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.