
red and black to support the classic rock genre. This makes it
obvious to the audience, which feature story of mine is the
main article in this week issue, as well as enticing the
audience to read my magazine due to the use of colours
which makes my product attractive for the audience. By
highlighting the name of my artist ‘Zowie Star’, I have
advertised the main selling point of my magazine for this
week.

5. SKYLINE
Although not every magazine front cover includes a skyline, it is still a convention that I wanted to follow in my own
product. Here are some examples of skylines from NME, MOJO and Kerrang! These skylines demonstrate where they
should be positioned on a magazine front cover and what should be included in a skyline, whether it be simply just a list of
artists that feature within that particular issue of magazine or whether it be more feature stories. I used mine to advertise
more feature stories within my magazine and also to include a plug/ear on the left hand side of the skyline, which hopes
to attract more readers. Skylines are typically one block colour making it stand out and easy to read for my audience,
however I knew if I made my skyline one block colour then I would cut off the top of my model head therefore I decided to
stick with a transparent skyline however using the FX tool on Photoshop, I highlighted particular words like ‘NEW ALBUM’
as I thought these were hard to read from a distance.

6. BARCODES
Bar codes are a necessary convention of magazine front
covers, however as they are not a selling point nor do they
attract the audience, they are conventionally placed in the
bottom right corner of the front cover, where they are not
noticeable. I followed this convention by placing my barcode
in the bottom right hand side corner of my front cover. As
you can see from these examples, NME, MOJO and Kerrang!
magazines often combine other features with the barcode
such as the price, date, issue number and website. In order
to conform to conventions, I decided to place the issue
number, price and date next to the barcode making my
product professional and successful. The price, date and
issue number do not add anything to the aesthetic of my
product therefore by keeping them small and unnoticeable, I
am focussing all the attention on my main image, heading,
masthead, skyline and feature stories.

7. MAIN IMAGES
Main images are conventionally framed as mid-shots and
depict one artist as shown on these front covers: NME,
MOJO and Kerrang! I used an image framed as a mid-shot on
my own product in order to follow conventions. As you can
see, I have followed the conventions by featuring only one
model however, I chose to break conventions by having my
model looking away from the camera. By positioning her this
way, I believe she looks inspirational which is what I wanted
to achieve. I want my target audience to look at my model
and think ‘I want to be like her’ therefore, I have positioned
her in an elegant position, conveying her as an inspirational
woman. If my target audience continue to read my magazine,
they will realise she challenges conventions of a typical
classic rock female artist.

8. EARS & PLUGS
Plugs commonly feature on music magazines, in either the
top left hand side corner or the top right hand side corner.
They usually advertise a competition or a freebie,
furthermore enticing the audience to purchase my magazine.
As you can see, I have included a yellow plug on the top left
hand side of my front cover magazine. By making this plug
yellow, this will make the plug stand out to the audience
enticing them to purchase this product. Here are some
examples from none music specific magazines in order to
illustrate how the industry use plugs to their maximum
potential. These plugs have been taken from Closer, Elle and
Vogue.