This document provides details from the creator of a music magazine on the design choices made for various elements of the magazine, including the masthead, front cover, contents page, and a double page spread. For the masthead, the creator was inspired by the graphic style of "Little White Lies" magazine. On the front cover, a portrait photo was used to draw the reader in along with impactful text. The contents page continued the circular graphic elements and used images and colors to stand out. The double page spread showed the minimal black and white house style.

1. Question 1
FORMS AND CONVENTIONS:
In what ways does your media product use, develop or
challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

2. I decided to go for quite
a stylistic header, I was
inspired by ‘Little White
Lies’ film/music
magazine and that is
why I chose a circular
feature to outline the title
of my magazine. I
designed the ‘f’ in
Photoshop then
transferred it into
InDesign and placed it
into my masthead. The
contrast of the bold
letter to lower case
lettering makes the
masthead stand out and
creates an individual
style which I could carry
on in the rest of my
magazine. I used the
dividing line through the
masthead to give it
height and to define the
lower case lettering. I
chose to keep it lower
case as I believe it looks
more sophisticated. Also
I placed the barcode
within my Masthead as I
believe it fitted in well
and yet again suited the
different/quirky house
style I was intending.
‘Plus’ is an example of a plug, also
I used this menu strip to give the
reader more information of the
contents of my magazine without
cluttering my page. This is used as
a persuasive device to make the
reader want to read on and see
what else is illustrated within in the
magazine.
When arranging the layout of
my front cover I decided that
the most significant feature on
my page would be my image as
I wanted this to create the most
emphasis so that I could limit
the amount of text. I went for a
photograph which conveyed
direct address to entice my
target audience, also the rather
soft expression of the idol
Travis Turner makes the reader
feel at ease and encourages
them to want to know the story
behind his fame and by keeping
a straight face it creates a
sense of mystery leading the
reader to want to know more.
Additionally I went for a portrait
image so that I could easily fit
my text around it. Also I
advised my model to wear a
shirt as this appeals to my indie
audience as it is the type of
clothing they would wear. It was
a last minute decision to place
my headline across my image,
but I think this works well as it
highlights the connection. I
used the lines above and below
my headline to create a boxed
effect which allows this text to
stand out more and the reader
focuses on this first as it is also
the largest sized text on the
page.

3. This is the left third of my magazine
and I chose to use a italic elegant
font to illustrate the sophistication of
my magazine. I used the large ‘&’
sign to create a specific style, it also
helped to space out my writing,
because I was using a minimal
amount it was quite difficult at times
to get the spacing right, therefore I
had to use specific techniques such
as enlarging certain symbols to
make the layout look classy. The
language which I used here was
very rhythmic as I wanted it to
entice the reader into buying my
magazine and also by using words
that rhyme it can entertain the
reader and make them want to read
more of your articles as it makes
the contents sound much more fun
and entertaining.
My headline using the technique
alliteration I chose to include this
as it flows when you say it and
also the ‘T’ puts more emphasis
on the word towers making it
sound like a big deal and
something massive within the
music industry and this then gives
the reader a ‘buzz’ making them
think that they have found
something new and encourages
them to read the interview. Also I
used this style of writing
surrounding it in a white outline to
creating a stand off effect making
the writing look much bolder than
it is so therefore it catches the
readers attention.
These are both examples of
anchorage text and I decided to
use these as they are eye
catching and create a link between
the text and image. I put ‘WORLD
EXCLUSIVE’ in capitals and put a
black background behind the white
text to make it stand out much
more and to allow the text to stand
off the page. Also I decided to lay
it out diagonally as it looks like the
opening of something new. I
believe this is a valid feature on
my front cover as it adds style to
the page and creates more
persuasion to entice the reader.
I used plugs such as this one
here ‘FREE’ to entice the reader
into buying the magazine. Also I
used a circle feature to follow my
house style as it mirrors my
masthead. Moreover features
such as this help to fill dead
space and this is mainly why I
included it.

4. I based my magazine mainly on the magazines above ‘The Clash’ and ‘The Wire’. They take a very graphical approach
when creating their magazine front covers and I liked that idea. I like how they usually base there cover lines and kickers
down one side of the page. I believe that this creates a much less cluttered look and I think I mirrored this concept well.
Overall, by doing this I think it creates a neat and controlled look. Also, I like how these magazine focus mainly on their
image I tried to get an image which would relate well to my target audience I believe I did well and created the look that I
intended on, however a close up image may have had a greater overall effect on the page. But, I chose a portrait, medium
long shot so that the models fashion was on display as I think fashion and clothing are a big issue to my target audience
as they base a lot of their concepts on life around fashion. Moreover, these magazines also have small anchorage lines
which link the text and image together I liked this idea so tried to create the same type of idea on my front cover, however I
did have a larger headline/cover line as I believe it creates a greater impact and stands out much more to ensure we have
the readers attention.

5. However, I did not use the magazines I have just shown in the previous slide for ideas to base my masthead on. When
looking at different graphical based magazines, I came across the fashion and film independent magazine ‘Little White
Lies’. This is a very graphic based magazine and has a very funky unusual masthead. I decided to take a risk and try
and create my own version of it. I know this was risky as this style model I used was not a music magazine, however I
do think it worked well as it added a more sophisticated look to my front cover and that was my initial aim when I first
set out to create a music magazine. Also this helped me to create a house style and I used the circular idea on my
contents page so that the fluidity of my magazine was done to a high standard. Moreover, this also helped to create a
focal point on my front cover and created a blocking effect around my actual masthead which made it stand out a lot
more. Also, by keeping the fill of the circle white, this helped it to stand off the page as it contrasted well against the
grey background. Overall, I was very happy with this section of my magazine and believe it is one of the best parts.

6. I included this masthead type effect
as it helped to carry on my initial
house style throughout my magazine.
Moreover, I created the semi-circle in
Photoshop and decided to put the
thick black lines there for a blocking
effect as it helped the words ‘Misfit’
and ‘contents’ to stand out and that’s
what I wanted as it gives the reader a
clear view as to what is going to be
presented on this page. I carried on
this circular style to mirror my
masthead on the front cover this
helped to the fluidity of my magazine
and helped to keep its originality as
not many magazines put there name
on the contents as well, however I did
like this particular point and I believe
it keeps the sophistication.
I included these factual and
persuasive devices to entice the
reader. The plug ‘subscribe to
misfit’ was put in place to
encourage the reader to sign up to
our magazine and I put it on my
contents page to fill dead space. I
also included the website address
as I think this magazine would be
much more profitable over the web
therefore this provides the reader
with the right information for them
to read it over the internet.
I included the strip down
the right third on features
and regulars to provide the
reader with valid and useful
information to guide them
to the correct pages and to
give them an insight into
what was going to be
inside my magazine. I
decided to put the main
headers in red with a white
fill to make them stand out
and then I also decided to
put the numbers in red as
this created a clear view for
the reader. Also, red is a
color of alertness and
stands out to the human
eye. The dividing lines
under ‘features’ and
‘regulars’ help in creating a
more tidy appearance and
helped to split up the
different parts of my
contents.

7. An Editorial is always a key
convention on a contents
page, I decided to put mine in
the left third as I believe it
looked tidy and fitted in well
here. I used an enlarged
capital ‘N’ as it gives the page
a professional look and
illustrates another technique
used on InDesign.
Additionally, I decided to
include the portrait image of
the male as it was a good
headshot and conveyed a
serious, but warm look which
an editor usually has. I
positioned this on a slant for a
design effect as it helped to
cover more dead space and
looks more significant on a
slant.
I decided to place my images
central down the middle of my
contents page as I believe they
are then much more eyecatching here. By putting the
bold black outline round them it
carries on my house style of
black and white and gives the
images a more sophisticated
look. Moreover, I used the hash
tag before each number as I had
done this on my front cover
therefore I wanted to carry this
style on through to my contents
page, I think its adds originality
and modernizes my magazine.
In addition, I chose my images
very carefully and put a mixture
of different tones and textures in
so they all contrasted off each
other. I believe these images are
the highlight of my contents
page and they help to illustrate
the inside of my magazine very
well.

8. My double page is an overview of my house style and illustrates the minimalistic – black and white look very well. I decided to go for a very
‘blocky’ double page I like how all the lines separate each bit of material therefore the reader can easily focus on each part individually. My
image is the main focal point on this page as it conveys who the interview is about and is positioned to fit around the texts and lines, also
the pose the model is doing with the hand on a side helps him to stand off the page more. I included a quote to the right of his shoulder as
this gives the reader an overview od what the interview is about. Also I put the questions in a bold black fill with white writing as I believe it
illustrates that they are separate to the main body of the text and allows them to stand out to the reader. Furthermore, I carried on the
circular tradition by placing the words news in the top right corner surrounded by a circle this helps the reader to understand this is the
main news page within the magazine. I think this page represents my overall style well and has a clean and tidy finish and that was my
original aim when creating my music magazine. I do think the minimalistic approach challenges the typical magazine conventions,
however I did want to take a risk and I think if you get the proportions and layout right there is no need for an overload of information.