This document summarizes the conventions used and challenged in the design of an indie folk music magazine. It follows several conventions of real magazines, such as using a Z formation on the front cover to guide the reader's eye, and including puffs and pugs to entice readers. However, it also challenges some conventions by having a very busy contents page unlike typical indie magazines, and including an editor's note. Throughout the magazine, it maintains a consistent house style with a limited color scheme and set of fonts.

1. Evaluation Question 1 - In what
ways does your media product use,
develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media
products?

2. Conventions is defined as A way in which
something is usually done.
Although there are not many magazines that are
based on Indie, or specifically Indie Folk, I found
it hard to find codes and conventions for my
genre. This is why I did my deconstructions on
magazines that publish Indie articles every so
often.

3. Front Cover:
My magazine follows conventions of professional magazines in the sense of what it contains. For
example, the front cover follows the Z formation. This is where when the reader looks at the
magazine, they are drawn to the top left of the page, then they look across to the right, then
diagonally downwards and then to the right again (in the shape of a Z). This makes sure that the
reader has seen and understood everything that there is to offer.
It also has Puffs and Pugs in the top left and right and in the bottom left hand corner, which will
entice the reader to open the magazine because it is offering you something in return. In this
instance, it is offering you 'Free stickers', 'Free posters' and a chance to 'Win VIP tickets' to see an
artist.
The masthead like most magazine like most magazines is large, colourful and at the top of the
page. This because it is the best place for it to be positioned, especially when put on a magazine
shelf with many other magazines that could be placed on top of it. The top of the magazine will
only be visible and so must me enticing yet sophisticated for it to be seen and picked up.
This is why I put a Pug, Puff and a banner along the very top - to advertise what you can expect
from the magazine.

4. Contents Page:
My contents page is very busy which is unlike many magazine within this genre. Many Indie
magazines will have a very simple contents page - I think this is one way in which I have
challenged the conventions. My magazine is filled to every corner with what is inside the
magazine, which I think is a good thing because it gives a good impression of what is to come.
It links to the front cover because I carry through the pictures and information that were
displayed on the front and reflected them again on the contents page. I have the same girl who
was the main article on the front pictured many times on the contents page only because she is
the main article and the reason the reader should pick up the magazine.
I included an editors note which, again, challenges the conventions of real magazines because
they do not include them. I thought it would be a nice touch to add to the contents page because
it reaches out to audience leaving a personal touch.
It contains large, coloured numbers down the left-hand side of each column to make it clear to
the audience what page the article they want to read is on. I have also put the articles into
categories, which is something that many magazine follow the convention of because it is clear to
the audience.
I also bolded the artist's names to that it will catch reader's eyes, rather than their names being
lost in a sea of words.

5. Double Page Spread
As I researched into my chosen genre; Indie Folk, I found that their double
page spread contain one large photograph that will act as the background. I
followed this convention because I thought it looked professional and that it
reflected the genre well.
I also put the title of the article (that was also featured on the front cover)
along the top of the page. I made sure I put it the words within the article as
well to give a consistency.
I included a film strip with more pictures of the singer in to have more variety
of pictures and not just the ones I took on the day of the photoshoot.
I put them into a film strip because I felt that photography reflects the genre
well. I asked people is they felt this was true to them, and they agreed.

6. House Style
Throughout the magazine I kept to a constant house style. I had three colours
in my colour scheme, which were Teel, White and Yellow. This is a convention
that nearly all magazine follow because it means your magazine can easily be
identified when shown only one page. Also, throughout the magazine, I only
used three main fonts. This meant that it didn't look too over powering and
ugly to look at.