The document compares and contrasts the front cover, contents page, and double page spread of the student's magazine to real published magazines. 1) The front cover is compared to Vibe magazine, noting similarities in direct address of models and overlapping of masthead, as well as differences in color scheme. 2) The contents page is compared to The Source, with similarities in logo placement and background image style, but differences in model positioning and color scheme. 3) The double page spread is compared to NME, with similarities in model placement and intro paragraph style, but differences in linking to other media and number of images.

1. Evaluation 1
In what way does my product use, develop or challenge forms
and conventions of real media products?

2. Front Cover: Comparison
Head overlapping
masthead
Direct address Coverlines
Puff/
plug
Coverlines
Barcode
Puff/plu
g

3. Front Cover: Similarities
I have compared my front cover to the cover of an issue of Vibe magazine; one I researched. The
genre of music in both magazines are the same so I feel it would be the best comparison as they both
attract similar audiences.
● One similarity is the main images. On both covers, the models are smiling and making direct
address towards the audience.
I used this idea as I feel it is an effective way to attract someone
from my target audience to my magazine. The heads of both
models also overlap the masthead of the magazines. I copied
this as it is used on many other magazines; I feel it makes mine
look more professional.
I knew throughout the design process that I would use coverlines as
they are widely used on numerous diverse magazines and so I wanted
my audience to see it as a legitimate product. I decided to use the
puff/plug as it stands out on the cover and further advertises the content
of my magazine to attract my audience.
● Both covers make the use of coverlines and puff/plugs to advertise other features within the
magazine.

4. Front Cover: Differences
● A very noticeable difference is the colour scheme of both covers.
My magazine uses very vibrant colours which I use to connote a
relaxed and fun insight on my features; my scheme is also similar to
the colours of the LA Lakers, an American basketball team with close
links to the hip-hop industry. Vibe magazine uses bland and an almost
corporate scheme to appear more serious and factual.
● Both covers have a varied aesthetic. The position of the barcode, headline and puff/plug is
different on both covers. This is because I wanted my layout to be unique and not the same as
another magazine of the same genre, as they would be my main competitor for sales, and still
look appealing to an audience.
● The appearance of the models are different. My model appears dressed relaxed in a jumper, Vibe
magazine’s model is wearing a shirt and bow tie. Again, this links to the formality difference of
both magazines.

5. Contents Page: Comparison
Magazine logo
Lists of
articles
Magazine logo
Image in background of
model

6. Contents Page: Similarities
● The comparison of contents page is between my magazine and The Source magazine. Similar to
Vibe, The Source shares the same target audience as my magazine and so would use similar
features; as well as some different ones.
● The aesthetic of both are very similar. They both use an image as the background for the page
with a strip, varying in either colour or transparency, to add the content. I used this layout as I
thought it was unique and attractive to read for my target audience.
● Both contents pages include the name/logo of the magazine.
Both my magazine and The Source include their logo somewhere on the
contents page; mine is in the top banner, The Source’s is in the bottom left
corner. This is to be used on numerous pages, in the case of my magazine, to
continuously promote it and allow it to become a theme for the layout of my
pages; making it something my audience expect to see in every issue.

7. Contents Page: Differences
● The background images. Both magazines use images as backgrounds however the positioning of
the models differ. In my contents page, my model is in wide shot on the left of the page with my
articles listed on the right of him. In The Source, the entire image is a close up of their model’s
face.
The Source’s model is also making direct address to their audience
whereas mine is facing the list of articles. I wanted my model to appear
as if he genuinely was reading the list just as my audience are to build a
connection between them; allowing my audience to be more involved
with my articles
● Use of other images. My contents page uses other images to advertise other articles. I wanted my
audience to understand more of the other articles as well as my main one; advertised by the main
image. The Source have not used any other images apart from the background, this may be
because they want to focus on the main story.
● Colour scheme. As before, the colour scheme of both the pages are different. As previously
stated, my bright colours are used to connote fun and enjoyment. The Source’s contents page is
similar to Vibe as the dark colours such as black and red depicts a more serious and somewhat
sinister feel. This is possibly related to their main article.

8. Double Page: Comparison
Eye-catching
headline
Model located
on the side of
the spread
Image as
background

9. Double Page: Comparison
Eye-catching
headline
Model located
on the side of
the spread
Image as
background

10. Double Page: Similarities
● I have compared the double page spread of my magazine to that of an issue of NME; one of my
case studies. NME aims at a different target audience to me as the genre of music is more indie
and punk. I wanted to see how my magazine style compared to that of a different genre and target
readers.
● Aesthetic is similar (apart from headline). Both double pages include a model(s) on the side of one
of the pages with the body text of the article on the other side of them. I had seen this layout of the
main model on several double pages on real magazines. I felt the layout was attractive which is
why I used it in my double page spread.
● Introductory paragraph. Both pages have an initial paragraph which stands out from the body text,
using bold style, to introduce the articles. I used this simply to tell my readers what the article is
about.
● Urban environment denoted in main images. The main images used as the background for both
the double pages connotes an urban vibe; my model is leaning on a garage, NME’s are leaning
on a brick wall. This relates to my magazine as my genre of music is very urban and street; there
is possibly some urban relevance in the article on the NME double page.

11. Double Page: Differences
● Colour scheme. Similar to previous pages, my colour scheme differs to that of my
comparison.
The double page of my comparison is a black and white effect with the only
colour being the orange in the headline.
● Links to further media. Within my article I use numerous references to online sources such
as my "magazine website" and I also incorporate Twitter tags. This was to introduce my
audience to other forms of media relating to my product to widen my audience. NME has a
large online base however it is not referred to within it's article on its double page spread.
● Different number of image models. My double page spread uses one model in the main
image. Although the general layout of my main image is similar to that on the NME double
page (model on side of article), my double page only has one model instead of two. This is
purely due to the fact that my article is only about one person, the main model, and the
NME double page is about two.