This document summarizes how the student's media product uses and challenges conventions of real media products. Specifically, the student looked to hip hop magazines like The Source and Vibe for inspiration in designing the layout, style, and visual elements of their magazine cover, contents page, and double page article spread. Key elements like the masthead, cover lines, images, and fonts are placed similarly to these professional magazines to make the student's magazine look polished and professional. Consistency of colors, fonts and techniques are used throughout to further develop a real media style.

1. Evaluation
Nathen Russell

2. 1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or
challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
H e ad e r
M as th e ad
C ove r line s
M ain im age
M ain cove r line s
Barcod e / rice / s u e
p is
F oote r
R u le Of Th ird s R u le Of Th ird s

3. 1 . C ove r
‘ Th e S o u rce ’ was one of th e firs t H ip H op m agazin e s I looke d at fo r in s p iration; as you can s e e m y m agazine and Th e
S ou rce are ve ry s im ilar; e s p e cially with th e co lou rs u s e d , te ch niqu e s (op acity) and th e layou t.
M y h e ad e r was cre ate d b y u s ing a s im p le s h ap e (re ctangle ) th e n j s t re s izin g it, ch anging th e co lou r and I als o b ro u gh t
u
d own th e o p acity le ve ls (60% ) j s t like Th e S o u rce h ave ; I th e n j s t ad d e d te xt to th e s h ap e with th e p re fe rre d font th at
u u
was ch os e n in m y qu e s tionnaire and as you can s e e , j s t like Th e S ou rce h ave d on e , m y te xt is wh ite s o it s tand s ou t
u
agains t th e re d . It go e s acros s th e ve ry top of th e m agazine , j s t as a p rofe s s ion al m agazin e wou ld h ave (Th e S ou rce ).
u
My magazine
The Source
F or m y Mas th e ad I’ ve u s e d th e fon t, R ockwe ll E xtra B old . Th e le tte rs are ch u nky and s h arp to m ake it s tan d ou t on th e
p age . Th e fact th at I’ ve ad d e d d rop s h ad o w m ake s it s tand ou t e ve n m ore . I’ ve ch ange d th e colo u r of th e m as th e ad to
wh ite ; th is works we ll with th e b lu rre d b ackgrou nd as it j m p s ou t of th e p age . Th e M as th e ad is at th e top of th e p age , as
u
oth e r p ro fe s s ional m agazine s d o (s e ns e of p rofe s s io nalis m ).

4. 1 . C ove r
With m y cove r lin e s , I’ ve b e e n cre ate d as I’ ve ad d e d im age s to th e m ; e ach im age h as its own cove r line (s tory). M y
cove r lin e s le t th e re ad e r know wh at to e xp e ct in th e m agazin e ; th e y’ re als o th e m ain s torie s with in th e m agazine . Th e
b ackgrou nd s h ap e th e cove r line s are on to p of is th e co lou r re d (with th e o p acity le ve ls tu rne d d o wn to 60% ), wh ich
m atch e s th e h e ad e r; cons is te n cy. Th e font u s e d for th e cove r line s is th e p re fe rre d font m y au d ie nce s u gge s te d in th e
qu e s tionnaire an d I’ ve ch os e to m ake it wh ite b e cau s e it s tand s ou t o n th e b ackgrou nd and m ake s it e as y to re ad as
we ll as m atch ing th e m as th e ad (cons is te ncy).
Th e m ain co ve r line s is th e m os t ap p e aling and b igge s t s tory with in m y m agazin e . Th e s am e with th e oth e r cove r lin e s ,
th is one is p lace d on a re d s h ap e (re ctangle , with op acity le ve ls of 60% ), th e font is th e s am e as we ll to m ake it s tand
ou t; h owe ve r, th e te xt h e re is a lot b igge r, s im p ly b e cau s e I want th e re ad e rs to in s tantly s e e th e m ain cove r line s to
gain th e ir inte re s t in th e m agazine . Th e s tyle of th is is s im ilar to H ip H op m agazine , ‘ Th e S ou rce ’ .
My magazine The Source
Th e foote r of m y m agazin e works th e s am e way as th e cove r lin e s and fo ote r; th e fact of th e wh ite te xt b e ing on a re d
re ctangu lar s h ap e with th e op acity le ve ls tu rne d d own to 60% ; m akin g it s tand ou t. It j s t d is p lays a lis t o f H ip H op
u
artis ts p ote n tially m e ntione d in th e m agazine . Th e s tyle of th is te ch niqu e is ve ry s im ilar to ‘ th e S ou rce ’ .
My magazine
The Source

5. 1 . C ove r
Th e m ain im age o n th e fron t cove r o f m y m agazine is a m e d iu m s h o t of a m ale wh o looks as if h e ’ s
with in th e H ip H op ge nre ; th e fact th at h is clo th ing and p rop s (h at and h e ad p h o ne s ) s u it h is
ap p e arance m atch e s th e fact of h im b e ing on th e front cove r of a H ip H op m agazine ; m ake s it look a
lo t m ore p rofe s s ion al, like ‘ Th e S o u rce ’ .
My magazine The Source
Th e b arcod e , is s u e nu m b e r an d p rice o f m y m agazine is cle arly p re s e nte d in th e righ t b o ttom th ird of
th e p age . It m ake s th e m agazine s e llab le and give s fe e d b ack to th e au d ie nce on th e p rice and wh at
is s u e th e m agazine is . Th e fon t I’ ve u s e d for th e p ricing and is s u e of m y m agazine is th e s am e as
wh at I’ ve u s e d for th e cove r lin e s , h e ad e r and foote r; it m ake s th e cove r co ns is te nt. S im ilarly ‘ Th e
S ou rce ’ h as th e ir b arcod e , is s u e nu m b e r an d p rice in th e s am e p lace (m y m agazine h as a s e ns e of
p rofe s s ion alis m ).
My magazine The Source

6. 1 . C onte nts
Title
M agazine
nam e
(corp orate
id e ntity)
C onte nt
s lis t
M ain
(b ig)
im age
H e ad ing
s–
p age
nu m b e rs
R u le Of Th ird s R u le Of Th ird s

7. 1 . C onte nts
F or m y conte nts p age , I looke d at ‘ Vib e ’ for ins p iration. I’ ve trie d to lay m y conte nts p age ou t th e way ‘ Vib e ’ h ave
and as
you can s e e , th e re are s trong s im ilaritie s in th e way I’ ve got m y im age d own on e s id e , wh ils t th e conte nts lis t b e ing on
th e
oth e r s id e .
F or m y m as th e ad , I’ ve u s e d th e s am e m e th o d as I d id on m y front cove r; cre ate a re d s h ap e an d tu rn th e op acity le ve ls
d own, th e n ad d ing te xt. I th ou gh t th at ad d ing te xt to th e s h ap e wou ld m ake ‘ con te nts ’ s tand o u t a lot m ore and as you
can
s e e it’ s ve ry e ffe ctive . Th e id e a o f h aving a m as th e ad on th e conte nts , le ts th e re ad e rs know wh at p age th e ir o n; as
we ll
as th e re b e ing a conte nts lis t. I’ ve u s e d th e s am e te xt as I h ave for th e cove r line s on m y front cove r; cons is te n cy an d
p rofe s s ion alis m .
I’ ve inclu d e d th e nam e of m y m agazine on th e conte nts p age to e m p h as ize it; m ake s u re th e re ad e rs kno w th at th e ir
re ad ing m y m agazin e . I’ ve p re s e nte d it at an angle to m ake it a b it m ore cre ative ; not th e s am e old b oring p o s itioning.
My magazine Vibe
An oth e r re as on I’ ve ad d e d m y m agazine nam e to th e conte n ts is b e cau s e I want it to look as p ro fe s s ional (corp orate
id e ntity) as p os s ib le , j s t like ‘ Vib e ’ h ave d one .
u

8. 1 . C onte nts
With m y conte nts lis t, I’ ve m e ntione d all th e m os t ap p e aling p oints of wh at’ s in th e m agazine ; th e
p oints th at th e re ad e rs are p os s ib ly m os t fond of and th e p o ints th e y’ d m os t like to re ad . Th e layou t of
m y conte n ts lis t is e ffe ctive as it goe s from b ig to s m all; follows th e s h ap e of m y im age – th is is ve ry
s im ilar to th e way ‘ Vib e ’ h ave laid ou t th e ir conte nts p age . Th e fon t re m ains th e s am e as m y front
cove r; con s is te ncy and als o it works we ll (s tand s ou t) on th e b ackgrou n d as m y b ackgrou nd is p lain
b u t s im p le .
My magazine Vibe
Th e im age I’ ve u s e d on m y conte nts p age fits into th e ge nre of H ip H op as th e m ale m od e l u s e d is
p re s e n te d we ll; cloth ing an d ap p e aran ce . Th e im age is a m e d iu m s h ot (cap tu re d from th e wais t) and
p lace d on th e righ t s id e o f th e p age in ord e r to le t th e conte n ts lis t flow on th e oth e r s id e ; s im ilar to
‘ Vib e ’ . I’ ve cu t ou t th e b ackgro u nd of m y original im age u s ing th e p olygon las s o tool an d I j s t p u t th e
u
e d ite d ve rs ion o n m y b ackgrou n d ; it s e e m s m ore s tro nge r and you r e nab le d to fo cu s m ore on th e m ale
m o d e l. It ap p e ars th at ‘ Vib e ’ h ave d on e a s im ilar th ing with th e ir im age .
My magazine Vibe

9. 1 . C onte nts
F or m y conte nts lis t I’ ve ad d e d h e ad e rs . Th e s e h e ad e rs are in a d iffe re nt co lou r s o th e re ad e rs know th e ir ou tlin ing
th e
p age re fe re nce s ; fe e d b ack. Th e font is th e s am e as th e co nte n ts lis t its e lf; th is s am e te ch niq u e h as als o b e e n u s e d b y
‘ Vib e ’ ; th is s h ows p rofe s s ionalis m and cons is te n cy.
My magazine Vibe

10. 1 . D ou b le p age s p re ad
G rab H e ad line
qu ote
G rab
qu ote
Im age
D rop cap M as t h e ad
Article (te xt)

11. 1 . D ou b le p age s p re ad
F or m y d ou b le p age s p re ad , I again lo oke d at ‘ Vib e ’ for in s p iration. I’ ve take n s o m e id e as on layou t from ‘ Vib e ’
m agazin e
to cre ate a d ou b le p age s p re ad th at looks p rofe s s ional. As you can s e e on te rm s of layou t, th e m agazine d o u b le p age
s p re ad s are alike .
F or m y m as th e ad , I’ ve trie d to u s e th e s am e ap p roach as I h ave d o ne for th e m as th e ad on m y front cove r and conte nts
p age ; th e fact th at I’ ve ke p t th e re d s h ap e b e h ind th e te xt p rove s th is (alth ou gh th e op acity le ve ls are fu ll th is tim e , s o
th e
te xt lo oks s trong agains t th e b lack b ackgrou nd ). Als o its n otice ab le th at I’ ve u s e d rou gh ly th e s am e co lou rs th rou gh ou t
th e d iffe re n t p age s ; cons is te n cy, Th e s tyle of font is co m p le te ly d iffe re nt to ‘ Vib e ’ b u t p os itione d in rou gh ly th e s am e
Vibe
p lace . My magazine
I’ ve inclu d e d a grab qu ote o n th e firs t p age of th e article to e m p h as ize wh at th e artis t (Little C arlo) h as s aid . Th is is
m o re
affe ctive as th e re ad e rs h e ar wh at th e artis t (s u p e r s tar) h as to s ay; like a lo u d e r vo ice . Als o I’ ve u s e d s e ve ral m ore
grab
qu o te s with in th e article (in te rvie w) to m ake it lo ok as if h e ’ s actu ally s aying it; th is is a good m e th o d of attracting a
wid e r
au d ie nce – th e y want to h e ar wh at a s tar h as to s ay.

12. 1 . D ou b le p age s p re ad
Th e im age I’ ve u s e d for m y d ou b le p age s p re ad re p re s e nts th e H ip H o p ge nre we ll, as th e ap p e arance an d cloth in g of
th e m o d e l is ap p rop riate an d typ ical. Th e way I’ ve p os itio ne d m y im age to fill a wh o le p age p rove s to b e p rofe s s ional as
wh e n d oing m y re s e arch , I ofte n fou nd m os t d ou b le p age s p re ad s we re laid ou t like th is j s t like th e ‘ Vib e ’ one b e low.
u
As we ll as th e ‘ Vib e ’ article inclu d in g a d rop cap , I d e cid e d to u s e on e in m ine . It le ts th e re ad e rs know wh e re th e
article
b e gins ; th is p rove s to b e affe ctive .
My magazine Vibe
With th e article its e lf, I’ ve m ad e m ine to b e an inte rvie w; s e e m s like th e ob viou s th ing to d o in a H ip H o p m agazine ; th e
au d ie nce want to find ou t ab ou t th e artis t p e rs onally.
Lat of all I’ ve inclu d e d a h e ad lin e on m y article u nlike ‘ Vib e ’ b e cau s e it le ts th e re ad e rs know wh at th e article is b as e d
on
and wh at its going to b e ab o u t; like a s h ort s u m m ary.

13. 1 . Planning
F or m y p lan ning, I cre ate d a d raft for all of m y m agazine ; front cove r, conte nts and d ou b le p age
s p re ad . I d id th is to ge t an id e a o f wh at I initially ante d m y m agazin e p age s to look like and it als o gave
m e a ch an ce to e xp e rim e n t with d iffe re nt layou ts and colou rs .
F ront cove r Contents Double page spread
As you can s e e m y m agazine p age s are ne ar e nou gh e xact to m y d rafts (m y d rafts m ad e th e p roce s s
of m akin g m y m agazin e qu icke r as I h ad s om e th ing to work from ). Wh e n I b e gan to cre ate m y
m agazin e I fou nd th at s om e th ings loo ke d b e tte r, s o d e cid e d to ch ange th e m .
Als o p art of m y p lann ing re volve d aro u nd q u e s tion naire re s u lts ; in ord e r to ge t s u gge s tio ns on wh at
m y targe t au d ie n ce wou ld p re fe r to s e e on and with in m y m agazine .

14. 1 . Planning
What title would you prefer for my music magazine?
8
7
Hip2TheHop
6
5
Bass Beat Soundz
4
3
2
1
0
1 2 3 4
Th is q u e s tion gave m e au d ie nce fe e d b ack
on wh at m y targe t au d ie nce wou ld p re fe r as
a title (H ip H op m agazine ).
What type of fonts would you prefer for my Hip Hop magazine?
Eras De mi
IT C - 4 Bauhaus 93 -
Broadwa 7
y - 3
Berlin Sans FB
-6
H e re I d is cove re d wh at fo nt m y targe t
au d ie nce wou ld like to s e e with in m y
m agazin e .

15. 2. How does your media product represent particular
social groups?
R e p re s e ntation
My m agazine re p re s e nts te e nage rs (1 5 – 1 9) wh o are in o r in to th e ge nre of H ip H op . Th e fact th at m y m ale m od e l on th e
front cove r looks like th e typ ical figu re for H ip H op re in – force s th e re p re s e ntation for th is ge nre . Th e s am e with m y co nte nts
and d o u b le p age s p re ad ; th e m o d e ls h ave a typ ical H ip H o p ap p e arance to th e m , for e xam p le , th e cap s and h e ad p h one s .
Alth o u gh I d o not h ave im age s of fe m ale m od e ls ; wh o re p re s e nt th e H ip H o p ge nre , I h ave m e n tione d th e m in m y foo te r.
Th is m e ans m y m agazine is s u itab le for b oth ge nd e rs ; as th e re are m any H ip H op artis ts wh o are fe m ale s , s u ch as N icki
Minaj .
Th rou gh th e re p re s e ntation of m y m agazine , I want th e au d ie nce to gain p as s io n or s tart to like (if th e y d on ’ t) th e H ip H op
ge nre th ro u gh th e m u s ic. H ip H op ap p e ars to b e u rb an an d s om e p e op le d is like th e fact th at th e m u s ic s om e wh at
aggre s s ive and th rou gh th e re p re s e ntation of m y m agazine , I want p e op le to s e e th e oth e r s id e ; m y article is a good s ou rce
to le t p e op le know wh at H ip H op re ally is .

16. R e p re s e ntation
S o m e fe atu re s th at re p re s e nt th e H ip H o p ge nre th rou gh m y m agazine in clu d e :
- Im age (fro nt cove r)
E ye co ntact s
s tron g – looking
s traigh t at th e
cam e ra
Again,
re p re s e nting th e
H ip H op ge n re
we ll as h is
ap p e arance is
typ ical - h at
R e p re s e nting th e
H ip H op ge n re –
u s e of p rop s
(h e ad p h one s )
s h o ws th is
H is p os e
re p re s e nts H ip
H op as h e s e e m s
con fid e nt (h an d in
p ocke t) and
s e rio u s

17. R e p re s e ntation
S o m e fe atu re s th at re p re s e nt th e H ip H o p ge nre th rou gh m y m agazine in clu d e :
- M y co nte n ts lis t – u s e of font (conte n ts p age )
Th e con te nt with in
m y te xt re p re s e nts Th e font I’ ve
H ip H op as it u s e d re p re s e n ts
re fe rs to H ip H op H ip H op we ll as it
e ve n ts and th ings looks a b it
re late d to H ip H o p u rb an is e d and
s u ite s th e ge nre
(its als o th e font
th at m y au d ie nce
d e cid e d on in m y
qu e s tionnaire )

18. Representation
My grab qu o te
re p re s e nts H ip
Th e im age H o p as its
cle arly re fe rring to a
re p re s e nts th e m e o f it; rap .
H ip H op as Th e qu ote is
th e e m p h as izing
acce s s o rie s wh at rap is and
and th e p as s io n. Th e
ap p e arance re ad e rs ge t to
of th e m od e l take in wh at th e
is s trongly artis t h as s aid
linke d . Th e wh ich cau s e s to
fact th at h e b e m ore
h as h e ad affe ctive .
p h on e s and a
cap s trongly
e m p h as ize
H ip H op .

19. 3. What kind of media institution might distribute your
media product and why?
Bauer
According to my research, Its clear that ‘Bauer’ are the best institution to distribute my magazine as they have a wide range
of music magazines that have been successful already; some of these include: Kerrang and Q. Also the fact that these are
different genres of music widens the audience, unlike ‘IPC’ who concentrate on the genre of women.
- Kerrang (rock magazine)
- Q (UK’s biggest selling music magazine)
My target audience is those who are into the genre of Hip Hop age ranged between 15 – 25. Although ‘Bauer’ do not have
any Hip Hop magazines within there industry, I think there’s space for this to be as they seem to already have published
successful music magazines, as you can see above.

20. Bauer
Its obvious that ‘Bauer’ have been successful with music magazines as I’ve said already, UK’s top selling magazine ‘Q’ has
been successful, hence it being UK’s number one. Also the really popular ‘Kerrang’ has been successful.
I want to talk more about ‘Q’ to emphasize the fact that they’ve distributed a top selling magazine.
‘Q’ is a popular music magazine published once a month in the UK. The first issue was released in 1986 setting itself apart
from much of the other music press with monthly releases and higher standards of printing and photography.
Since the first issue, 1986, ‘Q’ has been a popular selling music magazine as the total circulation is 80,418. This proves to be
successful as its also the UK’s top selling music magazine.

21. Bauer
The success of Bauer and their music magazines is why I think they’d be the right media institution to distribute my Hip Hop
magazine. Although they haven't got a Hip Hop music magazine within their institution, I think that they could make it work.
The Hip Hop fan base is growing faster and faster with new artists coming in with new talents (for example: Drake, Nicki
Minaj, Tyga etc). The fact that ‘Bauer’ have made ‘Q’ the best selling music magazine in the UK is the reason I think their
the best institution for my magazine.
Now Hip Hop is a much more popular genre; this allows more space within institutions to promote the Hip Hop genre so that
the audience will gain more interest; potential of Hip Hop to be much more popular in the media industry.
Bauer have proven to be the best media institution for my Hip Hop magazine but there are many rivals out there. One of
these are IPC who have been successful over the past 50 years with there number one magazine, ‘NME’. Although ‘Q’
magazine is the UK’s number one selling magazine with a higher circulation then IPC’s ‘NME’, they still cause a threat as
there currently the UK’s leading consumer magazine.

22. 4. Who would the audience be for your media product?
As you can see on my
magazine pages, the models
are all young males with a Hip
Hop appearance. This is
noticeable that my target
audience are young males
between the age of 15 – 25 as
the models I’ve used
emphasize this. My magazine
represents these males in a
positive way, simply because
their appearance is strongly
linked to the Hip Hop genre
and what I’m trying to achieve
is a Hip Hop magazine.
However, I’ve tried to broaden
my audience by trying to
attract female readers as well
as males. I’ve included female
Hip Hop artists to represent
Hip Hop as a unisex genre.
The Hip Hop genre is a mix of
male and female talent:
http://www.hiphoparchive.org/prepare

23. 4.
What is your favourite type of music?
6 Other
5 Classical Whilst researching, Its obvious
that there are a mix of genders
4 Rock who enjoy Hip Hop music as
Hip
my questionnaire consisted of
3
Hop asking about 50% of males
and 50% of females.
2 Indie
1 Pop
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Presumably my target
audience of males and females
who fit into the Hip Hop genre
like listening to the well known
selection of Hip Hop artists in
my magazine, such as Nicki
Minaj, Lil Wayne, Katy B and
Rick Ross. All of these artists
represent Hip Hop in a good
way as they represent the wide
interest in the style of music
and the way both genders are
fond of this.

24. 5. How did you attract/address your audience?
To help get my audiences point of view on what they would like on my magazine, I carried out a questionnaire summarising
the attractions on my magazine. Some of these features include the colours, what they would prefer on my magazine
(articles, new music etc) and the styles of font.
What type of fonts would you prefer for my Hip Hop magazine?
What sort of things would you like to see in a music magazine?
12
Eras Demi
10
ITC - 4 Bauhaus
Images
93 - 7
Competitions
8
Gossip
6
Broad Berlin Sans
4
way - 3
Events
FB - 6
2
0
1 2 3 4
Th is is wh at m y au d ie nce p re fe rre d to s e e
with in m y m agazin e ; im age s . Wh at yo u H e re from m y qu e s tio nnaire I h ave a s e t
can s e e on m y m agazine is a s e le ction o f of re s u lts th at d e te rm ine th e fo nt m y
im age s th at h ave b e e n e d ite d in ways to au d ie nce p re fe r to s e e with in m y
attract m y au d ie nce m ore . m agazine ; as you can s e e th e y h ave
ch o s e n ‘ Bau h au s 93’ wh ich I h ave
actu ally u s e d with in m y m agazin e .

25. 5.
M od e l lookin g s traigh t at
th e cam e ra – im p o s ing
figu re ; wh e re ve r yo u
m ove , h is e ye s follow.
M y u s e of colou rs
contras t we ll with e ach
oth e r (wh ite and re d )
and als o contras t we ll
with th e b ackgrou nd ;
s tand s ou t – e ye
catch in g.
Th e p os iting of th e
m od e l is p lace d we ll;
com ing o u t of th e s id e
and th e p os e of th e
m od e l cau s ing a lot of
attraction as it ap p e ars
h e ’ s confid e n t – goo d
role m od e l.
Again with the My masthead is striking
colours; merge well (attractive) as it catches the
This image is together with the eye. Its vibrant and also the
similar to the background as well. colours fall through from the
one on my The use o a limited palette; consistency and
front cover colour palette proves professionalism.
as the model to be consistent.
appears to
be looking Also the outline around The use of the grab quotes
straight at the image makes it that with the consistent colours
the camera – more striking and it is appealing to the readers
giving a stands out – the colour and the title is bold and
good vibe; also fits into the palette – striking – consistency as the
confident. consistency. colours are within the

26. 5.
My masthead is bold,
large which makes it
stand out. It can be
seen from a distance As the main cover lines,
because of the chucky the header attracts the
text which attracts the audience; information on
audience; they can Hip Hop artists are inside
notice my magazine. the magazine which
makes people want to
look inside and again find
out.
The fact that the first
The same with my main issue has been dropped
cover lines, my in price, instantly reels in
additional cover lines readers (they see it as a
attract the audience bargain) and there’s a
mainly because of the bigger chance of more
images but also copies being sold.
because there are short
summaries of what’s
inside.
The main cover line
The fact that I have attracts the audience by
included a set of Hip Hop letting them know the
artists on my footer main and biggest story
Hip Hop appearance;
creates attraction as the within my magazine;
looking straight at the
audience are interested. makes them want to look
camera.
inside and find out.

27. 5.
My contents list is
full of short
Like I’ve said before, the
summaries of
masthead here is bold
what’s included in
and vibrant which attracts
the magazine. This
the audience; catches the
makes the
eye.
audience want to
look inside; the fact
that I’ve included
events in this list
increases the
chance of my
audience wanting
to find out more
and look inside my Hip Hop appearance;
magazine. looking straight at the
camera.

28. 5.
The way I’ve created my title to be bold and eye
catching makes it attractive; once the audience
see the title, there’s potential that they would
want to read the article.
Said by the artist
himself –
attraction/interest.
Hip Hop
appearance;
looking straight
at the camera.
This image creates
attraction; the fact The article itself is full of information
that its outlines with a on the artist. The fact that it’s full of
vibrant border answers and grab quotes from the
attracts the eye. artists his self makes it attractive to
my audience; they want to read it.

29. 6. What have you learnt about technologies from the
process of constructing this product? (Screenshots will
help to illustrate this)
Th e n I u s e d th e b lu r tool to b lu r ou t th e b ackgrou nd I s e le cte d b y
clicking in ve rs e . As you can s e e th e affe ct is re ally good as it m ake s
th e m od e l th e focal p oint o f th e wh ole im age (th is will b e u s e d on m y
front cove r – I want th e re ad e rs to p ay atte ntion to th e m o d e l).
Afte r u s ing th e qu ick
s e le ction to ol to s e le ct
th e m o d e l, I th e n m ad e
th ings e as ie r b y clickin g
in ve rs e , wh ich s e le cts
th e re m aining
H e re I h ave u s e d th e b ackgrou nd .
qu ick s e le ction tool; as
you can s e e th e icon
ab o ve is th e qu ick
s e le ction to ol and th is
tool is u s e d for s e le cting
an ob j ct qu ickly. As you
e
can s e e I h ave s e le cte d
th e m ale m od e l .

30. H e re I’ ve cre ate d a n e w p age for m y
m agazin e (fron t cove r). As you can s e e th e
s ize is A4. O n ce m y p age was cre ate d I th e n
ins e rte d m y e d ite d im age ; th e im age fits
nice ly on th e p age with th e p rop ortion s caling
we ll – th e wid th of th e m o d e l p re tty m u ch fits
acros s th e p age and th e re ’ s s p ace ab ove
th e m od e l for th e m as th e ad . Als o I ins e rte d
th e im age onto a ne w laye r to m ake
organis ation and e d iting e as ie r wh e n th e
p age s tarts to fill u p .
Th is is wh e n I cre ate d m y
m as th e ad . I ch os e a fon t th at
wo u ld re p re s e nt H ip H o p
(looke d at H ip H op m agazin e s
for id e as ) an d th e n ch ange d
th e colou r, s ize and s tyle . F o r
m ore affe ct I d e cid e d to ad d
d rop s h ad o w to m y m as th e ad ;
I d id th is b y clickin g o n “ fx”
th e n “ d rop s h ad ow” . As you
can s e e th e laye r s tyle b ox
h as a lot of op tio ns in th e re ;
th e s e are j s t for e d iting, for
u
e xam p le you co u ld ad j s t th e
u
d rop s h ad o w s o it wo u ld b e at
an angle or m ore d arke r, with
s h ad ow e tc. I als o d id th is
p roce s s wh e n cre atin g m y
s lo gan (s e lling line ).

31. H e re I’ m cre atin g m y h e ad e r. All I d id is
in s e rt a s h ap e (re ctangle ), re s ize it to th e
wid th o f th e p age , ch ange th e colou r; as
you can s e e h e re I am ch anging th e
s h ap e re d . To ad d m ore affe ct, I
ch an ge d th e o p acity le ve ls d own to
60% . D u ring m y re s e arch , I s e e n th at
one m agazine u s e d th is affe ct and
th ou gh it loo ke d good s o gave it a try on
m y m agazine . I p os itio ne d th e h e ad e r at
th e top of th e p age wh e re is s h ou ld b e (I
will late r ad d te xt). As always th is is on a
ne w laye r to p re ve nt th ings ge tting
m ixe d u p or los t.
Th is is wh e n I ad d e d te xt to th e
h e ad e r. Th e font I ch os e was wh at
m y au d ie n ce p icke d in th e
qu e s tionnaire I m ad e . I th ink th e fon t
I’ ve u s e d (Bau h au s 93) re p re s e n ts
H ip H op b e cau s e of th e s tyle o f
le tte ring. I als o re s ize d th e font to a
re as on ab le s ize wh e re it fits with in
th e h e ad e r. To m ake m y m agazine
cove r cons is te n t, I d e cid e d to m ake
th e te xt colou r wh ite (like th e
m as th e ad ) as it’ s a b o ld colo u r
wh at s tand s ou t again s t th e

32. Th e s e are m y cove r line s , an ch ore d b y im age s .
With th e re d s h ap e s , I u s e d th e s am e
te ch niqu e s as I d id with m y h e ad e r (com p le te ly
th e s am e ). With m y im age s , I e d ite d th e m th e
s am e way I d id with m y m ain im age (b lu rre d th e
b ackgrou nd e tc) to m ake th e m loo k con s is te nt. I
th e n j s t ins e rte d th e m onto ne w laye rs and
u
p os itione d th e m o n th e re d s h ap e . With m y
cove r lin e s , I u s e d th e s am e fon t as m y h e ad e r
and th e s am e co lou r; con s is te ncy and
p rofe s s ion alis m (lim ite d colo u r p ale tte ). M y
cove r lin e s j s t s u m m aris e a s tory ab ou t th e
u
artis t in th e p ictu re s . To p o s ition th e s e I u s e d
th e s am e m e th od as th e im age s , e ach co ve r
line h ad an in d ivid u al laye r.
Th is is m y m ain cove r line . Th is font is th e s am e as th e fo nt on m y o th e r cove r line s and
h e ad e r b u t b e cau s e I wan t th is to s tand ou t m ore to m ake re ad e rs re ad th is , I incre as e d
th e s ize qu ite a lot; b e cau s e th e te xt is b ig and b o ld it m ake s it e ye -catch ing and th is is
th e s tory with in th e m agazine th at wou ld b e th e m os t ap p e alin g to re ad e rs o ve rall. With
th e re d s h ap e s , again th e s am e p roce s s as th e oth e rs . N ote th e u s e of laye rs as we ll.

33. Th is is j s t th e p rice
u
b ad ge . As you can s e e
I’ ve cre ate d an offe r
in cre as e th e ch an ce o f
p e o p le b u ying m y
m agazine . As m y te xt and
re d s h ap e s on m y cove r,
th is is als o d one in th e
s am e way. As m y
m agazine take s s h ap e ,
you can s e e th at its
con s is te nt b e cau s e of th e
u s e of te xt and s tyle . Als o
note h ow I’ ve u s e d
lim ite d colou rs th rou gh ou t
(lim ite d colou r p ale tte . Als o
th e re ’ s a s cre e n p rint of
all th e d iffe re nt laye rs I
u s e d for th e p rice b ad ge .
Th is is th e le gal way of p u rch as ing a
m agazine ; b arcod e . I go t th is
b arcod e fro m th e inte rn e t b u t ad d e d
te xt for th e p rice and is s u e nu m b e r.
I ke p t th e fon t and colo u r th e s am e
h e re b u t j s t d e cre as e d th e s ize to
u
fit in p rop ortion to th e b arco d e to
m ake it look like a p rofe s s ion al one .
I als o u s e d s e p arate laye rs for th e
te xt and th e actu al b arcod e .

34. My foote r in clu d e s a s e rie s of
p op u lar H ip H o p artis ts , fe m ale s and
m ale s to b alance it ou t; th is is good
re p re s e ntation as I’ m p re s e n tin g
H ip H op th rou gh m ale s as we ll as
fe m ale s . With m y foote r, I u s e d th e
s am e m e th od wh e n cre ating m y
h e ad e r b u t th is tim e j s t m ad e s m all
u
ind ivid u al s h ap e s for a b e tte r affe ct.
N o te h ow m any laye rs I’ ve u s e d to
j s t cre ate a s m all th in g, alth o u gh it
u
loo ks affe ctive . With th e te xt, again
th e s am e as all m y oth e r te xt on th e
p age , colo u r, s tyle and fon t.
H e re I’ ve u s e d th e
grad ie nt tool to b le n d
d iffe re nt s h ad e s of
gre y fo r m y
b ackgrou nd . As you
can s e e I’ ve
s tre tch e d th e grad ie nt
tool d iagonally to
cre ate an affe ct. I got
m y ins p iration fro m
Vib e m agazin e and
u s e d th is te ch niqu e fo r
m ine ; its m ake s it look
p rofe s s ion al. Als o as
I’ ve b e e n d oing
th ro u gh o u t m y e d iting,
I’ ve u s e d a s in gle
laye r for th e
b ackgrou nd .

35. 7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel
you have learnt in the progression from it to the full
product?
Loo king at m y p re lim in ary m agazine and
m y n e w m agazine , I can s e e a lot of
im p rove m e nts . M y ne w H ip H op
m agazine looks s o m u ch m ore
p rofe s s ion al; th e u s e of layou t (ru le of
th ird s ), colo u r and co nte n t is m u ch m ore
cons is te nt and it contras ts and fits in we ll
toge th e r. M y p re lim inary m agazine looks
p lain, th e p age is e m p ty and th e qu ality
is ove rall p oor; th e cove r line s d on ’ t
lo ok p rofe s s ional an d e ve ryth ing clas h e s
(alth ou gh th e layou t and co lou r p ale tte
are u p to s tand ard s ). I can e vid e ntly s e e
th e u s e of P h oto s h op to ols h ave b e e n
u s e d in a m u ch b e tte r way th e n I u s e d
th e m in m y p re lim in ary tas k as m y n e w
H ip H op m agazine looks s o m u ch m ore
p rofe s s ion al. Anoth e r th ing th at m ake s
m y n e w m agazine look p ro fe s s ional is
th e cons is te ncy th ro u gh o u t (co lou rs ,
im age s , ge n re and layou t.

36. 7.
Th e u s e of
u s ing a h e ad e r
M as th e ad – u s e of
d rop s h ad o w, m ore
attractive , e ye
catch in g font;
p rofe s s ion al
C ove r line s m u ch
m ore p rofe s s ional,
attractive font, u s e
of b ackgrou nd
s h ap e s (m ake s
te xt s tand ou t)
and u s e of ad d ing
im age s into co ve r
line s
B e tte r qu ality
im age , u s e of
e d iting (m ore
ap p e aling),
take n b e tte r,
angle
B arcod e p os ition e d
b e tte r; fo nt m o re
linke d in o s u it
b arcod e , m o re
R u le of th ird s
p rofe s s ion al
B e tte r u s e of s e e n m ore o n C o ns is te ncy;
laye rs Mo re p rofe s s io nal foote r, th e ne w colou r p ale tte ,
m o re attractive , u s e of m agazine layou t
colou r, fon t and s tyle (m agic ‘ C ’ )

37. 7. Inclu d ing m y m agazine
nam e on th e co nte n ts
p age , cons is te ncy,
p rofe s s ion alis m
M as th e ad – m o re
p rofe s s io nal, u s e of
colou r, fo nt
C o nte nts lis t
m o re flu e nt, u s e
of font, colou rs ,
cons is te ncy
O n e b ig im age ,
m o re
p rofe s s ional,
s tand s ou t
m o re , b e tte r
qu ality, u s e of
e d iting
B ackgrou nd
m ore ap p e aling, C o ns is te ncy; B e tte r u s e of
u s e of tools and colou r p ale tte , laye rs
e d iting, layou t
p rofe s s io nal