The document discusses feedback received from a focus group on various elements of a magazine production. The focus group, consisting of 50 people aged 40-85 from middle/upper class backgrounds, provided feedback on draft cover designs, advertisements, and a contents page. Based on the feedback, changes were made to improve layout, readability, professional appearance, and visual interest. The focus group was found to be very helpful in obtaining important feedback and guiding design decisions throughout the production process.

1. Evaluation question 3
“What have you learnt from your audience feedback?”

2. FOCUS GROUP
Focus group:
Age: 40-85
Class: Middle/Upper
Gender: Mixed (23 male/27 female)
Ethnicity: White British (predominantly)
Focus Group Size: 50
I chose my target audience by creating questionnaires
and asking numerous people the questions in busy
areas in Thanet. Typical questions included their age,
social class and if they would be interested in
purchasing the article.
From my research I statistically analysed the
quantitative data and devised the appropriate age,
class, and gender of my target audience. I collected
contact details from 50 people who were willing to help
me further with the production of Island Living. Having
my target audience on board (focus group) will allow me
to successfully alter my publication to suit the needs
and wants of them to achieve the best outcome.
I will consult my focus group throughout my production
as it will help me obtain important feedback and help
with decision making when designing my magazine.

3. FRONT COVER
CHANGES
Focus Group Help:
Although I had made front cover drafts before this (left) this was the first one
I was happy with and presented it to my target audience (focus group).
Many liked the layout but felt changes needed to be made. I received a few
comments that the top of the page was too squashed together. To combat
this problem I spaced out my masthead more so that it inhabited a wider
space. I also received comments that the background image was appealing,
but the text couldn’t be seen. I agreed and said that I would make some
changes, so I did.
The image on the right is what I came back with, I decided to scrap the
photograph completely as I felt there were too many colours going on that
the text wasn’t readable. I first tried to change the text colour to white, but
this clashed with the white swash of the waves.
Against my new image of a lighthouse, I changed the text to white which I
felt was easy to read and contrasted the grey well. I also changed the
subheading and information next to it accordingly.
I received many positive comments about the new design (39/50 preferred it
to the previous) so I decided to stick with it.
Focus Group Feedback:
Focus Group Feedback:

4. Focus Group Help:
After producing multiple drafts for my magazine cover, I settled on the top left as my final production. However, I consulted with my focus
group to get any feedback/criticism that they had. I found my focus group essential whilst producing my whole magazine as they consisted
of people who fit the criteria of my desired target audience, so their feedback was very important.
My focus grouped liked my idea for my magazine cover, however agreed that there were a few minor tweaks that should be made to add
to the aesthetics and make it more interesting.
The very top text above my masthead was suggested to be turned red to fit in with the house style as it would match the memorial banner.
The members of my focus group agreed that this would elevate the magazine and create a good mix of colour, breaking up black text by
making it more aesthetic and interesting.
Based on this feedback I changed the visiting Broadstairs,Ramsgate,Margate,Birchington-on-sea to red. I listened to what my focus group
suggested and personally, I felt that the red at the top of my title looked a lot better than before, colours are now more balanced and there
isn’t an overload of black text at the top of my masthead which did look quite text heavy and tedious before.
FINAL FRONT COVER TWEAKS

5. Billboard Tweaks
Focus Group Help:
Whilst playing around with photoshop options I edited an online version of my magazine onto an digital product. This was a common convention that
I found used in Billboard when researching codes and conventions. I decided to place this on a grey background to match my magazine’s house
colours, next to this I placed a box with text inside it. I presented this version (left) to my focus group and I received a lot of constructive criticism and
changes that needed to be made.
Some said that it looked messy and the background colour and sans-serif font didn’t look professional, which I did agree with. To assess these
problems, I firstly made the background white. I removed the box and centralised the masthead. I changed the masthead to the one that is found on
the cover of my magazine in a serif font, this created continuity and synergy throughout my media. I centralised the new masthead and made it
large. I kept the app store logo and placed it underneath the masthead to the side. I also moved the digital product image to the left as my focus
group advised that I kept that in.
I presented the new improved billboard to my focus group and received many positive comments. Personally I prefer the new billboard design (right)
as I feel that it is very professional which will appeal to my target audience.
I found my focus group essential in helping me create a professional looking billboard that was simple but stylish, perfect for my magazine and target
audience. I think producing a billboard proved so difficult due to the lack of available regional magazine billboards on the internet.
Comment on version one:
“I like the way the phone displays the front cover,
however the background and generic box with
playful writing does not look professional or match
the front cover”
Comment on version two:
“This looks very professional, the text matches what is
found on the front cover and looks very well suited to the
type of magazine this is, this cover would interest me to
purchase this”

6. Advert Redesign
Focus Group Help:
I presented my initial advert design (left) to my focus group, this was because I was unsure on the blue colouring used in the text and the circular shape
around it. I liked the photograph that I took so I wanted to create an advert around it, however I knew there were problems with it. I knew that my focus
group, who consisted of people who fit into the criteria of my target audience, would tell me what the problems were and what needed to be changed.
The feedback I received for my first advert draft was very negative, with the only positive coming from the photograph itself. However, I also received
many comments that a milkshake bar just wasn’t catered towards my focus group, so I knew it wouldn’t appeal to my target audience. I decided to scrap
the milkshake bar idea, but to take the positive comments about the colourful photo on board.
I created a new advert with a black background, I used classy serif font to cater towards my target audience, text was coloured white to create a nice
contrast. I used a colourful photograph still as it was the only positive comment from the last draft. I felt the black background contrasted the image well.
The second image shows my improved, redesigned advert. My focus group much preferred this one and I received many positive comments regarding
the layout and structure of the advert.
Comment on version one:
“The background is very nice and colourful, however
the milkshake bar graphic and idea just doesn’t appeal
to me, unless I had children. It seems too childish and I
don’t feel it is aimed at me”
Comment on version two:
“This looks very professional and the kind of place I
would feel comfortable purchasing a property through,
I really like the black and white colour scheme which
looks classy and makes the image stand out”

7. CONTENTS PAGE
CHANGES
I created the final mockup for my contents page(left) , I based the layout, content and design heavily on the codes and conventions that
I had researched and this with focus feedback on how to improve it from my initial mockups. Now that I was happy with how it looked, I
presented it to my focus group to see if any more adjustments could be made. The feedback I received was very positive but I did
receive two responses about the blank space surrounding the columned articles. Once I was made aware of this issue, I did also feel
that there was too much white space that should be filled. I also received 4 responses that the page was too uniform and should be
more interesting.
To combat this, I placed my columns further to the left, I also enlarged mastheads and incorporated red circles that corresponded to
articles previewed on my magazine cover. I used red to contribute to house style. I included photo credits to the photographer of the
cover image, a convention that is common in Kent-Life magazine. I also included an exclusive article at the bottom right to fill up space
and create interest on the page. I changed the January 2018 font (top right) as I didn’t want too much red on the page because I felt it
looked better in small doses, creating a subtle house style. Finally, I made the bar smaller at the bottom of the page and incorporated a
grey border around the page (was blue before - too many different colours). Underneath the subscribe to Island Living, I added contact
details and a Facebook icon.
I feel these changes have successfully created more interest and fluidity within my contents page, making it more aesthetically pleasing
with a more sophisticated house style.