3. Existing Product
Edge is a gaming magazine that has ran from 1993 to the present day. It talks about
video games of all kinds, and gives the games scores on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1
being “disastrous”, 10 being “revolutionary” and 5 being “average”. The magazine is
published by Future Plc, located in Bath, Somerset, in the UK.
Edge makes the audience want to buy it because its covers, more often than not,
feature very popular video games such as The Last of Us and The Legend of Zelda:
Breath of the Wild.
The color of the font used on the cover of EDGE magazine usually contrasts with the
color of the picture used on the cover of the magazine, such as the red going with
the back and white on Issue 237, and the yellow going with the black and dark green
on Issue 302. The boldness of the font helps potential readers (and returning readers
who know/like the magazine) recognize the magazine as EDGE, and know to buy it.
The font is also extremely recognizable, and looks rather informal, which fits the type
of audience that EDGE magazine is meant to appeal to.
5. Existing Product
Vogue is a fashion/lifestyle magazine that covers many topics including fashion,
beauty, culture, living and runway. It began as a weekly newspaper in 1892, before
becoming a monthly magazine years later. There are several versions of Vogue
released all over the world, with the Italian version in particular being considered
the best fashion magazine in the world.
The color of the font used on the cover of Vogue magazine usually contrasts with
the color of the picture used on the cover of the magazine, such as red going with
white and yellow, and white going with darker colors. The boldness of the font
helps potential readers (and returning readers who know/like the magazine)
recognize the magazine as Vogue, and know to buy it. The font is also extremely
recognizable.
7. Existing Product
BBC History Magazine is a publication dedicated to history articles, focusing on both
British and world history, which is aimed at all levels of knowledge and interest in
history. It is the biggest selling history magazine in the UK. Podcasts are also featured
by the same company as those who publish the magazine, the first one launching in
2007.
The theme of the cover of the magazine involves a large picture of a historical figure,
such as William Shakespeare or Winston Churchill and a sentence regarding the main
article of the magazine (which will, more often than not, be about the person pictured
on the cover of the magazine). Sometimes, as well, there are small parts of the cover
sectioned off to tell the audience about smaller, more minor, articles that will feature
in the magazine. However, something that is constantly on every cover of every issue
of BBC History Magazine is the word “HISTORY”, colored black, on a white background.
This gives the magazine a more recognizable theme, that returning readers can easily
recognize as BBC History.
8. Research Analysis
• What common features do the researched
products have?
– They have bold, recognisable titles on the top of the front cover, a
major picture on the front cover, and are generally consumed by an
adult audience.
• What aspects of the research will you include
within your on work?
– I’ll make sure to make my magazine marketable to an adult audience,
give the magazine a bold, recognisable title, place it on the top of the
front cover, and place a very recognisable picture on the front cover as
well.
Choose a recent product similar to your own and annotate it- scan real magazines or use issuu.com
Type of content- studio/location photography, articles, reviews, adverts
Conventions – colour schemes, photography, writing style, text/picture ratio, font choices, mode of address
Codes – Written, symbolic
Audience appeal- how does it make its audience want to buy/read it?
Choose a recent product similar to your own and annotate it- scan real magazines or use issuu.com
Type of content- studio/location photography, articles, reviews, adverts
Conventions – colour schemes, photography, writing style, text/picture ratio, font choices, mode of address
Codes – Written, symbolic
Audience appeal- how does it make its audience want to buy/read it?
Choose a recent product similar to your own and annotate it- scan real magazines or use issuu.com
Type of content- studio/location photography, articles, reviews, adverts
Conventions – colour schemes, photography, writing style, text/picture ratio, font choices, mode of address
Codes – Written, symbolic
Audience appeal- how does it make its audience want to buy/read it?
List all products researched in previous sections. Include anything additional you have watched/read in preparation for production. Alphabetise your list.
