Preliminary Task: How my magazine cover changed/ My developments

Every time I worked on my magazine I would add and change it, these images show the stages and process my magazine cover has gone through and how I have developed it.

 This is how  my magazine started - my flatplans, these were the guidelines I would use to build my magazine around. They gave me a brief idea of how I wanted my magazine to end up and look like once I had completed it.

 Next I created my next attempt, I put in a photo as a temporary image and built my magazine around this image using my flatplans. I adjusted some placing of articles and puffs and decided which colours and fonts I would be using, I then changed these on my next attempt.

 After taking my photos I swapped images and adjusted the font size, colour and type. I changed the font colours choosing from a reduced palette to contrast with the background. I then rearranged some of the articles to fit around the image.

 Next I added my tagline and rearranged my articles again.

This is how my final magazine attempt came out, I am happy I added the tagline and the 'FREE' sign, it gives another reason for people to pick it up and read. I think it looks a lot better from my first and second attempt and I am pleased with it.

Preliminary Brief: My final magazine cover

This is my final magazine cover, it turned out almost how I planned it however I was thinking of having a barcode but figured this was pointless there fore I didn't put one on. I used co-ordinating colours of a reduced palette- using the South Downs College colours, I think this ties the magazine together. I used some literal phrases such as 'amazing a-levels'! I was planning on fitting it around a Christmas/Winter theme, however I figured that as I would be using the South Downs colours this would not match. 

If I could create my magazine cover again I would add a few more articles and would have done a close up/medium shot. However I am happy with how my magazine turned out. I would also have showed the school grounds or something to do with the college if I could create my magazine cover again. 

Preliminary Task: Next attempt

Next I decided to add a tagline, I think this fits nicely and the colours work too. I think its catchy and contrasts with the background. If my college magazine were ever to be produced I would make the magazine free, however I'm still going to put a barcode and 'free' price on it. This will be my last and final step on developing my magazine cover. 

Preliminary Task: Magazine cover, my next attempt

After taking my images I chose which ones I preferred then let my target audience decide. Next I put this image as my background and developed my magazine cover. I used a reduced palette of just South Downs College colours.

Here is  my next attempt, as my article lines font I used Stone Sans ITC in capital letters, I also varied the colour of the font so it would stand out against the background. I chose to take my photos in a natural setting showing the season.

Preliminary Task: My photos

As the next part I took many photos some on the college grounds and some in a natural environment, I'm now deciding what photo I would like to use as my cover I chose my cover photo from these:

Eventually I chose image 3, these are just a few images I chose from and I came to my decision by asking my target audience which one they preferred and which one I thought best fitted the photo I needed.

Preliminary Task: My first magazine attempt

This is my first attempt of my magazine cover, I used a temporary image until I take my own photos. This shows all the colours, fonts, sizes and articles I experimented with. I did plan on using Bauhaus 93 as the font, however this is a lot less readable there fore I used a much simpler text for the rest of my page. I tried using the colour dropper to co-ordinate colours and using a reduced palette. I felt that some of my articles fade into the background slightly and don't stand out enough - articles such as 'You may think they're months away but we've got 10 top tips to passing your A-Levels' I also thing my articles also need to be more literally catching such as 'amazing a-levels'. I also slightly edited my mast head by rotating the 'SDC' part round, I think this fills my page better and makes it sightly more interesting to look at. On my next attempt I hope to use the capital lettering instead of the articles being in lowercase. I also plan to find co-ordinating colours to go with my photo. However I like the lay out of my magazine and hope to keep that the same. 

Preliminary Task: Creation of masthead

These are the 3 masthead designs I came up with I decided that I would use Bauhaus 63 font, 55pt as the size, using the South Downs college colours. After showing the target audience which one they thought was the best for my college magazine I have decided to use the first one. I think it is the most eye-catching and boldest one. As this is my and the target audience's favourite it is more likely to appeal to the target audience. 

Preliminary Task: Brief - My Proposal

Who you are aiming your magazine at specifically? Your specific target audience:

The target audience for my magazine is teenagers 14-19 years old, as these are the mass of the college students. The magazine will also be aimed at males and females with an article for everyone to appeal to the reader.

What will your magazine be about?

College life in geneal with subsections for sport, arts, theatre, humanities etc. with updates from school sports teams, upcoming events and trips and photos from current events that have happened over the month.

What are your ideas for coverlines?

Eye-catching, striking coverlines in which will appeal to the target audience. Using catchy literate phrases that all students can relate to.

What title have I decided on?

I chose from several titles for my magazines these include:

After asking my target audience for their view I have decided to use SDC Highlights, I think this is catchy, it was the most popular and it also tells you exactly what you'll find when you open the magazine; simple yet effective.

What fonts do you want to use?
For my title font once again I decided on possible fonts that I could use all to give a different feel or effect and let my target audience choose their favourite one. I think this technique is the best, even though it is my magazine I think their opinion is the most important one.

I decided i would use Bauhaus 93 once again, I came to this decision by doing some research and asking some of my target audience which font they prefered this one was the most popular font to use.

For the rest of my font on the cover of the magazine I chose from a variety however I think I am going to use something simple and readable such as Verdana.

For colours of fonts on my magazine I am going to use the colours from the SDC logo - Green, blue and white with some black font.

What are your ideas for taglines?
At a later date I will chose from these taglines:

Your college life, read it how it is.
Your college, your magazine
Updates from your college, for you

 After thinking about my taglines I have decided not to have one, I think they are a bit cheesy and will put my target audience off.

When in the year will it be published? How frequently?
I have decided to publish my magazine monthly, it will show upcoming events for the next month, and events, photos and articles from the previous month. I also think that I will add decoration, and the magazine will slightly change everytime a new season/ term begins to fit with time of year. E.g. the Christmas/december edition will contain Christmas themes and images. There will be special editions for the new year, new academic year and results.

What kind of image to you expect to put on the front cover and how will you go about getting this image?
For the cover of my magazine I will show students in college or together at an event or just simply smiling and looking happy to reflect the feel of the college. I will get this image by taking photos of my friends in college.

What are the dimensions of the cover?
I have decided to make my magazine 'handbag/pocket size' slightly bigger that A5 (CONFIRM ACTUAL SIZES WHEN KNOWN)

What images/colour would you use on the contents page?
Bright, eye-catching colours to attract attention. Colours that also represent and are known by South Downs students from the logo.

Preliminary Task: Brief - Flat Plans

My flatplans show my idea's of how I think my magazine should and will hopefully end up laid out like. When putting my magazine cover and contents page together I hope to follow this plan. These plans will make my final pages a lot more true to a real life magazine cover as I have studied and researched what I am doing and how I will go about it. These flatplans show my knowledge on how a magazine is laid out using the correct media terms.

Magazine cover: 

My magazine will be 'pocket/handbag size' these dimensions are 148x210mm. I think this will make it more appealing as the magazine will be in a compact size which i think will appeal to the audience.

This is my flatplan for my contents page, I hope to make my contents page look just like this flatplan. I'm also aiming for my magazine contents to have eye-catching colours and articles to ensure the reader turns to a page out of interest.

My flatplans are a good guideline as to what i want my magazine to be laid out like. I will build my whole magazine cover and contents page around these flatplans.