32. Working Progress...

This is my working progress of my front cover and contents page. Any comments on alterations and improvements would be hugely appreciated!

31. Photos

As I am sticking with the scrapbook theme for my magazine, I decided that the images I choose must have sentimental value, rather than just being from a 'posey photoshoot'. For this reason, I have selected a number of personal images from the past which I feel would work well within the magazine:

These images are ones which I believe would be suitable for the front cover. The third picture is my personal favourite, as the colouring is effective and the spacing around it would allow for a lot of creativity regarding the layout. The only problem is that my main feature is supposed to be about a girl band with two members, therefore the first picture is more appropriate. I will, however, try both these images in order to see which works best before making a final decision.

The following are images which I plan to include in my double page spread. Because of the scrapbook theme, I would like to have one side of the page completely dedicated to the images in order to create a collage of 'band memories', with the interview on the opposite page.

30. Font Styles

After looking again at my draft front cover I have come to the conclusion that a thin, handwritten font does not work particularly well. The majority of music magazines use a bold font. This has become a typical convention, so I aim to follow this in my own work. The following fonts are possibilities to use for my front cover: 



                                        - "BadaBoom BB"


- "Indie BB"


- "Jr!hand"


- "Marker Felt"


- "dearJoe 5 CASUAL"


- "Janda Manatee Solid"


- "Brushed"


- "Crimewave BB"






I think the font "Brushed" has the potential to work very well, as it is bold therefore it will work well as a masthead, and also the laid-back style of it fits in with my idea of a scrapbook theme.  

29. Risk Assessment

Now that I have completed my draft magazine front cover, contents and double page spread I can begin creating my final piece. 
Before I do this I need to consider specific details such as taking photos and the risks this can bring about:


Risk Assessment 

28. Decisions for my magazine

Magazine name : Indie Star

Genre : Indie

Angle :  Reminiscing memories - scrapbook style

Front cover 

Main image : female band - two artists (Lipstick & Lighters) --> faded colours, portrait orientation

Colour scheme : Masthead - red, boosts - white/black/red

Tagline : feel to follow or learn to fly... 


Boosts : " 'It was a man's world. We've changed all that.'  Lipstick & Lighters in their first even interview" , "Latitude Festival - we bet you didn't know", "Foster the People - their descent into Britain", "Q&A with the Maccabees", "Hipster - is this the new fashion?"

Contents page 


Scrapbook background,
blocked to one side,
part of the page dedicated to latitude festival,
small polaroid image of band with caption, 
barcode/QR code,
letter from the editor (?)

Double page spread


Q&A with main band (Lipstick & Lighters), 
scrapbook background, 
three images - whole band + two individual shots (polaroid style), 
small icon of lips as the band logo

27. Design Philosophy

After creating my drafts of the front cover, contents and double page spread of my music magazine I have come to various conclusions about the design of my final piece:


- I would like to create an original design, while still following a number of conventions, as this will allow me to be creative while still clearly representing a music magazine 
- Fairly minimalistic, sticking with the 'scrapbook' theme
- Main image on the front cover will be two females (needs to be portrait orientated), and another photo of them both for DPS as well as individual shots to be used
- Handwritten fonts used throughout, with the exception of boosts on front page and masthead of DPS
- Fairly pale colours used, with dark red as the main font colour 

26. Draft Double Page Spread

25. Draft Contents Page

24. Draft Front Cover

Before creating my magazine I needed to do a draft to finalise design features and ideas - these are my three attempts:

23. Development of Ideas

After having a look through a book called 'Magazine Covers' by David Crowley, it has provided some inspiration for my magazine. 


I have decided I definitely do not want my magazine design to be too mainstream; I would like to adapt the conventions to create an individual style, which would be emulated in future publications of the magazine. 


Because the music and lyrics within the genre of Indie is often about recalling memories, I would like the inside pages of my magazine to represent a scrapbook, in which polaroid images have been taped in, in a scruffy, relaxed manner. This will provide the reader with a sense of familiarity, nostalgia and emotional release. 

22. Uses and Gratification

Theorists suggest that every magazine follows the following reasons for media uses so as to appeal to their target audience:


Information
- finding out about relevant events and conditions in immediate surroundings, society and the world
- seeking advice on practical matters or opinions and decision choices
- satisfying curiosity and general interest
learning/self-education
- gaining a sense of security through knowledge


Personal Identity
- finding reinforcement for personal values
- finding models of behavior 
- identifying with valued others in the media
- gaining insight into oneself


Integration and Social Interaction 
- gaining insight into the circumstances of others; social empathy
- identifying with others and gaining a sense of belonging
- finding a basis for conversation and social interaction
- having a substitute for real-life companionship
- helping to carry out social roles
-enabling one to connect with family, friends and society 


Entertainment
- escaping, or being diverted, from problems
- relaxing
- getting intrinsic cultural or aesthetic enjoyment
- filling time
- emotional release
- erotic/sexual arousal


A lot of these apply specifically to music magazines, for example finding out about relevant events (gigs, release dates), finding models of behavior (role models, favourite artists), filling time and gaining cultural enjoyment. 


Some can even be found on the front cover, the first point of contact with the target audience. The front cover will be the main reason for sale, as it details content which should be of interest, therefore it must demonstrate persuasive reasons. The highlighted features are the ones which I believe can be found on the front cover of 'NME'.