2. Introduction
To meet the requirements of my AS Media Studies Preliminary Task, I was tasked with
creating a school magazine front cover and a content page, adhering to the codes and
conventions of magazine design. In order to successfully complete this preliminary
task, the project was divided into four production stages:
Research:
• Secondary & primary research
Pre-production:
• Rough draft/flat plan
Production:
• Photoshoot
Post-production:
• Front cover & content page digital design
Project evaluation:
• Critical project & final outcome analysis
3. Secondary Research
Secondary research is a methodology that entails utilizing pre-
existing data. The available data is condensed and compiled to
enhance the overall efficiency of the research.
5. 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
6. Masthead
Cover lines Main cover line
Screamer
Upper third border
divider
Main image/Focal
point
Lower bar
Cover line
Selling line
Date
Price
7. Mast Head
The magazine name/title is named Mast Head. Typically, it is positioned at the top third of the
cover and occupies the entire width of the page. In case it is narrower than the width, it will be
placed in the top left corner since only the left third of the magazine is visible when stacked on
shop shelves. The Mast Head is usually created with a unique font and incorporates color, size,
and kerning to attract the magazine's target audience. Although the color may vary, the Mast
Head remains consistent across all issues to ensure recognition.
Tagline
Located near the Mast Head is the tagline.
Taglines serve as a clever and concise
method to describe the magazine's content
and can function as a brief preview of what
readers can expect inside the publication.
Skyline The skyline is typically positioned at
the top or bottom of the cover, showcasing
titles or names relevant to the specific
issue, similar to a condensed table of
contents.
Thumbnail Images
These smaller images are designed to
visually enhance important articles
showcased in the magazine.
Pug
These features are commonly found on the
corner or fixed to the side of the cover, serving
to showcase exciting news or promotions,
especially in the case of free magazines. The
objective is to make it noticeable by utilizing
bold colors and sharp contrasts, setting it apart
from the rest of the magazine.
Cover Lines
The text on the front cover provides a glimpse
of the content inside the magazine for the
audience to preview.
8. Main Image
The primary focus of magazine cover design
often revolves around the image. Featuring
a person making eye contact with the
camera is a popular choice, as it effectively
captures the reader's attention. On the
other hand, some publications opt for
illustrations or typography to convey their
message. In certain cases, images are
creatively utilized with negative space to
create a strong visual impact.
Frames
Frames may enhance the visibility of a magazine
on the shelf, yet they also limit the space
allocated for the main image and supplementary
details. In the realm of professional magazine
cover design, maintaining a sense of uniformity is
crucial as it aids readers in identifying the
publication and locating pertinent content.
Main Cover Line
This is the title which is about the main
story or about the main image which
anchors this image.
Issue and dateline
Generally seen in the lead feature article,
these are phrases utilized to engage the
readers.
Header & Footer Bar
This stripe serves to emphasize the
content of the magazine, whether it be a
slogan, punch line, description, or
additional feature.
Puff
Puffs are visually appealing graphics or text
elements designed to capture attention. One
common technique is the sticker effect,
achieved through drop shadows, bold outlines,
or star shapes. Alternatively, a simple symbol
like an asterisk can also be used to draw the
eye.
It is important to exercise caution when using
puffs and other design elements, as an
excessive amount can detract from the overall
aesthetic. A clean and minimalistic front cover
is often more stylish and visually appealing.
Buzzwords
The section includes the publication date,
issue number, and price, along with the
day, month, and year. Some magazines
may also include the price in this section.
9. The typeface consists of serif and sans-serif
fonts, both of which convey a professional
and traditional impression with a relaxed
and informal attitude. The masthead is
presented in white color to ensure visibility
and prominence. This color selection
symbolizes tranquility and harmony,
aligning with the school's ethos.
The clear and crisp font is used to display the date,
price, issue number, and school webpage. These
details are positioned directly beneath the
masthead, creating a cohesive segment for easy
access to information by the target audience.
The primary cover lines are positioned on
the magazine's left side to enclose the
main image. They are written in a modern
font using capital letters to capture
attention. A subheading is included to
offer extra details, and the main cover
lines are surrounded by a faded block of
color to enhance reader focus. The cover
lines are concise, catchy, and easily
comprehensible, aiming to entice the
intended audience to read the articles and
discover more about school and student
life.
The main image depicts a medium shot of
a content and at ease school girl dressed in
a school uniform in a relaxed manner. The
model chosen embodies the school and its
students in a professional and traditional
manner, yet her body language and
uniform suggest that school life is
enjoyable and fun.
The font color scheme is minimalistic and unadorned, creating a noticeable contrast with the
main image. However, the selection of colors also harmonizes with the main image. The vibrant
yellow color is particularly eye-catching and draws the attention of the audience even from a
distance.
The Plug is positioned in the upper
right corner, making it highly visible
without overpowering or
overshadowing the rest of the front
cover design. This advertising
approach is frequently employed by
reputable print publications.
The primary headline is specifically
targeted towards the potential target
audience and is applicable to their
daily school life. The main article is
filled with valuable information and
educational content, offering helpful
suggestions on how to manage stress
during the teenage years. The
utilization of a handwritten font adds
an informal and personal touch,
allowing the target audience to
connect with it on a deeper level.
The front cover effectively portrays
school and students in a positive
light, combining a professional and
serious tone with a relaxed and
informal vibe. It follows the main
design codes and conventions,
making it visually appealing and
attractive.
10. The selected fonts offer a striking
contrast by combining serif and sans-
serif styles. The masthead stands out
with its elegant hand-written italic
serif font, evoking a sense of tradition,
sophistication, and formality. The
selling lines are presented in a clear
and easily readable capital sans-serif
font.
The overall visual and textual language
exudes an atmosphere of casual
elegance. The written components are
concise and lively, intentionally crafted
to appeal to the intended audience.
The textual elements are effortlessly
comprehensible and captivate the
viewers without divulging excessive
details.
The attire chosen for the model
adheres to a conventional school
uniform, which conveys a sense of
formality. However, the model's
relaxed posture while leaning on a
banister, coupled with a smiley face,
adds a touch of ease to the overall
appearance. The background creates a
feeling of openness and lightness,
which contrasts with the dark uniform.
The color scheme harmoniously
complements both the image and the
written elements.
The front cover's composition exudes
a sense of formality and is
meticulously arranged, incorporating
essential design elements like images,
masthead, and article headlines.
The primary image is a medium long
shot at eye level of a female student,
with extra head space. This setup
enables the masthead and text to be
positioned on either side, while also
ensuring that the model and
background are clearly depicted.
The formal and relaxed modes of
communication through visual and
textual means effectively engage the
intended target audience. The image
portrays a relatable and familiar
student, allowing readers to connect
and resonate with her. The articles
presented in the magazine are written
in a clear, direct, and accessible
manner, enabling students to easily
relate to and be enticed to read the
content.
The main color scheme includes blue,
black, green, and white. These
contrasting yet complementary colors
are in line with the school's attributes
and enhance the readability of written
elements. They stand out against a
faded background. Bright colored text
is also utilized to grab attention and
spark interest.
11. Masthead
Date, price & issue
Page title Featured images
Address
Contact details
Page numbers
Topics
Cover line
Article quote
12. The overall design of the contents
page is highly structured and formal. It
adheres to the established design
codes and conventions for contents
pages. The layout is meticulously
arranged, allowing readers to
effortlessly navigate and locate the
information they seek. The color
scheme and font selection not only
align with the school logo, but also
effectively stand out from the
background.
The page numbers of the featured
articles are positioned along the left-
hand side and enclosed within a navy
blue shape, creating a distinct contrast
from the background. While the page
numbers are situated adjacent to the
articles, it may not be immediately
intuitive to associate a specific page
number with a particular article.
The utilization of written and visual components remains
highly formal, yet its simplification enables effortless
navigation and swift access to information.
The school logo is positioned in
the upper right corner next to the
title of the content. This strategic
placement establishes a clear
connection between the content
and its target audience.
The primary headings are
presented in a bold Arial font with
a navy blue color, effectively
indicating the subject matter of
the article. Furthermore,
supplementary information about
each article is provided through
smaller font anchor text placed
beneath the main titles.
The contents page of the
magazine adheres to the codes
and conventions of magazine
design. The grid structure and
straightforward composition
make it easily readable, while also
symbolically representing the
school attributes and student life.
The language utilized effectively
conveys essential information and is
suitable for the target audience.
Incorporating summarized article
information is a crucial aspect of
content page design; however, in this
particular case, the excessive
repetition in a few articles gives off a
rushed and poorly planned
impression.
13. The placement of the issue date is below the masthead
on the left-hand side. This strategic positioning serves
to visually separate the layout and facilitate the
audience's understanding of the content's date.
The main image features a yellow
circular plug positioned at the top
left corner, which draws attention
and directs focus towards the main
magazine article.
The deliberate use of a teenage
student's image aims to establish a
connection with the intended
audience and pique their interest
in reading the article and the rest
of the magazine.
The masthead is displayed in a
legible, prominent, and easily
readable sans-serif typeface. This
typeface is uncomplicated,
sophisticated, and contemporary.
The vibrant orange backdrop
enhances its visibility further.
The page is designed with a strict
grid and column layout, giving it a
rigid and formal appearance.
However, the organized content
makes it easy to navigate and read.
The social media icons have been
positioned at the bottom to
provide supplementary
information and facilitate the
discovery of additional details,
which can be utilized as an
advertising platform by the
intended audience.
The primary article headings are
displayed in distinct, bold, and
easily legible capital letters. A
supplementary article summary is
presented in a smaller font directly
below. This serves as a brief
overview of a particular article. The
page numbers, in a soft pink hue,
are identical in size to the main
article titles.
The content page features a
medium long shot of a college
student seated outdoors, capturing
an informal and relaxed mood.
Visually pleasing, this image is sure
to attract the desired audience.
The main content page image is
positioned above the front cover
image to establish a connection
between the two pages. Adjacent
to the front cover image, a concise
summary of the article along with
the corresponding page number is
presented, facilitating the audience
in locating the primary magazine
feature effortlessly.
14. Primary Research
Primary market research is a distinct investigation carried out to
uncover the desires and requirements of individuals who align
with the target market profile. The methodology includes
reaching out to the designated audience and inquiring about a
particular product or service. This is achieved through various
interviewing techniques such as questionnaires, face-to-face
interactions, telephone conversations, focus groups, and
internet-based surveys.
15. A questionnaire serves the purpose of
collecting data from a specific group of
people. It consists of open-ended and
closed-ended questions, or a combination
of both.
When participants complete the
questionnaire, they provide valuable pieces
of information. The data gathered can be
either quantitative or qualitative in nature.
The findings from the survey will provide
valuable insights into the visual design and
content of the magazine, which will help in
attracting and appealing to the intended
target audience.
Presenting the survey results in the form of
a chart or graph is the most effective way.
The survey findings will be useful in
determining the style and design
specifications for the magazine. These
findings will be incorporated into the
overall design of my school magazine.
16. Male
Female
Based on the survey results, the
majority of participants who took part
in the survey and showed interest in
reading a school magazine are students
in year 10 and 11 of secondary school.
Now that I have identified my primary
target audience, I will ensure that both
the design and content of the magazine
are appealing to them.
The majority of respondents in this
survey are female, and based on these
results, it is crucial for me to ensure
that my magazine appeals to them both
in terms of design and featured articles.
yr 10
yr 11
yr 12
yr 13
17. The results clearly indicate that a
large number of students who took
part in the survey are interested in
reading the school magazine. It is
apparent that there is a
requirement for a publication that
can deliver both formal and
informal information to the
students.
Yes
No
Based on the findings of this survey, the
majority of students indicated a
preference for the magazine to be
released bi-weekly or monthly. To
ensure high quality and effectively
manage the workload, I have decided to
publish the magazine on a monthly
basis.
weekly
fortnightly
monthly
18. The majority of students tend to favor reading about various aspects of school life in a
school magazine. These aspects include after-school activities, creative workshops like
fashion, and additional recommendations. While there will be additional article options
featured in the magazine, they will mostly serve as secondary and supporting articles.
Sport
Fashion
Events
Achivements
Quizes
Food
Tips
Activity
Entertainment
Trivia
The results indicate that a vibrant layout would
appeal to the majority of students. This crucial
design aspect also demonstrates that my
target demographic is swayed by visually
striking magazine layouts.
Clean
Colourful
Other
19. The front cover of my magazine will showcase
an image of a student who resonates with my
target audience while also being someone they
can look up to.
Student
Teacher
Event
All
formal
fun
both
It is clear from the chart that students
have a preference for a magazine style
that combines both informal and
formal elements, with a slight
inclination towards a more enjoyable
and relaxed tone. This style is suitable
for the target audience, but as a
designer and editor, I will ensure that
the magazine is suitable for different
age groups and adheres to school
ethics.
20. The majority of students, express a
desire to be showcased in a school
publication. My objective in asking this
question was to determine whether
students are interested in reading
about and being recognized for their
accomplishments both within and
outside of school. I firmly believe that it
is crucial to commend students and
provide them with a platform where
their achievements can serve as
inspiration for others.
The survey revealed that a significant
number of students, have shown
enthusiasm for taking part and
potentially winning prizes. This
correlation with quiz questions is a
captivating aspect commonly utilized in
magazine publications to engage both
the intended audience and attract new
readers.
yes
no
yes
no
21. School Magazine Design Specification
Magazine specifications are based on initial preliminary task brief and my secondary
and primary research findings.
• Magazine will be published every month
• Overall magazine design must be visually attractive and noticeable
• Design features must be uniformed in order to create sense of branding
• Magazine masthead must be associated with the school
• Language must be appealing to potential target audience
• Image must feature student/students
• No more than 3 fonts to be used
• Color scheme must be complimentary and at the same time must relate to institution
that is publishing it
• Featured articles must consider female target audience but must not alienate male
audience
22. Flat Plan/Rough Draft
A flatplan is a layout of a magazine where all the pages are
visible to the designer. This can be achieved either digitally or
physically, by spreading out paper on a table. The term
"flatplan" simply involves arranging ideas in a flat manner.
23. 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
25. 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
26. Masthead
Cover line
Cover line
Cover line
Cover line
Cover line
Cover line
Cover line
Cover line
Cover line
Cover line
Cover line
Cover line
Issue & Date
Cover line image
Cover line image
Cover line image
Cover line image
P.N0
P.N0
P.N0
P.N0
P.N0
P.N0
P.N0
P.N0
P.N0
P.N0
P.N0
P.N0
School
Logo
