The document discusses the design of a magazine masthead. It describes using two different fonts to appeal to both male and female audiences. One font is described as masculine with sharp edges, while the other has a softer, more feminine style. Color choices and layout are also discussed in the context of representing and appealing to both genders. The masthead design is analyzed in terms of how it develops conventions from real media products through its use of typography, color, and layout to effectively communicate with the target audience.

1. 3 INTIAL MASTHEADS
AND ANNOTATIONS.
IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR MEDIA
PROUCT USE, DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE
FORMS AND CONVENTIONS OF REAL
MEDIA PRODUCTS?

3. 1)
As I mentioned, I wanted my magazine to appeal to both
genders. The ‘turn it up’ is more of a feminine font,
appealing to one side of my target audience. It is almost
handwritten which shows the maturity of females and the
maturity of my target audience as a whole. The soft,
tender curving of the font shows how women are
stereotyped and believed to be innocent.
The shadow
outline of the ‘turn
it on’ in the
background can be
seen as a
reflection. It is
almost as if it’s
being shouted and
the outline is the
echo, this is
enhancing the
music genre and
almost sound of
music. It is also
visually pleasing, it
allows the ‘turn it
on’ to stand out.
My intention was for my masthead to appeal to both
genders. To ensure this, I focused on typography. This font
is very masculine, appealing to the males. The corners are
sharp, bold and dominant; this allows it to stand out
visually. It is also in a way re-enacting the music genre as
pop can be seen as loud.
The effect on the font being dark at the bottom, gradually lighting could
be seen as imitating the way in which my magazine appeals to all. Also the
way the font is almost broken shows the genre itself being unique and
breaking away from other genres. This will appeal and attract people into
buying my magazine as my target audience being the majority generation
which is stereotyped in society are idolized to want to be different. The
difference in music genre could relate to this difference in personality.
I tested different
background colours but
I felt a light pure colour
would work and be the
most successful. It
allows the title of my
masthead to stand out
possibly to the fullest
and most
advantageous. A white
background also
reflects purity; this
could be seen as
relating and appealing
to the feminine side of
my target audience.
I felt despite the fact the white element of the background worked well and
enhanced the element of composition between ‘turn it on, turn it up’ I felt
a border securing the masthead together would successfully finalise the
masthead. I decided on a dark pink, purple colour. I believe it works well; it
is not overly bright which shows continuous connection with the colour of
title. It will also appeal to my age I intend to appeal to, as a bright yellow
may be seen as targeting a younger generation. It is a colour which I believe
will secure gender equality.
Both fonts are easy to read which appeals to everyone, including
those with limited eyesight or difficulty with skill.

4. 2)
Similarly to my first masthead, I used too different fonts to appeal to the
difference of people in my target audience, males and females. This font is
very dominant and stands out effectively. The effect of curves re-enacts the
joy of pop music. If my chosen genre was heavy metal, I would have used a
font with hard corners. The sizing is quite large to make it stand out and
visually pleasing to the eye. The use of lowercase in the ‘turn it’ allows the use
of capitals for ‘on’ stand out and reproduce the music industry, almost like
turning a stereo on. The use of black emphasises the dominance.
I believe because the
reverse effect, there is
no need for a
background colour. I
feel the typography and
limited use of colour
expresses music genre
well and a background
could be seen as taking
over/too controlling,
particularly because my
target audience is
young people.
The second font and effective is very unique. It is almost a reflection of ‘turn it
on’. The font is extremely unique, giving a poetic handwritten feel. My
intention of using this was to appeal to the females interested in pop music.
‘Up’ was enhanced by capitals, creating the same effective impact as ‘on’
above.
I feel the only aspect
which is of a
disadvantage and adds
a negative impact to my
masthead is the
typography. Despite the
positive aspects I have
analysed, I feel the
fonts could be limiting
my target audience as
some may find it
difficult to read or
understand. From a first
impression only the
‘turn it on’ is easy to
notify. People with
difficulties and limited
eye sight would miss
my magazine, adding a
negative outcome to
sales of consumers.
As I have black for ‘turn it on’, which although it is a dominant colour and will
allow the masthead and magazine itself to stand out, it also is seen as creating
more of a masculine effect. Because of this, I felt a pink outline on the
reflected ‘turn in up’ would ensure gender equality and decrease male
dominance in society. The pink outline almost acts as it’s been highlighted. It
creates the same impact allowing it stand out further.
The way the second line is flipped emphasises how exciting music can be,
especially pop. Pop music, I believe like other music can help people express
feelings, even if they are ‘upside down’ with emotions. This enhances this
element of music.

5. 3)
All elements of this masthead are positioned together tightly
in a way which stands out and is easy to notify the title of my
magazine. I have used effects to emphasis this. The colour
scheme is continuous which is a key element I have imitated
from my magazine analysis.
The use of a white background and a red border allows all elements of the
masthead to stand out fully. Red is a dominant colour, which I notified in looking at
previous mastheads as attracting target audiences
This font is very edgy. It gives an edgy sound/pop feel. It is very tall, almost conveying the
long list of different artist in the pop genre. It is easily legible, widening my target audience.
The use of a strong dominant black makes the masthead as a whole stand out. The light
outline effect in the background, in the same way as my first masthead, is echoing how
loud pop music can be.
I continued the edgy feel of the first font in the second but in a different way.
This relates to my previous masthead, where the letter is almost breaking up,
like separating from different music genres. I used a shadow effect in the
background which allows it to stand out and visually appeal to the eye. The
use of red is visually pleasing. This font, despite the effects, is easily legible
and therefore will also widen my target audience.
The hexagon behind
the ‘up’ shows
insight into how
unique the music
genre is. It is
different and is not
seen on many music
magazines and
therefore stands out.
The use of red
follows the colour
scheme in the
masthead.
This ‘UP’ adds an extremely exciting feel. I used the same font as I wanted to
fulfil the continuous effect in my masthead. It makes a connection and
communicates with the audience. The use of sizing and ‘UP’ being in capitals
and of a larger scale emphasises the music industry. It also conveys the
message of pop being an idolized music genre which only gets bigger and
goes up, increase in users who listen to the genre. The way it is titled on the
side, visually represents the word ‘up’ as it is almost like the word is going up
itself. This adds visual impact effectively.

6. In what ways does your masthead use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?
As stated above, the aspects of this masthead which work tremendously, I also want to
state how my masthead develops forms and conventions of real media products. I
believe like NME, Top of the Pops and Kerrang! which are the three main music
magazines I looked at, which use colour to communicate with the audience, I have
used this in the same way. I have used two dull yet bold colours to attract and appeal,
this rejects limitation of target audience as it is neither a male or female colour, it also
increase gender equality, which is what I wanted to achieve in the same way real media
products do. Despite this, I have used a dark pink border, this could be criticised as
being feminine, yet this is not a major issue as the dark dominate it.
I believe my use of typography has a big effect on the development of real media
products, I have interpreted and made it my own. As a graphics product student and
with the media product research I have obtained during this coursework, I am aware
that typography plays a big role in attracting target audience. I want my magazine to
appeal to both genders, to ensure this I used two different fonts. This was
stereotypically as I stereotyped what I believe to be a male font and female. I believe the
first font visual is masculine because of the sharp edges and bold effect, this adheres
stereotypes because males are believed to be big and bold. The second font is more
gentle, giving a soft effect, which adheres the purity of females. Real media products
use this in a way to communicate with their audience and attract them into buying their
product.
I considered layout in the same way real media products do, as a way of communicating
and interacting with the audience. I made sure both fonts were closely placed together,
to visually imitate the way our society and genders are closely placed together but this is
frequently missed. By this, I am challenging the stereotype of girls and boys differing
from each other and securing them closely together.
I believe the three clearly stated points above and annotation on previous slide are ways
in which my masthead uses conventions of real media products to communicate and
interact with the audience successfully.
MY CHOSEN MASTHEAD