2. Research and Planning
Since beginning to create my magazine, I feel that my skills have developed a lot in
the way that I think about what I am going to do before I make something. For
example I imagine how the colour scheme or photograph will work with the layout
of a page. I think that this has impacted my work since it makes my product look
more professional and I can say how and why it will appeal to my target audience.
Since I have a more detailed understanding about professional practice about real
magazines, I think that my work has a lot more in common with professional
products since I am able to identify what conventions are effective and whether it
would appeal to my audience or not. I think that I have managed my time slightly
better than in the previous project because I knew how much work I had to put into
my product. I made sure to plan how I wanted my magazine to look because it was
most important to get my target audience to like it and want to read it. I also learnt
how to compose a photograph when taking photos in for my recent work. I took the
time to consider lighting and framing, as well as how the pose that my model did
would affect the atmosphere of a photo and page.
3. Construction
My skills of using software such as Photoshop and InDesign have improved greatly. This is because on my
first project, I was new to these tools and I decided to have fun with them and experiment with what would
work and what wouldn’t. Because of this, I think my first project looked quite unprofessional and messy
because I didn’t really know what effects and font I was going to use etc. The composition of the main cover
is the most obvious, since within my first project the page composition is quite random, and I put text
wherever I thought looked empty. In my most recent work, I made sure not to leave any gaps, but to only
place sell lines where I thought it looked effective and realistic.
The alignment lines on InDesign helped me to create an effective contents page and double page
spread, and helped me to make sure that it was all symmetrical. The use of fonts within my work has
changed a lot also. In my first project, I used simple fonts that came with Word and didn’t think about
downloading a more appropriate font that would match the theme of my magazine more, but with my newest
work I downloaded multiple different fonts to test which ones looked the most effective. I think that my
choice of models was chosen well on both occasions, because I intended for them to look as if they were
normal teenagers, which I aimed to have as my target audience. The costumes used within the photographs
helped with the theme of my magazine as well as fitting with a certain group of people. Finally, their poses
were natural on both pieces of work because I believe that it looks the most effective and would appeal to a
teenage audience more because if they like the person, they are more likely to buy the magazine. The
content of my first magazine was strictly for college students, so I had to make sure that it would appeal to
both genders as well as the age group. I included articles about college life and events.
With my most recent work I chose to aim for teenage girls to read my magazine and this was because I knew
what would appeal to them and the articles I chose were music based, and since they weren’t too
stereotypical, they would appeal to most if not completely all of my target audience. My photos were much
more professional this time, as I used a studio to take photos of my models, whereas for my previous
photoshoot I used a brick wall backdrop. The layout for my magazines, past and present, were quite simple
because I wanted it to be easy for my readers to navigate. Also, I think magazines look a lot better when they
are set out into squares etc.
4. Prelim Product Final Product
The masthead on my prelim product takes
up a lot of space and doesn’t fit the colour
scheme. The difference between this and
the masthead on my final product is that I
placed the main image in front but still
made it visible and readable for my target
audience. I learnt how to do this by
experimenting with different Photoshop
tools that were available. In this case, I
used the lassoo tool.
My main image was taken using a
professional camera in a photostudio. In
my prelim product I used a professional
camera but I took my photos outside. This
means that the lighting was not
effective, unlike the ones that I took for my
final product.
In my prelim product, the fonts that I used
were a lot more basic than the ones that I
used in my final product. This is
because, for my final product, I
downloaded specific fonts to suit my
genre and to fit the conventions of
The colour scheme that I used for my prelim
professional products.
product is quite mismatched and I changed them
as I went along. This is obvious when looking at There is a lot of empty space on the front cover of my prelim
my product. On the other hand, I researched the product. Improving my research skills allowed me to understand
effect of different colours when creating my final how to place my sell lines on my front cover, and to not make it
product, and I created a pallete of the ones I would look too full or too empty. By doing this it will make my product
use. I also experimented to see which ones look unprofessional. When I studied professional products I
worked best and I think it paid off because the realised that when the sell lines obscure the models’ face it
colours I used look very professional. looks ineffective, and so avoided this when creating my final
product.
5. Prelim Product Final Product
My list of stories within my magazine on my prelim
product are placed quite far apart, leaving a lot of
empty white space which looks unappealing. When I
researched existing products I understood how to set
out a professional looking contents page, and applied
this to my own work. I used the layout lines on
InDesign to ensure that everything was aligned and
looked neat.
The fonts that I used in my final product are varied but
simple, as to not draw too much attention away from
the images since they are the most important stories. I
used the same two fonts for this page to keep
continuity. However, for my prelim product I used the
same font and also a mix of colours that don’t look
good together.
I chose to use social networking sites to promote my
magazine. I researched my target audience to see
what they found interesting, and what their hobbies
were. All of them said that they spend a lot of time on
Twitter and Facebook, so I included these links on my
contents page.
The header at the top of the contents page of my prelim
product takes up a lot of space and looks quite tacky. The I only used one image for my prelim product contents page which took up a lot
yellow stands out too much in a bad way. My final of space. The photo doesn’t include a lot of information about the article
product’s header is more professional looking and the inside, and doesn’t fit well with the theme of the magazine. The camera was a
colours contrast but match with the rest of my contents good quality but I didn’t use a photostudio. When taking the photos for my final
page. This was a technique I learnt when experimenting product, I booked a time to take photos of my models and select the relevant
with colours and fonts as well as the layout of my page. pose that would suit my magazine. I have learnt a lot about placement and
how to communicate properly with the people I am working with to achieve a
effective photograph.
