Blog 8 - Planning And Evaluation Of The Article

I studied double page spreads from two different dance music magazines:Mixmag and DJMAG, analysing the language used.

This is the Mixmag double page spread.



Language

The interview begins with some background information on the artist summarising his career and key collaborations with other famous dance music artists. The introduction includes colloquial language such as "DJing", "gone ballistic" .

The sentences are short and punchy creating interest and making the narrative easy to follow. The style mimics a chat with friends. The tone of the article is conversational.

The writer uses an active voice; "We take it..", "You put on our.." which is an informal style of writing.

Shown below is a double page spread from DJMAG. There are many similarities with the Mixmag presentation.



Language

The heading introduces a touch of humour by playing with the artists name "Ferry" instead of 'Very'. As with Mixmag the sentences are short involving direct speech, colloquial phrases and informal writing style.

This is very engaging and draws the reader in. In this magazine it includes emotions "[laughs]" allowing the reader to have a feel for the interview, furthermore it gives it some character.

Some of the questions the interviewer has proposed don't end in a question mark, they are open ended, as before to allow the subject to talk and answer how they please.

"Tell us" is an active voice which suggests the interview is informal. The questions are about the artists music career; where are they are going? What's new? If the artist releases some exclusive information it can increase the reputation of the magazine and increase sales so the questions are designed to get as much as they can from the artist.

My drafts

Below is a draft of my double page spread. In line with the conventions used by Mixmag and DJMAG I decided to show a full page image of my artist and a page of text. The purpose of the image is to draw the readership into the article. I used a combination of pull quotes, bold text, different colours and engaging language. The article comprised an introductory element and an interview format. The imagery of the language was graphic ie New Horizons



By experimenting with language, I developed a bundle of questions that suitable for my target audience. It is informal, conversational and punchy.



What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a graphic designer. I've always loved art.

What can't you get enough of?
Facebook! And making music in Ableton. I just moved across from FL studio.

What can't you stand right now?
This mental jet lag that I can’t seem to get rid of!

When are you happiest?
Playing live music in front of a crazy crowd. Honestly it's awesome!

To someone who doesn't really know you, how would you describe yourself?
I'm a producer/DJ and I make great music that everyone can enjoy.

What’s the coolest thing in your house?
Fridge, followed by my music!

Worst job you've had?
Working in a pet shop one summer.

Have you ever been arrested?
Noise violation, I never learn.

What’s you advice to people who want to become a DJ?
Be passionate and confident. Try and try and try again!

What were you doing 1pm last Saturday afternoon?
Sound checking for the closing party at Space Ibiza!

Whats your view on drugs?
I don’t use drugs. I respect peoples opinions and have nothing against people who do use drugs so as long as they don’t pressure others into doing it then its fine by me!

If you had a time machine, what time would you go back too?
I’d rather go into the future!

Blog 7 - Photo Editing

There are many different types of software available today that can be used to edit images. With the increase in popularity of open-source software, I can get image manipulation programmes free of charge such as GIMP. However Adobe Photoshop is the market leader for professional graphic designers and magazine publishers. I intend to use this software to edit the images in my music magazine. When I have finished editing an image, I will import it into Adobe Indesign to position the image and start to create the magazine.

Re-sizing
I can change the size of an image in either Adobe Photoshop or Indesign. However I take care to maintain the focus and avoid distortion. I used this technique to alter the size of the CD cover on the front sheet and contents page



Cut & Crop
The purpose of this tool is to allow the designer to improve the composition by chopping out unwanted or unusable areas. I used this technique on the two shot image below

Retouching
I used Adobe Photoshop to retouch my image to optimize their appearance by correcting flaws such as the removal of unwanted items, facial blemish, lens or even airbrushing to enhance the subjects looks.

As an example I used this tool to remove a spot from my subjects face and demonstrate the process using screen grabs.



Using filters

Lighting can create a mood and helps establish the setting. The connotation of brightness is hope, happy and joyful whereas darkness might evoke a sense of danger or foreboding

By using certain filters I can change the appearance of images making them look more dramatic and exciting.






Layering

I built up my magazine design in a series of different layers. For instance I decided that the background canvas of my contents page was too bright so dampened this down by adding a layer with a greater degree of opaqueness. I also removed the back ground from some of my images before superimposing them on another layer.

I have prepared a tutorial in the video below to demonstrate the techniques used to produce my final images using Adobe Photoshop and Indesign.

Blog 6 - Photos

I took a variety of digital photographs for my magazine. They involved different camera angles, distances from the subject, mis en scene, number of subjects, lighting, posture and expressions.

I selected four images for my magazine.

Camera Angles & Distance

There are three basic options, high, low and eye level. This type of shot can be used to convey dominance, vulnerability and equality respectively.


The above image was taken from a high angle not to represent dominance but rather to establish my subjects in a busy club setting. This conveyed the party spirit involving other revellers. The subjects in the foreground directly addressed the camera providing a connection with the viewer. The image is a group shot in the same age bracket as my target audience. The subjects are smiling clearly enjoying the moment. The mise en scene describes a club environment in terms of their attire, the drinks and dark surroundings.

The image below was unsuitable for my application because the subject is looking away from the camera and the lighting is poor. However I thought his dress sense matched the expectations of my target audience. I liked his open neck orange shirt with rolled up sleeves, sun glasses resting on his head.


Another factor for consideration is the distance between the camera and the subject – long shot, mid shot, head and should shot and close up. Shot further away from the camera are used to convey information about setting while close ups provide emotional details. .



In line with standard convention I used a medium shot of a single subject for my front cover. I shot the image againsta plain background for removal later using Adobe photoshop. My subject wore head phones to provide a link with dance music and DJ's

It was important to use a striking background for the front cover so I visited Brighton looking for street art:



I chose to use the first image as my background:



I liked the whacky, sureal and colourful image. My target audience often wear T shirts with similar mad cap motifs. The image is modern and creative which should draw attention. The street art is an urban phenomenon often has underground connotation which will apeal to young adults I am hoping to engage.

I considerd using an Extreme Close Up (ECU). This type of shot is often used to convey a high level of emotion. It has a quirky quality which might chime with my target audience.


I also thought of using it as part of a quiz feature as this type of image is used to disguise identity. In the end however I left it out.

As part of my selection process I took account of gender taking shots of both males and females as illustrated below. Although my target audience is predominantly male I wanted to give it a wider appeal particularly as both sexes involve the experience of clubbing.




I have taken the above shot against a plain background for photo editing later on.

I propose to include a two shot image for one of my main features on the contents page:



The subjects are straight faced perhaps even enigmatic provoking curiosity. The Ministry of Sound T shirt worn by the right subject is a power cue for dance music enthusiasts. I brick wall background providing an urban connotation.

Blog 5 - Fonts

Choosing the type of font is an important step in the creation of a magazine. There are thousands of types of fonts available. These can be purchased online or in some instances downloaded for free from sites such as www.dafont.com.



My preference is to use Adobe Indesign to produce my magazine. Adobe Indesign is a market leading software package used to design professional layouts for print and digital publishing.



The practice of choosing, setting and arranging the type on a printed page is known as typography.

The style of font can signify a mood and is an important part of building a brand or special identity.

Rebellion


The connotation of the 'cracked' effect is edginess and loudness which is suitable for Rock music. The cracked imagery represents breaking new ground, breaking convention (anti establishment).

Fun



The curved shaped of letters in the above masthead reflect softness (no edge) and lightness which is likely to appeal to a young teenage audience. The connotation of the soft and gentle style is femininity further reinforced by the yellow and pink colour scheme.

Futuristic



My target audience is interested in and derives enjoyment from new forms of technical equipment and gadgetry so would probably appreciate a futuristic or digital style of font.

Fonts can be divided into two groups display type and body. Display type is used for titles and headings while those in the body group are used for text. The size of fonts is usually expressed in term of points. Display type is larger than body type usually more than 30 points.

There are two basic styles of typeface serif and sans serif. Serifs comprise the small features at the end of strokes within letters.



Serif fonts are considered easier to read long passages as the strokes join letters together.

DJMAG has a very clear distinctive display type font for the masthead. This will help the magazine stand out in the shop.

The capital letters are fused together and a bold shadow effect has been added to increase the impact & depth. The vivid red colour denotes confidence and danger which in turn evokes a sense of excitement reflecting the characteristics of the readership.



Different sizes are used to classify the magazine headings in terms of importance. The main flash is larger than the secondary headings.

Also different fonts are used to differentiate text and effects such as splashes and contrasting backgrounds / colours, bold, outlines and shadows employed to give the magazine a personality. In addition the fonts are manipulated using leading and kerning which alters the vertical and horizontal spacing between the letters.



The Mixmag comprises lower case letters of equal size. Similar to “top of the pops” above the letters are curved though in contrast are not joined. The style feels more adult orientated helped by presence of the vinyl record icon as the dot for “I” and the colour scheme. Although a pink colour is employed for the strap line it is deeper representing maturity in comparison with “top of the pops”.

Font Selection Process

The title needs to stand out on the shelf in order to attract potential readers. The design needs to appeal to young adults in their twenties. My target group is passionate about music, fashion and technical gadgets. They are highly computer literate. They use social networking and listen to music. They are aspirers and seekers of excitement and adventure.

Masthead

With this knowledge in mind I selected the following fonts for my magazine masthead;



Imagine font was originally created for a video game. My target audience is tech savvy and aged between 17 - 30 they will be one of the first generations to grow up with computer technology. Imagine font it also easy to read. It might be a little too square and rigid to match the fluidity of my title "Thirst".



'Sinner' font is heavy and bold. It is a lot like Imagine font. Having a bold font on the front page will have an impact on the audience. If I use the correct colour scheme to fill this font then it will be hard to miss.



'Bravado' font is a more sensible. I chose it because it meets my personal requirements of being easy to read but also because it's different from fonts used in existing magazines. This makes my magazine unique.



This is a very square font. Squares are popular within the dance music genre this could be because they indicate something is digital and dance music is usually produced on electronic software. 'Yourself' is a very modern font however because it's so blocky and square it might be hard for my target audience to read which is something to be avoided.

Sub headings

One question asked my target audience which was their favourite font as a sub-heading for main flashes and main sells. Here were the font choices:



A very curvy font with sharp edges. The characters are all in lowercase.



I chose this font as an option because it relates directly to technology. My target audience is tech savvy and has grown up in a digital age. This seems like an appropriate option.


This font is slanted indicating dynamism and movement. Dance music is always changing and it's a very lively active genre.


I considered "yourself" as a title font however it could also be used as a sub heading title too.



Body text

Usually body text is a serif font because the small flick at the end of each character makes it easier to read. Popular serif fonts on Windows computers include Times New Roman and Cambria.

Below is an example of Times New Roman compared with Arial to show the difference.

Serif -

Sans Serif -


Feedback

I am aiming my publication at young adults in their twenties so the style needs to relate to this age group.


I designed a short questionnaire and surveyed a sample of students at my college to obtain feedback about their preferences for the masthead, main flash and main sells. Students are part of my target audience so their views are relevant:

Below is an example of the type of response I received from my focus group on Facebook;

Masthead



Sub heading





Sinner font topped the poll for the masthead and Imagine font for the sub heading. In line with common practice I intend to use Arial for the body text.

Blog 4 - Flat Plans

I produced flat plans for the different pages of my dance music magazine utilizing the conventions and knowledge obtained from my research of existing publication and target audience.







I considered the layout of the front page using a grid based on three rows and three columns. I used this to roughly size & organise the text and images.





I brainstormed titles for the magazine thinking of words which might connect with my target market possibly relating to their aspirations or linked with the dance music experience. My list included:

• Thirst
• Groove
• Boom
• Adrenaline
• Funk
• Noise
• Neon
• Shout
• Club

I set up a focus group to present and review the options and Thirst topped the pole. The group felt that thirst worked on two levels; firstly a thirst for knowledge, excitement and fun which are experiences sought after by the healthy and energetic fan base, secondly by expending high levels of energy dancing in busy clubs builds a thirst.

My research showed that most magazine covers featured a mid shot or head and shoulder shot of an individual as opposed to a group. The main article in the magazine often relates to this person. I took this on board and decided to follow this established convention. I am conscious that the front cover is very important and greatly influences the sale of the magazine.

I played around with the position of the primary and secondary feature headings adopting a three colour palette (red, yelllow and blue)for the text as this is the standard convention.

I turned my attention to the contents page again using a grid to help structure the information. My page layout consisted of the header containing the name of the magazine, the month and date and the heading contents. In line with the trend followed by other publications my document included various images of different sizes and content together with text in the form of headings and sub headings set out in columns. Another common convention I chose to adopt on my contents page was a section relating to the free CD showing the track list.



I decided to adopt the standard convention for my double page spread based on a large image on one side and text on the other. I used two colours for the text, less than on the front cover. My double page spread features an image of a world renowned DJ, with an introduction setting out his achievements followed by a question and answer interview which is a popular format. My intention is to use informal language incorporating question marks, street jargon and technical references or acronyms used by the target audience. The script will pose open ended question designed to engage the reader in a conversation. My readership enjoy talking about dance music, sharing fashion tips and learning about the latest technical innovations and learning about famous DJ’s and rising stars understanding their influences and views.