Peer assessment of flatplans

Kirsty told me that my masthead is a relevant size to the other text on my page. My colour scheme is consistent throughout my front cover, contents page, and double page spread and finally that my model and style of photo is relevant towards my genre. One improvement that she said i could improve on is that i need more text on the front cover as there is lots of dead space.

Kate told me that the layout throughout my magazine is good, and the balance between text and images is appropriate. The two things i need to improve on is to add more text to reduce the dead space and use a higher page numbers so that it looks like my magazine is bigger than before.

Flatplans

Front Cover

This is a flat plan of what my front cover will look like.

I chose to use a long shot so that i can get the artists full body in the picture and this showing the artists body language as well as his facial expressions, which i feel show a lot about a person, so showing both of these, i feel it will help the reader to understand the persons feelings, and show what they are about, I also want to show the full artist so that it will show their fashion. 

I want the artist to be look straight at the camera so that it feels like he is looking at the reader. I will take the shot from a slight low angle, so that the reader feels like they are looking up at the person. 

I decided to use red and black text as they both contrast from one another and each bit of writing will stand out a large amount when placed on the white background of the magazine. On my actual magazine the text will be in capital letters and much bolder and larger than what is shown on my flat plan, this filling up more of the space and I feel that it will make the magazine look more professional. The sell lines I use will be relevant to the magazine audience and will show what else is featured in this magazine. The barcode will be situated in the bottom left of the magazine, this will show the date and the price of the magazine.

I will have the artist dressed in bright clothes, as if i use dull colours i don't think that the front cover will look as good. So I will try dress the model used in red and black clothes to stay with the colour theme.

Contents page

This is my flat plan of my contents page. Again I will use the black and red colour scheme with a white background which is the same as my front cover, this is to help carry on the colour scheme throughout and make the reader feel as if the magazine is flowing. 

I will have contents in large bold writing on the top left of the page, this is where the readers eyes initially go to, so they will instantly know which page they are on. I will have a long red box to the right of the text 'CONTENTS' and in this box will be the magazine name. Below the text 'CONTENTS' will be another red box, this wont be as long as the other one, but will be a taller box. In this box will be the words 'FEATURES', this being easy to read for the reader. and they will know that the text below is showing what is featured in the magazine.

I will use one image on my contents page, this image will be long and thin, taking up all the right hand side of the page. As it needs to be tall, it will include most of the artists body, but when taking the photo i will leave out his legs from around his thigh's down. Again the model used will be relevant to the audience and so will his choice of clothing. I will take the photo of the model in a studio against a white back ground. He will be leaning against a solid white wall with foot against the wall and the other flat on the floor. 

I forgot to include the page number in the bottom right corner when drawing my flat plan so I will have to remember to include this when I create my actual contents page. 

Double page spread

This is my flat plan of my double page spread. To begin with the image I use will be a close up of the artists. His eyes will be in the top third and the photo will be taken against a white back ground, this catching the readers attentions instantly.

Again the text on this page will be red and black against a white back ground. The name of the artist will be in large bold writing and this will be red. The Questions asked will also be red in capital letters and the answers from the artist will be in lower case, and will be black.

I will take into account the page fold, so that no text is long through the join in the double page.

The questions I ask will be relevant to the audience so that when they read the text on the page they want to read on.

Secondary audience research

I have conducted some primary audience research in order to :-

• Find out what appeals to my target audience
• To discover any flaws or potential improvements that could be made to my magazine genre
• To identify any gaps in the market and place a refreshing new twist on the genre.

Below are the chosen products I have conducted my research on :-

Front Covers


Contents page

Double page spread


From the products I chose to conduct my research on, I then asked four sampler to analyse them, and answer the following question :-

1. What is your attention drawn to? 
2. What do you believe the image portrays?
3. Do you find the text easy to read?
4. How do you feel about the colour contrasts?
5. Whats your oppinion on the models positioning?
6. Would you purchase this magazine. If so why? and if not then why?
7. On the double page spread (DPS) do you believe the questions asked are relevent?
8. Would you say the pages are clustered/empty and why?
9. Is the contents page detailed enough?
10. Do you find the contents page easy to use?

This person found this his attention was initially drawn into the mast head and the image, due to their sheer size and the colours used make them stand out.

The image's used are typical to its genre and its target audiance. Drakes positing is okay, although the picture of him could be higher to show more of him. On XXL's front cover he thinks the picture is very good as you can see both people clearly in the picture. The picture is off the page on XXL's contents page,whereas on VIBE you can see it all.

Text is really easy to read, and is clear, it is also spread out.

VIBE's contents page, words are too small

The colour contrasts are good on VIBE, the black, yellow and white make each other stand out, showing all the text and a clear image. XXL's is not as good, but still stand out. 

The DPS has highlighted area which catches attention. It also tells alot of detail about the artist.

This person wouldnt purchase the magazine as it is not his style of music, but if it was, he would be interesed in this magazine.

 His attention is drawn mostly into the picture as he knows the band so that also helps. The colour also draws you in. 

The text is pretty small, but yet it is still okay to read.

The colour contrast is good, the yellow and white contrast well off the black background.

The artist is protrayed to be a profesional by the way they are stood and the positing of them on the page, and the photographer is also prefesional

He would purchase this magazine as it draws him in and interests him.

The questions asked on the DPS seem relevent and the page isnt empty at all, its quite full and any important information is on there.

Her attention on the front page is drawn into the image of the person as it portrays him to be angry, especially by his facial expressions, it also portrays violancethrough his facial expressions.

On the DPS her attention is drawn into the man due to his clothing, his costume is bright and stands out more than the other artists so looks like he is the more important than the rest

The text is easy to read as its large and stands out. The colour contrast is also good due to the yellow white and black is really effective from one another

The models position on the front cover is first on on bottom, then on the contents page it is in middle, and on the DPS the image is in the middle

She would purchase the magazine as it draws her in and is effective than most magazines.

The contents page is detailed enough, and if there was any more, the page may become a little to clustered.

 

This persons attention was initally drawn into the Subtitle underneath the main image as the colour of the font makes it stand out. The layout he likes as it is featuring a band and it is a music magazine. Text is bold so stand out. Colour contrast makes the text seperate, and they work well together. 

The models are in a good position

He wouldnt puirchase the magazine as he does not like this type of music

DPS is set out fairly well and isnt too crowded

Below is a list of stylistic decision ill make for my project following my audiances feedback. 

• I will make the mast head large enough so people know which magazine it is.
• The image used will give clear detail, and portray the artists personallity.
• The colour contrast i use will have to work well together and catch the audiances attention.
• On the Front page i will try not to cluster the page, and yet not put enough information on that the reader thinks the magazine is empty.
• The text i will use will have to be clear and not too small that the reader will be unable to clearly make it out.
• On the DPS I will ask question that the target audiance will be interesed in and not over fill the page with questions so that the reader cannot be bothered to read it.



Primary audiance research

TOTAL AUDIENCE - 2,400,000


ADULTS
MEN - 55%
WOMEN - 45%

AGE
18-24 - 35%   
18-34 - 67%   
21+ - 82%     
35+ - 29%       
MEDIAN AGE - 30

EDUCATION
ANY COLLEGE - 55%
CURRENTLY IN COLLEGE - 20%

EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYED - 62%
HHI INCOME $52.5K


RACE
BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN - 75%
WHITE - 15.9%
SPANISH/HISPANIC/ LATINO - 12.4%
ASIAN - 1%
OTHER RACE - 11.3%

Research into institutions that distribute similar products

NME

NME is owned by IPC mediahttp://www.ipcmedia.com/ - 19/01/2012

Other magazines owned by IPC media - http://www.mediauk.com/owners/40/ipc-media - 19/01/2012

IPC media only specialise in magazines.

Large selling magazines
NME (magazines)
Now (magazines)
Nuts (magazines)

Niche magazines
Amateur Gardening (magazines)
Amateur Photographer (magazines)
Anglers Mail (magazines)
Bird Keeper (magazines)

This company doesn't publish any other music magazines, but many other companies do, this is to widen their target audience, as one music magazine doesn't sell to every person, so if they spread their target audience this means that their income/profit will be on a much larger scale

Ideas and feedback

The main idea I have for my magazine is for it to be a R&B, Hip-Hop magazine. I will use male artists on my front cover, contents page and double page spread as it will more aimed towards males.

There are many different magazines availabe on the market which aim towards the R&B and Hip-Hop genre, these are as follows.

XXL - http://www.xxlmag.com/
VIBE - http://www.vibe.com/
SOURCE - http://www.thesource.com/

Research into similar products

Magazine on Prezi

Brief - Print

I have chosen Print as my brief.

For my main task i will produce a cover, a contents page and a double page spread (DPS) of a new music magazine. All pictures and texts will be produced by me.

As my Prelim task I will produce a cover and a contents page of a college magazine using DTP and an image manupulation programme. Using these i will produce the front page, displaying a medium close up image of a student. I will include a masthead, skyline, sell lines, a main sell line and a bar code including the price. A contents page, showing what is included in my magazine. And finally a double page spread showing a close up of a chosen chosen student and an interview.