Magazine Mock (CONTENTS PAGE)

Magazine Mock (FRONT COVER)

Experimentation with Mode of Address / Name of Magazine

I asked my target audience to come up with adjectives to describe their first few weeks at college. Here's what they said:

- studious

- exciting

- nerve-racking

- independent

- challenging

- natural

- social

- alive

- determined

- dizzy

- wild

- sleepy

- helpful

- lively

- important

- friendly

So, with these adjectives, I've generated a few possible name ideas for my magazine:

The Social Student

The Friendly Student Guide

Studious Student

Experimentation with Colour Schemes

Experimentation with Fonts

Font One

This font is called Arial. It’s in size 13 as I think a smaller font wouldn’t be easily read and a larger font would take up too much space on the page meaning the readers would be drawn away from the images. This is in bold. This is in italics.

Font Two

This font is called Courier. I am not sure about this font as I think the letters are too far away from each other, although my audience may prefer this because it’s easier to read. This is in bold. This is in italics.

Font Three

This font is called Futura (Medium). I like this font - the letters look longer and it’s also clearer to see. I also like the boldness of the typography. This is in bold. This is in italics.

Font Four

This font is called Georgia. I like how the lettering is simple and easy to read - which is one of the main things my target audience is looking for. This is in bold. This is in italics.

Target Audience Research

My target audience is obviously students at a college / sixth form.

I asked 6 college students about their ideal college magazine and the content it would contain.
These are the questions and the students' answers.

1. What adjectives would you use to describe your ideal student magazine?
    - simplistic
    - informative
    - helpful
    - creative
    - colourful
    - encouraging
    - minimalistic
    - unique
    - educational

2. What entertainment forms would you like included in a student magazine?
    - music
    - reviews
    - things that are happening in the local area
    - reviews on current books, films and tv shows
    - student short stories
    - football (and other sports) scores and predictions
    - reviews of new technology products
    - ratings of popular tv shows
    - exclusive interviews with celebrities

3. How much would you be willing to pay for a student magazine?
    - no more than £2
    - nothing, it should be free
    - 50p
    - free!
    - depending on the relevant content, the maximum I would spend on it would be £2.50
    - completely free!

4. If the student magazine had an advice page, what advice would it give?
    - stress and how to manage it
    - health problems
    - sexual health
    - career advice
    - producing a quality CV
    - about relationships

5. What images would you like to be featured in your student magazine?
    - posters advertising new releases of films in the cinema
    - photos of new album covers (from new album releases)
    - photos of artists and bands who are featured in the magazine music section (perhaps in the interview subsection)
    - photos of students' photographs or sketches or paintings (anything creative that they are proud of)




Conclusion
From this research I have conducted, I have found out that my target audience think the magazine should be simple, easy to read and understand, and encouraging (meaning that it provides motivational qualities throughout the magazine. They want reviews about new films, books and tv shows, interviews with celebrities (in the genre of the magazine, of course), listed events that specialise in the local and surrounding area, and music (perhaps new releases of songs or albums). They would prefer the magazine to be free, and I agree with them - if the magazine contains advice and help pages, some people may prefer to write in and read a response rather than seek help and talk to someone about it if they have trouble with talking or confrontation.
I have come to the conclusion that the magazine will be simple, helpful, and provide a wide range of pages such as advice, exams, music, films, sports, reviews, etc.

Initial Ideas

HOUSE STYLE / BRAND IDENTITY

I want my house style / brand identity to create unity - no chaos. I want it to be in the same place on every page it's featured on. I want it to be simplistic but stylish. I can create unity by using the same colours throughout the front cover and the contents page, also by using the same font. The typography can be the same throughout the two pages but perhaps in different sizes and colours (white and black to create the minimalism) depending on the background. If my student / college magazine includes music, I will be sure to keep the same genre - it will most likely be an alternative / indie music genre featuring artists and bands like The Pretty Reckless, The Neighbourhood, Of Monsters and Men, Two Door Cinema Club, The 1975, and Lana Del Rey.

MODE OF ADDRESS

This is the way(s) in which a magazine builds a relationship with and speaks to its audience. I will include features such as exclamation marks to excite the readers about a particular event that may be happening. Imperatives to suggest things to the reader, such as "Take a look at page 16 for revision tips!". Personal pronouns that are directed to the reader, which makes it stand out. Puns / informal language techniques to create a fun magazine.

CENTRAL IMAGE

This image will strongly relate to the house style / brand identity. I will of course position it centrally as this will be the main focal point of the front cover of my magazine. I want to create a fun magazine that also touches on serious issues that college students can read. For example, I could produce an image that shows students laughing and smiling with their friends with books and revision notes around them. This connotes that it is a learning / help magazine that is also for fun, too.

CONTENT

As I want this to be a fun student / college magazine, I think I should include events, reviews from students about new books / television shows / films / performances etc, and a section about what's current - I could include information about things that are happening in the upcoming month in the local and surrounding area that students may be interested in. I could also include a subsection on an advice page (for the serious side of the magazine), discounts students can get from their favourite shops etc. I want my content to be organised and minimalistic. Minimalism connotes a sense of superiority.

USE OF LANGUAGE

I will use short sentences that are informal in places to renew the 'fun' side of the magazine. Students don't want a page full of long winded sentences. Short sentences allow readers to skim the page and pick out the words, or pages, they want to read.

COLOUR PALETTE

Again, as this will be a fun magazine, I want to include bright primary (and maybe secondary) colours as I think this will relate to the genre of my magazine very well. A few neutral colours can be included to connote the serious side of the magazine. 

USE OF FONTS

I want a sense an continuity throughout my magazine so I will use the same font throughout the front cover and cover page. Too many typography styles creates chaos and busyness. 

Textual Analysis of a Student / College Magazine (CONTENTS PAGE)

Textual Analysis of a Student / College Magazine (FRONT COVER)

The Generic Conventions of a Student / College Magazine

Introduction to Preliminary Task and Action Plan for Preliminary Task

My first (preliminary) task is to create the front cover and contents page of a student magazine. Each week I am to do something specific in order to reach the deadline on October the 9th.
My first week, commencing on the 14th of September, includes tasks for me to do, research and planning, do my analysis of student magazines I have seen and how they target audiences, research of target audience, and planning for production by experimenting with colour schemes and fonts and mode of address names.
Week 2, I will focus on the production, such as a photo shoot, organise a photo shoot and take photos to include on the front page of my student magazine, design my front cover and to begin designing my contents page.
Week 3 is also for production, I have to complete my design of the contents page and then start drafting my evaluation.
My final week commences of the 5th of October. I will have no more lesson time to work on the Preliminary Task as my final deadline is Friday the 9th of October 2015.