EVALUATION QUESTION 1

On the front cover of real media magazines there are a number of conventions used to compliment its form. Most front covers of real media magazines have a similar form. The layout of the cover usually has the masthead very large at the top of the page.

The Masthead

Like this example, sometimes the main image can overlap the masthead. This shows that the name or brand of the magazine is well know, and can be recognised even if it being covered

I also used the convention of a masthead to make a distinction between my product and other jazz magazines. I followed the usual form of real media products by having the masthead at the top of the page.

The design used on the masthead reflects the genre of the magazine as the ‘N’ resembles the slide on a trombone

I also developed this convention by designing two of my letters in the masthead to resemble strings on instruments used in jazz. I think this was effective as it reflected the genre of my magazine

COLOUR SCHEME

The colour scheme is also a convention used on real media products. The colours used for the background, masthead, text, image etc. All match or differ in a way which will compliment the product. For example the colour scheme for this real magazine is blue and gold. I know this as the masthead, background and extra design are all blue, whist the selling line, cover lines/plugs and iconography resemble a gold colour. This colour scheme works well in complimenting the iconography of a trumpet, which represents the entire magazine as a jazz product.

blue

gold

From my questionnaire the results showed that the black and white colour scheme was the most popular. Because of this my main image and background follow a monochromatic scheme. The limited colour shown on the front of this magazine is produced on the cover lines and iconography. Similar to the real music magazine, my product conforms to the method of using the colour scheme to compliment the product. For example the yellow main cover line compliments the acoustic semi- electric guitar. Which is an instrument commonly used in jazz music, and this represents my overall product.

LAYOUTThe form used on magazines of all genres usually follow a similar layout. The selling line and masthead on the top , the main image consuming the majority of the page and usually centred, then the cover lines overlapping the main image along the sides of the page.

My magazine conforms to a typical front cover layout. Comparing it to this specific jazz magazine, my product differs in some ways. For example, my masthead is placed on top of my main image; whereas the masthead on the real magazine is being overlapped by the image. As my product is new , people will not be familiar with my brand. Therefore it would be better for my masthead to be completely on show.

TYPOGRAPHY

The typography used on this real jazz magazine is all the same on each convention such as the cover lines, selling line, plugs etc... This is to help create one clear overall theme or design. However the typography on my front cover rebels against the usual consistency of one style. For example a different style of font is used for each cover line. I decided to challenge this convention because I figured the different fonts worked well in representing or reflecting that particular article in a different way. For example the article about the female artist ‘Lisa Solomon’ is presented on the cover in an italic/calligraphy style, to reflect the theme of beauty which relates to the article.