Working with existing forms and conventions
In order to make my collage and music magazine conventional I made sure that the terms of target audience are considered, before taking the next step to produce my front cover, contents page and double page spread for music magazine only. These ingredients would make sure that my constructions are suitable for my target audience, for example – the type of text used. This could be formal, informal, slang etc. So, since my collage magazine was for students aged between 16 - 19 I made sure that I’ve considered those terms, to be certain that my collage magazine doesn’t appeal boring, as students prefer more exciting and thrilling type of magazines, which I found out through my designed questionnaire for students only. In addition, for my music magazine I decided to do R&B theme for ladies. Therefore, I had to make sure that my front cover is suitable for young ladies. As I had previously looked at different types of R&B music magazines I’ve noticed that majority of them have used a female within the front cover. Therefore, I have considered using a female for my front cover too, as it informs what the target audience are. So, it was important to consider the genre theory as the style layout and text would target my specific audience. I have also looked at the mode of address, to investigate how the text was presented – formal or informal. As, I kept overlooking to see if it was conventional it made my magazine more successful as a whole, since I kept considering the constructions that I have made. One of them was; masthead should never blend in with the background as the colours will clash. This is important, since it’s the main principle that attracts the target audience. What’s more, I have also considered that my captions should also stand out, to inform the ideal reader the magazine features. However, at first I found it hard for it not to stand out as much as the masthead, therefore, I have asked my classmates for feedback to solve this problem.
Working in media production contexts
To start off, I’ve taken images of my friends that would give me an idea of what theme I would do best at. Therefore, after taking these shots I have considered the best shots for my front covers of my college and music magazine that would make my magazines conventional but yet professional. I made sure that I have taken those images in different locations and that the use of props and costumes were dissimilar to those I used in the previous photo shoot. Although, to make it more professional I also made sure tat I have taken different type of shots, for example - mid shot, extreme close up and long shot. Besides, at the beginning of my construction I found it hard to use Photo shop, as I haven’t used it much previously. However, with the practise, I was able to learn those skills and I found it easier to edit images. What’s more, changing and editing the layout of my music magazine was complicated at first, since the female that I had used within my images was wearing light clothing that signified the girly side of her and, therefore, for the colours not to clash I had to use darker range of colours, that I had not planned to use. Although, I came to a conclusion and decided that dark range of colours don’t need to be used, in order to make sure that everything stands out on its own.
Using technology
Due to my research I have discovered that using Photo shop is more productive then using DTP, since it directs images and text better than DTP does. However, the other reason why I only used Photo shop; is because it took me quite a while to adapt to it, therefore I didn’t want to throw away my time by studying how to use DTP as well. Photo shop allowed me to crop, edit, re size images, and use different type of text in order to make my magazine conventional. It gave me the ability to edit my magazine in the way I wanted it to and in the way I thought would be most successful.
Thinking about audience
The most vital thing that I kept considering before making any major changes within my magazines is my target audience. Every small detail could give a different type of impression and not attract my ideal reader. For example; the type of font and colour used may communicate to the target audience different mode of address. Although, to reassure that this was the case I designed a questionnaire for students between 16 – 19, for my collage magazine, since this particular age group were my ideal audience, so it was important to take their perspective for consideration. After this questionnaire was done. I have found out what this age group would like to see in a collage magazine and what they would get attracted by. One of the examples were; that they would like to see more vivid colours within the magazine as school/collages are stereotyped as boring and not exciting to take part it. Therefore, due to this questionnaire I had decided to make sure my target audience are attracted by the use of font, text, but yet I still made sure that it appears conventional and professional. However, for my music magazine I made sure that the gendered consumption is clear, as I had used feminine colours and used a female within the front cover itself.
