Drafting and planning

I have been looking more closely at my front and contents page. I have decided to wipe away the colour blue and incorporate the orange and black. I do think that this looks more effective.
Here is an example:

I think this looks much nicer. Especially with the sections at the bottom the "&" symbol looks effective in the black. It makes each section seem as though they link together and this is evident in the contents page. 

I have continued to use a black masthead - this is important because the colour black will immediately capture the attention of the readers as it's bold and eye catching. Yet the orange font underneath makes the magazine seem more inviting. 

I am pleased with how the images are positioned on the front page. It almost looks as though a student (obviously! it's a student magazine) has created a photo collage. This will be ultimately recognisable to them. Not only that, but the range of images clearly show to the reader how much Birmingham has to offer, foreboding that there will be lots to find in my magazine. 

I'm pleased with the positioning of the dateline, it's great that it's there! But it doesn't take up too much space, yet doesn't lose its prominence. 

On the whole, I think my new colour scheme is vibrant, and choice of images are fantastic! They feature Birmingham as busy, beautiful, with great shops, scenery and opportunities. 

Moving onto the advertisement on the right hand side. Even though I found this advertisement on Google. I think it's appropriate for me to use a food or drinks advertisement or even a restaurant advertisement on the second page. This will be a factor that students will want to know more about. I added this image here for now just to see what it would look like! But I generally think, with a little work, I may be able to create a fantastic advertisement for my second page. Especially with vibrant colours and information.

Drafting and planning

In response to my post on 16/10/15 I have began to draft and construct my own contents page.

Similarly to Dluxe magazine, I have kept a white background, and incorporated the colours black, blue and orange. They work really well together. I have also, in the same way as Dluxe, dedicated the upper left hand side of my contents page to the images; and I have included page numbers on top of these images. I ensured I consistently used the same colour scheme found in the front page and in the contents page. Also, like Dluxe, I have separated my articles in my magazine into separate sections - fashion and beauty, news and sport, night life and entertainment and arts and culture. However, through having a second look at Dluxe, I have decided that I prefer the way that they hold their information about their contents page - having subheadings and key information below, but not including individual page numbers for each section. Even though this may not be as easily accessible,  my target audience aren't children, the students won't need everything dumbed down. Therefore I think it is appropriate for me to adopt this in my own contents page. I have carried my masthead through to my contents page which contrasts with the contents of Dluxe, but I think this looks effective as the reader will know that the magazine successfully pieces together. I am happy with my first draft of my contents page:

Drafting and planning/ Research into similar products

I have been looking on Issuu once again and have found Dluxe magazine. It is a business and leisure magazine about Birmingham. As it is within the same region as my magazine I thought it may be helpful and quite insightful to me.

At this point in my research and even drafting and planning I am particularly focusing on the contents page. I am particularly excited about the contents page from Dluxe.

I like the way a black font is used on a white background. I think that this looks highly effective and is a nice contrast. Purity and mystery. I engaged with this contents page because the stories and news within the magazine is in a column form, something I'm keen to use in my own magazine. I like the way the pictures have been positioned, to take up a certain area of space in the magazine, and how the page numbers are on top of the pictures. This makes the contents page easily accessible for the readers. They know where to find the articles they are most interested in. I'm quite impressed with how a section at the bottom of the contents page has been addressed as a sort of "contact us" or "get in touch" opportunity, by offering the website, email and social networking pages. This is something I can take into account with my contents page. It's pretty clear that this magazine is jam packed but it looks highly simplistic. I am going to take this into account when constructing my contents page.

Here is an issue of Dluxe magazine from Issuu

Research into similar products

Now that I have decided on the type of article to feature in my magazine, I did some research on Google Images.
I have found this article of Madonna:

Ignore the pixelation. However, what I find most eye catching about this article is the fact that there's more than one image in such a small space. This will connect to my magazine and create symbiosis in the form of colour. The white background is similar to the white backgrounds I am currently working on in my front page and in my contents page - if I choose to replicate this then I will also create symbiosis. I'm also intrigued by the way the title of the article stands out and is majorly bigger than the rest of the font. I think this immediately captures the attention of the readers. The way that the article itself sticks to the conventions of a typical magazine article; this is because it is written in columns and it's easy to follow for the readers. I think I may copy the way the questions and answers are in different colours (I will suit this to the person/place my article is about). The fact that the font is highlighted by one of the main colours used throughout this page shows that there is consistency. I cannot seem to read the questions and answers, however when structuring my article I can refer to SCENE magazine's article which can be found in my post on 13/10/15.  

Research into similar products

I have found another edition of SCENE magazine on Issuu.

I think that this double page spread can help me come up with an idea for my article in my magazine (even though mine will be on one page). This is because as my magazine is going to cover a wide range of topics, I think that the genre I'd most like to focus on nightlife and entertainment. Therefore, I think I am going to interview the owner of a new club, or a new concert venue to find out what sort of artists and what they will be expecting. I can look at this kind of interview to find some inspiration. I like the way there is a summary of what the venue is all about and then an exclusive interview with the owner! Definitely something I will feature in my article.

Drafting and planning

I have improved on my second front page draft.

Draft 2:

Draft 3:

You can clearly see that I have thought about the colour I want to use in my magazine. I have incorporated the blue and orange in a more professional way. I think in draft two it seems a little childish and gives of the "multicolour" effect. This is not something you would find in a student magazine. Also, I have made better use of the space within the front page by adding an image I found on Google. However, this image will not feature in my final front page, this is because I am going to be using my own photography to demonstrate my improved skills from AS. I like the way that the range of pictures differ from day to night. It represents this magazine as having a wide range of articles. However, through comparing the two, I have decided that the dateline looks enormously better in the colour black font. 

Overall, I am very happy with my third draft of my front page. I think if I continue to spot the little things that can make my magazine successful then I won't go far wrong when it comes to finalising my front page.

Research into similar products

In response to the ending of my post on 8/10/15, I have typed into Google Images - "poster billboards advertising a place".

I found three pictures that I think may help and influence me.

Firstly, I picked this picture:

This immediately stood out to me because of the BOLD TEXT! It takes up most of the billboard. This is significant because the attention of people passing by will be captured instantly. Even though I do not know what this billboard is about, because of the effective advertising it ultimately makes me want to "save more with their agents." Clearly, the editor has put lots of thought into choice of colour; as this is obvious through the contrasting colours. White connotes honesty and purity, which persuades the target audience to take a look at the service they are offering. Whereas, red connotes energy and passion showing positivity. I like the way the font takes up a huge amount of space in the billboard as this shows importance to the audience. This has definitely inspired me for my own billboard.

Next, I picked this picture:

I felt that this billboard instantly applied to me. This is because of the IMAGE CHOICE. I think people passing by would immediately know that this billboard is advertising a region. The picture is great because of the colours, and timing. It makes "New Jersey" appeal as a calm, peaceful place as the two people look deeply in love, and the waves in the sea aren't choppy. I personally think that people passing by would get this vibe as well. The colours used in this billboard are important, not only does the blue connect with the colours in the background, but the centralisation of the main text insinuates that the picture is still highly important, but the text wants centre stage. I like the way there is a consistency of the colour blue: it connotes clarity, wisdom and heaven. This is highly significant because this is the essence produced in the picture. I like the use of this image in the billboard, I think this has inspired me for my own billboard because it shows that the picture can sometimes have more of an effect on the audience than the text.

Finally, I picked this picture:

This billboard captured my attention the most. Obviously it is because of the COLOUR. Not only is the colour vibrant and eye-catching in this billboard, it is the colour most associated with Coca Cola. It connotes energy, passion and positivity: and successfully, just through colour advertises the product. More so, the text is big, but doesn't take your eyes away from the main image. I think this is effective as the text still looks highly important and prominent on the billboard yet it doesn't steal the attention away from the main image. It's significant that the text used for "Coca Cola" is the same text used on the bottles, cans as it has it's own unique brand image so people can instantly recognise the product. Furthermore, the image is great because it is positioned in the centre of the billboard which makes it the main attraction. It will appeal to the audience because of the white highlighting around the edges, this makes it look energetic and exciting. Most importantly, the colour in this billboard captured my attention away from all of the other poster billboards on Google images. This is definitely because it's bright and powerful. This tells me that I need a bright colour on my billboard to capture the attention of the audience.

Conclusively, I am very happy that I have found these billboards because they are going to be highly influential. This is because I have identified three main points of importance: TEXT, IMAGE and COLOUR! Three main conventions of a billboard. I know that I need to use the same text on my billboard that I have used for my magazine's masthead, and the main texts inside my magazine. I know that image is highly significant because that is what the audience see first! This image has got to represent my magazine in an exciting and positive way. Finally, colour is important. I need to carefully think about the connotations I want to promote on my billboard to advertise my magazine. I know that the main colours in my magazine will be blue and orange - and similarly to the third billboard advertisement, they need to take up a large amount of space because colour is extremely eye-catching.