Drawings for my front cover

Original Drawings 

As you can see here all of my drawings are very similar. They are similar layouts to those that I have researched for my front cover. I made sure to include the vital pieces on my front cover such as the header and a main image of my model with a cover story. However I could only choose one. 

My chosen one

This is the layout that I have chosen to copy for my front cover. I believe that this is the best as it in my opinion is most like a real magazine with lots of different shapes breaking up the page. I have included the large statement image of my model and then her name in big and bold, this should be what catches the readers eye first. I then have placed the photos in the top right hand corner, this is to equal out the mass of writing on the left hand side of the image. All of the colours used will mainly be black, pink and white. 

Manipulation of my first photoshoot

House Style

What is a House style?

House style is crucial to create a sense of unity to the magazine. A house style is what makes your magazine unique as it is easily recognizable Usually the same colours will be used throughout all of the magazine-up to 4 are used, this is so that the style does not get too confusing and the pages stay looking sharp and in order, By having a house style it makes a continuous feel throughout the magazine and it is vital to make it look aesthetically pleasing as too many colours mix matched does not make it look appealing.

Primary block colours are most commonly used, this is because it creates a bold statement and makes the magazine look like it has more order. The house style is not only the colours, it is the typography, most magazines will only use up to 4 fonts throughout their whole magazine. As well as that most of the inspiration for the house style comes from the mast head, this is because this is what initially makes the magazine unique by its naming and colouring, therefore applying that colouring and font throughout that magazine will make it easily recognizable.

NME example

As you can see here the 'NME' masthead remains the same colour which is red and white. This colour is inputted into the whole magazine as only 4 colours are used throughout the contents and front page. The two main ones being red and white. As well as this there re only 3 different fonts used throughout those two pages. This makes this magazine easily recognizable and unique to that brand. The double page spread continues the house style using a large red letter set on a white background. This makes it stand out as red is a bold and fierce colour.

Detailed Font Research

Further research

As you can see i have tried to make a more sspecificfont research. I have used the same font for everyone however i have manipulated colour and other aspects of the font. depending on the clothing that i place my model in for the front cover, this will determine the colour that i chose for my front cover.

I have adopted the 'NME' header by surrounding the words by a bold rectangle. This is something that i admire however i am not sure that this will look very aesthetically pleasing on my final front cover with the background.

   

Font Research

Primary Magazine Research

As you can see here all of the magazine headers are sans serif, this is something that I am going to use when creating my header. As well as this they are all larger bold statements, they take up a fair bit of the page, this is so they are noticed, however do not take the focus away from the image. 'NME' is one that I want to copy, this is because our names are similar and I feel that the font makes a bold statement on the page and is easily recognisable.

My initial font choices

As you can see I played around with the different fonts that I could use. I have chosen to specifically look at bold fonts, this is because of the research that I have collected all of the headers make a statement. As well as this all of the fonts that I chose are sans serif as this is something that I also found from my research. I then had to produce a survey to see which one was most favoured by my target market. 

Here are the results:

As you can see number 7 won, therefore this is the one that I have chosen. The feedback I received was that the triangle on the 'H' gives it an edgy and unique look, however it is also bold and eye catching.

My Genre

The Genre I have chosen is not specifically defined by one word. It covers Dance, Club and House music. All of these words describe the music that I have chosen as my music genre varies.

The Title I will chose will be some variation of one of these words. This is so that it is easily recognised. Dance music has been around since roughly the 1960s and has developed over the years. The techniques adopted by the dj's are constantly used and it reates a recognisable sound so that that genre of music is easily define. This is what i like as i feel that my target audience will instantly be able to identify with my magazine and they will not mistake it for a different genre. By the 1990's house and rave music was increasingly popular in the UK and Germany, this again broadens my target market as it applies to a wide range of ages.

Here is the word 'dance' defined. It says that the genre of music used is to dance in clubs. The beat is repetitive This is what i want my magazine to be about

 Here is the words 'house music' defined. Again it shows you that the type of music has a repetitive beat or rhythm and it is a type of disco music.

Here is the words 'club music' defined. As you can see the words sum up what dance and house music are about. The places they are played is also where my target markets spend their time.

Artists 

There are many artists but just some are: Rudimental, Annie Mac, Hannah Wants, Wilkinson & MK

Photo Shoots

Photo shoot 1 

As you can see I played around a lot with the type of shot used and the positioning of my model. I changed the background from white to black. I believe that none of these pictures were usable for my front cover, however it has made me realise what type of picture I want to attain from the next photo shoot that I do. I also realised that I want my model in more neutral colours as when she is in a colourful outfit it makes it hard to create a house style for the magazine. 

Photo shoot 2

As you can see from this photo shoot I have learnt from my last. I have made it very specific and have taken few photos as I knew what sort of photo I wanted. I used the black backdrop as I felt the pictures looked better and I also clothed my model in neutral clothing to make it easier to decorate the front page with any colours that I choose. I also played around with the lighting to get the best picture.

Photo shoot planning

Here I have researched what the different shots are. This is so that I can choose one for my photo for my front cover and also one for my double page spread.

 Long Shot
As you can see this front cover is a long shot. This is because the whole of the models body is in the shot. As well as this you get a feel of the surroundings. The purpose of this long shot is to enable the reader to also see the amplifier. This gives you an insight into the type of music.

 Mid shot
As you can see this front cover has used a mid shot. This enables you to only see half of the body. In this shot you can have more than one person but you can still see their face clearly. It allows you to see what the type of clothes the model is wearing and still have a good expression on their face.

Close up
Here you can see the close up. This is the most common shot that is used on magazines, especially music magazines. None of the surroundings are incorporated into this photo and you get a close up of the models expression. This shot allows you to exploit the colours visible and it puts an emphasis on the artist chosen.

I could also incorporate a group shot however I have chosen one particular artist therefore this shot will not be necessary. 

Which shot am I going to use?

I have decided I am mainly going to focus on a close up and a mid shot for my first photo shoot. This is because I feel my model has very good facial features that need to be exploited and therefore a close up would do this perfectly. I am also going to play around with the mid shot as I want to incorporate the clothing into my magazine as I explained my target market are fashion conscious.

Title Analysis

Research into titles

As you can here these are three of the most well known music magazines. All of their titles are short and snappy, this is something that I will think about when brainstorming my titles. 

• NME- is abbreviated- this makes it relatable to the younger generation as they talk in text slang, therefore it will attract them
• Vibe- Is instantly a word related to music, therefore if i called my magazine something like this there would be no confusion with what the theme of the magazine is 
• Q- is just a very well known magazine, its short title makes it easy too remember

Magazine Title Ideas

As you can see I have brainstormed 10 possible magazine titles. I have developed the names by looking at previous magazines and also thinking of words related to that genre of music. As my genre is dance/house music, I need to pick a title that is appropriate and well suited to that genre and the target audience will instantly recognize and relate to when they see the magazine.

I have narrowed my titles down to 5, i feel that all of these relate well to the genre of music and the target audience will be able to identify the title and instantly recognize the magazine as as genre of music they like.

 I have chosen BPM which stands for 'Bass Per Minute' I feel that this title relates well to the genre of music and as well as this BPM is also a music festival therefore it will be easily identified as a dance magazine. The initials make it catchy and they stand out.

I have chosen DHC which stands for 'Dance House Central' I feel that this title fits well with the genre of music that i have chosen. 'Dance' is instantly recognisable and therefore the target audience will immediately realise that that is the genre of music they like. 'Central' suggests it is something of great importance and therefore the readers will be interested in whats inside the magazine. The fact that it is initials makes it stand out and unique from most other magazines.

I have chosen Bass, I feel that the word Bass is instantly associated with music and therefore it will not get confused with other types of magazines. As well as this, being three letters it draws more attention to the magazine. It also is similar to an onomatopoeia.

I have chosen HMM which stands for 'House Music Magazine' this is because i feel it is relatable to the genre of music i have chosen to do. Including music in the title makes it easily identifiable and the fact that it is house music again narrow`s it down for the target market. The fact that it is initials makes it stand out and catchy.

As you can see I asked the members of my class which header they think I should pick. The majority said DHC - the feedback i gained from them is that it is initials and a short word therefore will be easy to remember as it is catchy, it relates well to the genre of music I have chosen and it will be easily identified by my target market.

Cover Analysis-Detailed

Magazine cover 1

What does the title mean?

The word 'mix' is instantly associated with music- you think of mixing dj decks. this helps to portray the image of a music magazine. The word 'mag' has been shortened to give it an informal feel, and again appeal to the target market. Shortening the words is what teenagers tend to do in text talk therefore making the word abbreviated attracts the younger generation to the magazine. This magazine will initially appeal to those interested in music. 

Heading

• The heading is spaced very close to the top- almost touching. This helps to create more space for the actual image.
• The heading is spaced double the distance that it is from the top. this is because the heading is a long word so a lot of space is needed, however the font is still kept small to make the word fit comfortably on the page, as well as this it keeps enough space for the large picture on the background
• The font used is EmBauhaus bold- it helps to create a fun aspect to the magazine
• It is all in lower case, this gives it a sense of informality which will therefore appeal to the younger generations, it links in with their target market which is from about 16-30
• All of the other wiring on the page is written in upper case- this helps to differentiate from the different aspects of the front cover
• The heading is larger than any other writing on the magazine, this is so that it is obvious that it is the name of the magazine and it draws attention to the eye 
• The colour is yellow on a brown background, this again helps to emphasise and draw attention to the magazine 
• The 'i' on the header helps to make it unique and helps to identify the brand, it also creates a fun theme for the magazine as it is a music magazine therefore is very upbeat

Rule of 3

The page is split into 3 this helps to make the picture look more dynamic. your eye is automatically drawn to the center of the page as it is seen as more static. Having the models hands in either third it helps to create a welcoming effect as it draws the reader in, the hands help to entice the reader as they look like they are reaching out to grab your hand. The subject being placed near to the edge of the front cover helps the eye to focus on all of the picture and take all of it in. The rule of thirds help to make the photo more captivating and intriguing to the reader.

There are features on the side of that page. This helps to break the page up. This is because the writing is heavily focused on the right side of the page therefore adding in images evens it out. It also tells you what will be inside the magazine.

Information that is in the magazine is listed on the left hand side. It is white, this contrasts well with the brown background. The more important information is enlarged and made bold. The words loosely mould around the image.

The words 'David Guetta' are in bold and yellow, this is so that it makes a clear statement. The yellow against the dark background means that it will not be missed. It is the first thing that you are drawn to and instantly the genre of the magazine is easily identifiable. It is lower down in the page, this splits the page up. A serif font has been used. This contrasts with the sans serif 'mixmag'

Having a sticker on the front cover makes it more desirable. 'The Guardian' states that people are more attracted to a magazine or book if they have a sticker on them- therefore this creates a strong selling point for the magazine. Making it yellow keeps it within the house style, it also makes it stand out with the bold pink writing. Placing it on his right shoulder divides the page as it is a strong focal point.

This is more information. The white and yellow is the magazines house style. It works well contrasting the two together and putting them on a dark background so that they can be clearly seen.

Magazine cover 2

What does the title mean?

The title 'NME' stands for 'New Musical Express'. It instantly is obvious what the magazine is about and therefore will entice the music fans to read the magazine. The magazine is known for discovering and promoting up and coming artists. Their target audience is 16-30 year olds and the magazine is associated with newly found artists therefore the title is relevant and relateable and easy to understand.

Heading

• The title has been abbreviated this helps to appeal to the younger generation as they use text talk. it makes it catchy and memorable as it is only 3 letters, it also saves space on the page.
• The red writing on the white background is commonly recognized for the NME associated things- this helps to identify the brand
• It is written in block writing to make it clear and it stands out
• It is positioned roughly 1.5 cm from the top of the page and the same from the side- this gives it a floating effect and again makes it stand out

Promotion 

The magazine has used a promotional offer to entice people to buy the magazine. Featuring competitions on the front page of a magazine will help to increase sales as the public like competitions. As well as this it suits the target market as offering a chance to win festival tickets to 16-30 year olds appeals to them. As the magazine is music orientated using festival tickets as a prize ties in well as it will appeal to that target market has they have chosen that magazine due to their interest in music.

Unique slogan

This makes the magazine more desirable- making it a unique issue will make people more likely to buy the magazine.

Making the artists name in a bold striking colour will instantly attract the consumer. It is evident that red is the main colour used in the house style. It is also in a serif font, this contrasts with the bright red mast head that is also a serif font. Making it the center of the magazine gives it dominance over the page making it eye catching.

Including other artists from the same genre of music will also attract the target audience. Again the colours keep in with the house style which is red and white. 

Making the picture center of the page conforms to the 'rule of thirds'.  Tyler the Creator is in the middle of the magazine because he is the main feature. He is an important figure in the rap industry and therefore he will be vastly recognised, this will entice people to buy the magazine. Accessorizing him in a crown and jewels portrays a controversial message, as by wearing things associated with the royal family he is creating a mockery of them. It links with the quote and gives you an insight into the article inside.

Target Audience

Defining my target audience

My target audience is not gender specific, this is because the music appeals to both men and women. The rough age bracket is 16-30's. The music is generally enjoyed by the people of this age as it is usually played in a clubbing environment, although taking into consideration 16 year old's cannot be in clubs they are introduced to the music by festivals and own knowledge of the DJ's. Many youths are big fans of this genre which is why it has had so much attention world wide in festivals such as:

• Creamfields
• Reading and Leeds festival 
• WE ARE festival
• Tommorrowland 
• Boomtown
• Electric Daisy Carnival 
• Global Gathering

My target audience can be associated with weekend drinking and casual drugs, this is due to the type of events that they attend. The origin of drum and bass music has an influence on certain aspects of a persons life style e.g fashion.

Other aspects that my target audience are generally associated with:

A specific fashion following

live-for-the-weekend type people 

Party-goers

Social media - Instagram, Twitter

Music sites- Soundcloud, Spotify

Fashion

Girls 

• Typically my target audience would wear crop tops and leggings out.
•  In the summer time they would wear shorts and accessorize very simply, perhaps with some earrings and a necklace. 
• At festivals they will commonly be seen with bum bags and most likely trainer
• To events it is vital they can dance therefore suitable foot ware is always chosen 
• They typically care about their appearance so their makeup and hair will always be done nicely
  

 Boys

• Typically my target audience would wear jeans and designer t shirt out and a man bag
• In the summer they would wear shorts and a top, and a man bag with trainers
• At festivals they will wear similar attire
• Trainers are essential for the boys and the most expensive brand the better