EVALUATION

B Y G E O R G I N A M A L P A S S

IN WHAT WAYS DOES MY MEDIA PRODUCT USE, DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE FORMS AND CONVENTIONS OF REAL MEDIA PRODUCTS?

E V A L U A T I O N

COMPARISON

Mast head- my mast head is bold, easy to read and located

along the top of the front page following the conventional

magazine conventions. The mast head complies with the

genre of magazine and it allows the audience to associate

the font with my magazine creating a brand image.

Main image- using a medium shot positioned in the center of

my page I have directly addressed the audience in order to

appeal to them.. This has subsequently allowed me the

place the text and supporting images in a visually attractive

way, matching with traditional codes and conventions of

fashion magazines.

Barcode strategically placed- implementing a barcode gives

my magazine a professional look. I have placed it at the

bottom corner of my magazine so it doesn’t distract from the

advertised articles.

A variety of stories- I have kept the colours of the text abiding

by the chosen colour scheme and have adjusted the size

and fonts of the text depending on their importance and

appeal to my audience.

Patterned strip- By including a patterned strip along the top

of my design I have challenged the conventional magazine

conventions. This allows my magazine to have a pop of

colour which ties the colour scheme together as well as

making my magazine unique enabling it to stand out on

shelves.

A ‘three colour’ scheme- seen in numerous fashion

magazines, a ‘three colour’ colour scheme shows

professionalism and visual appeal allowing my magazine to

follow the codes and conventions of real media products.

COMPARISON

A ‘three colour’ scheme- is continued from the front

page through to the content page, this follows the

codes and conventions of a real media product.

Images- the images on the content page are centered

in order to make the text an image converge creating a

column effect. This makes the magazine visual and easy

to read as well as navigate.

I have included the magazine name and issue date so

the audience is aware that this magazine is current and

up-to-date. This is a feature that follows the codes and

conventions of a magazine media product.

I also included two separate columns of text in order for

the readers to associate on what pages the stories

(advertised on the front cover) are on and what other

articles the magazine also features. This is a convention of

a typical magazine content page layout that I have

used.

Page numbers- I have ‘boxed out’ the page numbers of

the articles in order for them to stand out to the readers

eye. This is an aspect that challenges the conventional

content page design.

Layout- I have centered the images in the middle of the

content page and positioned the information at the

bottom, as my target market is firstly attracted to visual

aspects of a magazine, making my magazine

appealing to my desired audience. This challenges the

codes and conventions of the real media product on

the right.

COMPARISON

Masthead- the title is bold and eye-catching which will attract my target

audience. The title being ‘100% Urban fashion’ is intriguing as it doesn’t give

away too much, this will draw the reader in as they will want to know what the

article is about.

Main image(s) imagery is important when trying to capture an audiences’

attention. This is why I have included multiple images that will appeal to my

desired audience. Unlike a conventional magazine double page spread I have

incorporated four smaller images that represent the columns above/below

them.

Text- following traditional double page spread styles I have columned my article

to create an organised and visually pleasing over all effect. Due to the ‘urban

sketch’ I have outlined the text in a thick outline in order to make it legible and

to stand out. This feature also ties in with the magazine theme as it creates a

‘spray can’ effect.

Pull quotes- In order to create some intrigue I have included several pull

quotes to make the images more interesting and eye catching. Where as

the real media product on the right has started its article with a quote

which can be seen from the use of speech marks.

Range of fonts- To make the double page spread eye catching and

visually attractive I have used a range of fonts, just like a real media

product. I have also varied the sizes of fonts depending on its importance-

masthead, introduction, text body and captions

Topic- I have chosen a topic that is relative to my magazine genre and

that would appeal to my target audience. This is an aspect of real

magazine codes and conventions that I have embodied in my work.

HOW DOES MY MEDIA PRODUCT REPRESENT A SOCIAL GROUP?

E V A L U A T I O N

REPRESENTATION OF A SOCIAL GROUP

By using imperative

language in the

advertised articles I

have made my

magazine friendly

and attractive to

teens. It also suggests

that this magazine is

informal and the

variety of fonts makes

the magazine

interesting and eye

catching, these are

all aspects that will

attract the correct

target audience due

to the representation

of teenagers.

Through choosing a title that is contemporary and current I

was able to create a media product that represented a

teen social group. Fashion interested teens between the

age of 14- 19 are targeted through the creation of my

magazine.

A normal teenage model was chosen for the front over to

communicate with the readers. Everything down to hair styling

and wardrobe chosen will attract the target audience as it is

relatable and inspiring. Even though other magazines try to sell

themselves through the use of celebrity endorsement, ‘Urban’

goes for an engaging selling method by choosing a face that

represents the audience in order to level with them.

AUDIENCE FEED BACK

My magazine ‘Urban’ is aimed at teenage girls between the age

of 14- 19 years old due to the audience research I have previously

carried out. This is due to a larger percentage of

females purchase fashion magazines compared

to males. Yet males on average buy 13% of fashion magazines. That is why I chose a unisex

colour scheme in order to cater for both genders.

After asking 20 teenage girls (my majority target audience), what

they thought of my magazine designs I collected the information

and presented it in a bar chart.

femsle

readers

male

readers

AUDIENCE FEEDBACK

• I asked the audience a number of questions.

0

5

10

15

20

yes no

nu

mb

er

of

pa

rtic

ipa

nts

Is the name magazine name 'Urban'

attractive?

0

5

10

15

20

yes no

Do you like the colour scheme?

0

5

10

15

20

yes no

Are the fonts eye catching?

0

5

10

15

20

yes no

Is the main image intriguing?

AUDIENCE FEED BACK

From the data I collected from the target audience it is clear

that I have-

• Chosen a suitable magazine name

• Included an eye catching colour scheme

• incorporated appropriate font styles

• Selected an attractive image for the front cover

On the other hand if I was to develop on any aspect it would

be the font styles. This is due to a proportion of the target

audience not finding the font styles eye catching enough.

Yet over all I believe I have achieved a suitable media

product that represents a teen social group and that has a

positive target audience response.

WHAT KIND OF MEDIA INSTITUTIONS MIGHT DISTRIBUTE MY MEDIA

PRODUCT?

E V A L U A T I O N

MEDIA INSTITUTION

Through doing previous research into existing media publications- I have evaluated AdvancePublications and Hearst Corporation as two businesses that could potentially distribute my mediaproduct.

Hearst corporation have had more experience producing teen magazines as they have beenselling Seventeen magazine world wide since 1944. This would come in handy when marketing mymagazine. Hearst Corporation produces mainly women magazines such as- Cosmopolitan, Elleand Harper’s Bazaar. They however do produce Seventeen magazine that is a cheerful and youngteen fashion magazine. In contrast, the magazine I wish to create will be an editorial, high streetfashion magazine aimed and older teens.

Which concludes that Hearst Corporation would be the most appropriate publishing company toproduce and market my magazine with.

Advance Corporation is the 44th biggest privately owned company in the world, they producedthe most successful magazines on today’s market- such as Vogue and GQ. AdvancedCorporation magazines are popular, current and in high demand showcasing that they clearlyknow how to attract the readers eye. On one hand I would like to publish my magazine withAdvanced Publications, yet with my magazine design being similar to Teen Vogue, working inclose proximity my main competitor could prove fatal for my magazine’s success.

WHO WOULD BE THE AUDIENCE FOR MY MEDIA PRODUCT?

E V A L U A T I O N

AUDIENCE

Likes to read about designers.

Goes to school or college.

Aged 14-17.

Likes to shop at well known brands.

Keeps up to date with the latest fashion.

Likes to read about fashion shows.

Typical teenage girl.

Is influenced by social media.

HOW I ATTRACTED AND ADDRESSED MY AUDIENCE?

E V A L U A T I O N

EVALUATION

Codes and conventions I have used to attract my target audience are-

• Bold mast head- By using a contrasting colour for the magazine title it becomes eye-catching which will attract potential buyers.

• Models’ eye contact- As the model is making eye contact with the audience it shows the magazine is engaging with the audience which may persuade them to purchase the magazine.

• Cover stories- with four cover stories advertisede the audience can be assured that the magazine is good value for money.

• Story positioning- as ‘Style guide- 100% Urban!’ is located strategically at the bottom of the magazine which will draw the readers eye to article.

• Constant colour scheme and fonts- creates magazine identity and is visually pleasing.

EVALUATION

To address my target audience-

• I used a feminine colour scheme consisting of pink,

turquoise and blue to appeal to a ‘fashion

conscious’ teen audience.

• I have included informal language to appeal to the

teen market, this will allow my magazine to level

with the reader which will make the magazine fun

and easy to read.

• I have also chosen a normal teenage model for the

front over to communicate with the readers and to

represent the audience, in order to appeal to them.

WHAT HAVE I LEARNED ABOUT TECHNOLOGIES FROM THE PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTING THIS

PRODUCT?

E V A L U A T I O N

EVALUATION

Through using Adobe Photoshop I was able to design

and develop my fashion magazine. I learnt how to

enhance images in regards to contrast and vibrancy

with the use of HDR toning option tool. By editing text

with- stroke, Bevel and Emboss I also learnt how to

make the mast head 3D in order to stand out from

the background. I was even able to test my

magazine front cover in a variety of colour schemes

with different fonts and textual positioning.

HOW I CREATED THE FRONT COVER

Draft 1 Draft 2

Draft 3 Final

LOOKING BACK AT MY PRELIMINARY TASK, WHAT DO I FEEL I HAVE LEARNT IN THE PROGRESSION FROM IT

NOW TO THE FULL PRODUCT?

E V A L U A T I O N

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Looking back on my preliminary task I

would say I have developed on many

aspects needed to make a successful

magazine front cover.

Firstly, it can be seen that I have

developed in my photography. The pose

and positioning of the model makes my

magazine look more professional. I have

expanded my knowledge of shot types,

which has aided me to chose a medium

close up shot in order to conforms with real

media codes and conventions. The

wardrobe and styling has also improved

and is relevant to the magazine genre.

I have also made progress on my choice of

fonts, I have stuck to the rule of three and

have conformed with the traditional use of

three fonts on the page, as to not make

the page look too busy like my original

design on the left. My choice of colour

scheme has improved, this can be

exabited through my development, from a

multi-coloured colour scheme to a

proffessional ‘three colour’ colour scheme.

The text placement on the right frames the

image and compliments the image

compared to my previous work. I have

used less images on my ‘Urban’ front cover

as to not distract from the main image. My

fashion magazine layout looks structured

and professional compared to my initial

school magazine cover.

EVALUATION

Analyzing my content pages I can see how I have developed on my choice of layout. My fashion magazine is more planned and professional compared to my school magazine design.

By using three organisedimages in the middle of my content page the reader will know where to look first also with captions the audience can understand what each image represents. In contrast to the randomly placed images on my school magazine. I have included ‘boxed out’ page numbers to catch the audiences eye and to stand out from the background.

Through using a maximum of three font styles I have created a visually pleasing and easy to read content page. This is an aspect I have connoted from my preliminary task.