Contents Page Snapshot 1

This is my Initial design for my contents page.
I have put a white border around my title, to stand out. I have purposely made the font the same as the magazine title to create a recurring theme. I then used my college logo to show the audience the main theme of the content that will be found. The pictures either side of the SDC logo are to entice the reader. I plan to add cover lines and small snippets of information to the white space on the left third of the page.  

Front Cover - Final Design

This is my final design for my Student Magazine front cover. I used the left third of the page to add text, I learnt  that this was the appropriate place to put the text because of my research. I also added a bubble on the right side to tell the reader that it was free. I used a large font for this because I felt it is important and more appealling to a reader if what they are reading is free. However I deliberately left the body and face of my model clear as the image is arguable the first thing somebody would notice when browsing for magazines.

Front Cover - Second snapshot

As you can see, after establishing the layout of my magazine I began to add various cover lines in appropriate areas to attract the reader. I inserted the main cover line into the banner and slanted it at an angle so that it rebels for the other horizontal text on the page. I also have begun to add titles of stories that can be found inside, I done this on the left third as I found out from my research that this is the appropriate place to add text and information.

Front Cover - First Snapshot

This is the first snapshot of my Front Cover. I began creating my front cover by enhancing the brightness of my image to make it more eye catching, I then found a bold yet neutral colour to use as a banner to highlight the main cover line of the issue. I then added the title 'Mainstream' and used a american typewriter font - I used this as I thought the style of it connoted education and a working environment.

My Chosen Front Cover Photo

This is my chosen photo to use as my A4 image on my front cover. The reason I have chosen this photo is because it is a clear front photo of my model's face and body, he is also holding the college prospectus with the college logo visible to those who are looking at it. The brightness and contrast is also good so will need very little editing giving it a more natural effect. Finally the positioning of him in the shot is ideal for a cover as it has room above his head for the title and masthead, then each side of him here in potential room for coverlines, barcode, issue number etc. I do plan to edit the photo slightly to make my model appear more slightly to the right, creating room on the left for more information.







 included.

Potential front cover pictures

Here is the first picture I took of my chosen model Ollie. Although I personally like this picture I decided that it was not suitable for a front cover as only his profile is visible as opposed to the front of his face and I found out from my research that the face of the model is used to attract the audience into reading the magazine.

This photo is not ideal for a front cover due to the angle it has been taken at, as the model slants to the right, the photo does not create a clear mark for the left third. A left third is necessary part of a front cover as it is where cover lines are added to entice the potential reader.

This is the final photo I decided against using for the reason that he is sitting down. However I may try to use this photo elsewhere (contents page), this is because there is a clear use of branding (the shoes) meaning that it will appeal to a niche audience type through a shared interest in that particular brand.

My proposal for Preliminary task

Who are you aiming your magazine at specifically?

-       My magazine is going to be a college magazine aimed both girls and boys who are students at southdowns and are labeled as ‘mainstream’. This means they are into current popular trends including fashion and music.

What will your magazine be about?

-       my magazine will discuss current goings on in the music, fashion and entertainment industry, alsongside this it will talk about socially current things in and around southdowns college, such as under 18 club nights, student events, exam guides and other social events.

What are your ideas for cover lines?

-       I want my coverline to compliment  the magazine and image used on the front, EG: ‘the ‘dope chefs’’ (dope chef is a clothing brand), ‘beauty and the beat’ (could discuss what music people taking a beauty course are into)

What title have you decided on and why?

-       I have decided on calling my magazine ‘MAINSTREAM’ this is because it will immediately address the target audience and give an insight as to what the magazine is going too contain articles on.

What fonts do you want to use and why?

-       I plan to use simple and basic fonts such as; ‘American typewriter’ and ‘Helevetica’

What are your ideas for taglines?

-       I do not plan to use a tagline as the magazine will include totally different content each issue, making it difficult to create a line to bring all of them together.

When in the year will is be published?

-       the magazine will be published in the spring and autumn, it will forecast forthcoming trends and current trends in each issue. It will also include information on anything that needs to be known as to what is going on around the college site, and events happening off. EG; reviews on trips and and articles on general life around the college.

What kind of image do you expect to put on the front cover and how will you go about getting it?

-       on the cover I plan to use an image of a student at Southdowns in a educational type background. The clothes they are wearing should in in fashion and show the potential audience a stereotype of who the magazine is aimed at (this being the person on the cover).

How frequently will it be published?

-       the magazine will be published twice a year, once in the spring discussing current spring time trends, forecasting summer trends and informing the reader of upcoming events that are happening in and around the college. Not only will trends be discussed, there will an exam survival guide and revision tips and hints, I chose the exam theme as students in the college are beginning to prepare for exams at this time of the year. Then in the autumn the issue will discuss autumn trends, forecast winter trends, inform the reader of upcoming events and how to deal with a new life and new year in college. Tips on settling down and guidelines of do and don't s would be helpful to younger students. 

What are the dimensions of the cover?

-       My magazine will be a standard 8.5”x11”. this is the standard size for a magazine.

What images and colours would you use on the contents page?

-       as my magazine is based around current trends and tie dye is a large trend right now I would use a multi coloured tie dye background for my contents page and use white boxes and black text to highlight the information of the page.