The document summarizes the student's process for developing a preliminary task of designing a college magazine cover and contents page. The student followed typical magazine conventions like using a masthead, slogan, coverline, central image focusing on a student's eyes, and barcode. For the contents page, the student included a relating title, words to create a friendly tone, and buzzwords to draw attention. The student learned following conventions helps make the magazine look realistic, and better photography quality would improve realism.

1. Evaluation of preliminary task

2. After researching into front covers I used the typical conventions used on my front cover. I used a
masthead called the ‘College Insider’- sticking to conventions and having it as the biggest thing on the
page that your attention draws to first. I also used a slogan/skyline of ‘Everything you have to know’ and
placed it above my masthead (as well as the date and issue number) which is typical of a magazine. I used
a coverline and made it the second biggest thing on the page. For the coverline I used buzz words such as
‘exclusive!’ to make the readers think that it is the only magazine with this in. I put a barcode on my
magazine cover as well to make it look more realistic. The central image also follows the typical
conventions as it is a close up. The girl on the cover is also a student which relates to the magazine as it is
a College magazine. Another important convention I followed in the central image was having her eyes
showing and looking directly at the camera, as to make it look as if she is looking at the reader. I used pugs
also underneath the cover line, which is another typical convention.
For the contents page I also stuck to the conventions. I put a relating title of ‘What’s Inside?’. I also used
the words ‘Welcome’ as if to create a friendly relationship between the magazine and reader and provide
warmth. I used words such as ‘your’ and ‘you’ which directly address the reader and makes it feel more
personal. In the contents page I used buzz words again ‘Exclusive!’ to draw attention. I used flashes
underneath the title, for extra information about the article and to give the reader more of an idea of
what they’re going to read in the magazine. I used the same font and colour scheme as I did on the front
page so they look like they’re meant to be part of the same magazine and they relate.
In the development of my college magazine I learnt that it is important to follow the typical conventions of
a magazine to make it look realistic. I also learnt how important the photography is for the magazine as it
can either make or break the realism of your magazine.
If I were to do it again, I would take my photos with a better quality camera. I think it is important to do
this as my photos came out somewhat pixelated and of not very good quality and this makes the magazine
look quite unprofessional and unrealistic. I would also aim at a specific part of people at the college eg at
the performing arts students or the sports students, so I could work on aiming a magazine at a niche
market not just the general college.