Assignment 6: (Ancillary – Magazine Research)

-real double page spreads NOT to use-samples of level 1, 2, 3, 4 student

work

Tips• Remember you MUST show your research from real double page

spreads• The research should show that you have researched listing

magazines• +• Researched and analysed a range of double page spreads • Additionally, this research is to get inspiration ……not to copy

them but to learn from them and get inspired by them!

• Remember, DON’T get your real pages from the internet……you must get them from actual magazines (PDF or printed magazine)

Section 1

• Which texts are used too often

(found online)

If you do a google search…..

For ‘double page magazine spread’……you will get these……(notice how some are real double page spreads and some are student work!)

all used wayyyy too often and most aren’t even good!

DON’T USE THIS! (most common)

The student example shows they copied the concept……..not very creative!(level 1)

DON’T USE THIS! (2nd most common)

The student example shows they copied the concept……..not very creative!(level 1/2)

DON’T USE THIS! (3rd most common)

Average page – some decent design but a lot of people look at this.

DON’T USE THIS! (4th most common)

The original is a poor design……..silly to use this as inspirational! (it’s not even a double page spread…it’s a turn page (meaning it is the page after a double page spread)

Both student examples shows they copied the concept……..not very creative! They are AWFUL designs! (level 1)

DON’T USE THIS! (quite common)

This real spread isn’t even well designed!!!!!!It’s too busy/noisy/cluttered.

DON’T USE THIS! (quite common)

Well designed page –decent design but a lot of people look at this.

Section 2

• Student examples (all levels)

Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4

(low/mid/high level examples for each)

Horrendous student work! (level 1)

Pretty awful student designs (low level 2)

Basic/satisfactory (level 2)

Satisfactory (level 2/3 border)

Satisfactory/good (level 2/3 border)

Slightly better….(low level 3)

Better designs….(high level 3)

great designs (low/mid level 4)

Outstanding design!!!!! (high level 4…..full marks)

• This candidate went above and beyond…..2 double page spreads, with consistency!

• Clearly understands and applies the appropriate codes and conventions of a double page spread– Good, eye catching, controlled layout, varies size of text and style of font is appropriate and applied very well, body text is

clearly readable. – Great lighting and clear original images, colours are appropriate and consistent, all elements of a double page spread. (title,

subtitle, body text, subheadings in body text, text is readable, images in various sizes/angles/shots, pull quotes, page numbers, extra block of text (she did a review)

– The editing shows high level of skill in photoshop/indesign…..cropping, selecting/cutting/pasting etc.

REAL magazine• Remember you must get inspiration from REAL magazine spreads, NOT ones you found

online – remember you could risk mistaking a student work for a real spread!• I’d recommend going to a book shop to look at a range of magazines (NOT tesco or shop

around the corner…….book stores have a better selection of magazines)

• Good magazines:• GQ

http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/• Wired

http://www.wired.com/magazine/• Eye

http://www.eyemagazine.com/• Little white lies (film magazine)• http://www.littlewhitelies.co.uk/• time out (free on Tuesdays apparently)

http://www.timeout.com/• media magazine (use the subscription login I e-mailed you)

www.emagazine.org.uk• vogue and cosmo are better designed fasion magazines• total film or empire

Things to look for/annotate on read spreads (from actual magazines)

• Layout design• Hierarchy (what do you look at 1st, 2nd, 3rd)• Colours and graphics • Style and application of photographs

– Lighting– Angles/shots– Photo manipulation

• Style and application of text– Title– Subtitles– Body text (paragraphs)

When you start designing…

• INCLUDE ALL FOLLOWING ELEMENTS:

• Title• Subtitle• By-line• Photos (taken by yourself)• Captions• 2 columns of text• Pull quote• Block of text for additional information• Folio (page number/style)

YOU SHOULD CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:

• What is your inspiration from other magazine spreads?

• Visual hierarchy– Try to work with a small, medium, large

• Typography– Readable– Simple yet captures mood/style well– No decorative fonts

• Photography: – Original photography– Good lighting– Good composition

• Colour scheme– Don’t get too carried away, remember colour symbolism. Simple, yet interesting, eye-

catching and appropriate to theme