The document describes the design process and choices made for a school magazine cover and contents page. Key aspects include using the masthead "PIECES OF 8" with underlying meaning related to the school, using a grid layout and bold colors for the cover, and substituting "Contents" for "Timetable" on the inside with images and stories listed like a school schedule. Overall the document evaluates successful and improvement areas for representing the school genre through the visual design elements.

2. • The name of my school magazine is, “PIECES OF 8,” which I think is appropriate
because it refers to the eight in King Henry VIII, but also has an underlying meaning
behind the masthead, as it features multiple pieces from school, coming together to
create a magazine, therefore I found, “PIECES OF 8,” to be a suitable name. However, it
could be confusing to people outside of the school, and even inside, which don’t
understand the meaning of the phrase.
• At first, I wanted, “PIECES OF,” to be black, to keep with the traditional school writing,
however, I was forced to change the colour to white to stand out from the main image.
Although I do quite like the look of the colours, as I find it easy on the eye.
• I think the masthead of my magazine is a sufficient size, because it is larger than all the
other text featured on the cover, and the situation of the masthead, in my opinion,
makes it the feature of the magazine cover.

3. • I think my main is an appropriate size, because it
covers the whole page, making sure it is obviously
the main image.
• In my opinion, my main image does represent the
main story, as it features a specific pose, clearly
showing tensions and conflict.
• I positioned the main image across the whole
page, because I decided not to use any subsidiary
images, as I thought it would clutter the cover, and
distract attention from the main image/feature. The
pose of the people, like I said before, represents
tension, and the costumes/clothes and props the
people have represents their subject.

4. • My main coverline, “Arts VS Sciences,”
clearly represents the main
image, making it the feature of the
issue.
• “Which is more important,” gives off
the idea that there may be
debate, and also leaves the reader in
suspense, but also allows them to
think, and make them come up with
their own opinion.
• “Mrs Powell says farewell – will the
‘Newbie’ step up to the • I’m pretty sure my spelling and grammar is
‘mark?”, informs the reader that accurate, and I used various fonts and
there are other stories included in the colours to not only make the magazine
magazine, and also includes some cover eye catching, but make the text stand
puns and remarks associated with out from the background. I also tried to
school, representing the educational colour the text appropriate to the meaning
genre. of the word.

5. • I think the layout of my cover is organised, as I have
followed a grid-structure, with my masthead at the top
of the page, and the other coverlines structured in a
grid format.
• In my opinion, my front page is quite appealing to the
reader, because the main image is quite interesting, and
I think I used a good mix of colours, which are eye
catching, and makes the reader want to look inside the
issue.
• I’m not certain if my cover clearly represents the school
magazine genre, however I think after reading the
coverlines, and words such as, “teacher,” it is obviously
linked with the school/education theme.

6. • The first aspect of my magazine cover that I think is successful is the
masthead. It has a underlying meaning which associates with the
school, King Henry VIII. I think the colour stands out from the
background well, and the gold colour of the 8 represents the school.
• The second aspect of my front page that I think is successful is the
layout. I used popular magazine covers for inspiration and
guidance, and therefore displayed the cover in a grid format, with the
text lined up neatly, and I tried not to clutter the cover with too much
text.
• The third and final aspect of my cover that I think is successful is the
colours I have used. I used a strong red for my, “VS,” coverline, which
has a thick black outline, which definitely stands out from the
background. I also colour coordinated my text to suit the meaning of
the sentence, for example I coloured, “Sciences,” green to suit the
genre. I also think that the main image features very strong colour that
are popular for magazine covers, such as red, black and white.

7. • One aspect of my cover that I could improve is the
quality of the main image, as although I am happy with
the composition, I think the background is not very
attractive. Next time, I will find an area that doesn’t
detract from the people featured, and maybe something
that is more colourful and easy on the eye.
• The second aspect I think could do with improving is the
coverlines, as in my opinion the cover looks like an
amateur fanzine. I would try to make the positioning of
the text more organised and neat, and also refrain from
using amateur colours.
• The third aspect that I would improve is the banner at
the bottom of the cover, because I don’t think it matches
the rest of the cover, and the text, “The Comeback
Issue,” does not stretch along the banner very well.

8. • I used two images for my contents page. The
bigger images follows on the story from the
cover, which clearly shows that it is the main
feature of the issue. The photograph features
an art student drawing, to reinforce the genre.
• The second image I used, and the smaller
image, features a female body, holding a piece
of paper with a question mark drawn on. This
matches with the coverline on my cover about
the new teacher, and the question mark adds
mystery to the ‘Newbie,’ leaving the reader in
suspense and wanting to read on.

9. • I tried to carry on the idea of using educational,
school language in my magazine to substitute
the language one would normally see in
magazine. Therefore, I replaced the word,
“Contents,” with, “Timetable,” and listed the
page numbers and the corresponding stories like
a school timetable to keep with the theme. I also
used other language like, “Break,” to set out the
order of the magazine like a school day.
• My spelling and grammar is accurate, and I also
added page number to the two images, using
different fonts for each story, and using suitable
colours to stand out from the picture.
• I used a background of lined paper, which I
photographed and imported in InDesign. I did
this because I wanted it to look like a timetable,
but it also sticks with the school theme. At the
bottom left of the page, I added the page
number and the title of the magazine. I did this
after researching contents pages and looking at
the structure and design.

10. • I think the strength of my contents page is the
design, as I am very happy with the lined paper
background, because it adds to the school
effect, as well as the ‘Timetable,’ theme. I also
think the colours are effective and appropriate
for a school magazine.
• In my opinion, the weakness of my contents
page is the quality of the images. Although I am
pleased with the lined paper background, I
think it would have been more effective to
have scanned in paper, as this would have
given the correct colour, as well as a more
detailed image. I am please with the image of
the art student, however, even though I like the
idea behind the image of the ‘mystery’
person, if I had more time I would have put
more effort into the backdrop and the quality
of the props. I am happy to have designed a
school contents page and cover as practice for
my music magazine, because I can use my
mistakes and learn from them to create a
better product next time.