Evaluation: Draft 1-7

AS Media Evaluation

New Version: Contents

New: Cover

The only changes I need to make on my final cover are:

1. Swap around some of the text so that the dashed lines all meet up across the page.

2. Maybe move the date and price to a different location.

New: Contents

I have decided to get rid of this contents page design all together, it does not fit in with the other pages and looks too simplistic. My new idea could also be seen as simplistic, but it is effective. I have taken inspiration from another magazine that I have seen, the page is split into thirds, the top being the title, the bottom being the contents of the magazine, and the background being one large photograph. I will follow up this posts with a selection of possible background images.

New: DPS

This double page spread is very nearly finished, a few things I need to tweak are:

1. Change the 'F' in the article where FUGUE asks a question to red font.

2. Change the 'F' in the top right corner to black font.

3. Move the text about 'make up, hair, and photographer' to the bottom left hand corner of the main picture.

4. Add in a 'setting the scene' of the article

Second Draft: DPS

Following some feedback from Mr Smith about my first draft of my double page spread, I have now changed the column layout to three columns per page. I have also rearranged certain factors about the page, and added in page numbers. I have still left the image of Georgia clear as I am still undecided about which particular image I am going to use.

First Draft: Double Page Spread

This is my first double page spread, I have not yet included a photograph of Georgia as I have not chosen a final image. However I would like to include two images of her within the same frame (the black box on the page). I have also included Twitter and Facebook links on my page, as well as a recommendation to Georgia's former band, The Skeleton Boys - presented with their 4 albums.

I have also included the use of a web address across the bottom of the two pages; I have however not put in page numbers yet.

Second Draft: Front Cover

This is my new version of my front cover. I have taken into account all of the feedback and advice Mr Smith has given me and developed a similar but improved version of my original magazine cover.

I have changed the font of the title; the wording of the cover features; and I have re-edited the image of Georgia. I have also included Georgia's name on the front cover to state obviously who she is.

First Draft: Contents Page

This is my first draft contents page. I have taken inspiration from the NME magazine interview, but I have incorporated the same theme from my front cover so that my pages show continuity. I have used the same fonts from my cover page from the magazine title; scribbled font; as well as using the same font from the date and issue.

The three photographs were all taken by myself, I have created three acts: Georgia, Will Campbell, and Cruelty. Georgia is the main featured act who is also featured on the front cover. Will Campbell, and Cruelty are both fictional 'up and coming' artists that I have formed specifically for my magazine.

I will discuss this draft with Mr Smith and write up any feedback I am given. At the minute I am unsure of whether my contents page looks too casual, and whether the lists should be boxed or left as they are. 

First Draft: Feedback

I discussed my improvements with Mr Smith today, we looked over all the aspects of my draft front cover and he advised me in which areas needed the most attention.

His overall reaction was that at a first glance the magazine is really eye-catching and is suitable for it's purpose, however the closer detail such as the existing artists featured in the magazine do not fit with the theme. I have focused on The Arctic Monkeys and The Strokes, these bands are now too 'old' and are not fresh enough to have coverage in a new music magazine; however the use of Foals and MGMT was suitable as they are still producing fairly new, up to date, music. I agreed with Mr Smith's comment about the bands being a bit out of date, it is difficult to include both classic indie with a new age indie such as Foals, mainly because the audience of Arctic Monkeys is older and may not even glance at a magazine like Fugue. I have taken this on board and looked at some other newer artists of a similar genre to my magazine, I have so far found Crystal Castles, and GroupLove.
Mr Smith said he really liked the image I have used for the front cover so I will keep that the same as I also particularly like the expression that my artist is pulling as it's unusual/quirky. He did however mention that the title now looks weak compared to the image, the font I originally chose is very thin and does not stand for itself - Mr Smith suggested either changing the font or changing the colour, or both. I had already considered changing this font as it appeared overpowered by the photograph, however I needed a second opinion so I left it as it was for my first draft; I had already looked at a few more fonts to vary my research, so I was prepared for this change.
I have focused on this font since our discussion, and I particularly like the even spacing of the characters:

A key detail on my draft front cover is that there is no title for my artist on the front cover, her name is not mentioned at all on the cover so far; this was partly because I had not decided on whether she was going to have a stage name or an original name yet. On the bright side, the t-shirt I styled her in is plain black which is ideal for me to fill the black space with her name.
The final tips were just to fill in the blank gaps, which I will successfully do in my next front cover production.

Draft: Front Cover

This is my first draft idea for the front cover of my magazine, I have researched magazines that I like and combined them together to create this draft cover. I used one of the mug shot photos I had taken of my artist as I thought it worked well as a striking image style. I have taken inspiration from the Esquire magazine with Blake Lively on the front cover, they have used a scribbled hand-written style font so I have tried to create that in my own way by used a font from www.dafont.com. I have tried to follow a pattern with the layout of my front cover; in my opinion it is a backwards 'F' as there are no gaps down the right hand side, and two gaps evenly spaced on the left hand side. I have used a very simple colour scheme of black, white, and blonde hair; this is because I feel that simplistic magazine covers stand out more in shops as most music magazines have brighter colours on them with special offers etc.