Way’s in which my magazine uses, develops and challenges forms and conventions of

real media products.

When looking at mastheads of other magazines, such as ‘VIBE magazine’ they had chosen to locate the masthead behind the models head. However I challenged this in I did not feel my masthead should be located behind the models and would suit my magazine more with it positioned to the left of the magazine in the corner. When conducting my focus group, one of the main responses was that my masthead was much more suited to the left of the picture rather than behind the head as when it was behind the models head it drew focus away from the picture.

Below is a picture of one of the magazines I used for research before making my magazine. As you can see, on this magazine the masthead is located behind the model.

When researching further into magazine front covers I realised my magazine was much more suited to ‘NME magazine’.

NME’s masthead is located in the top left of the magazine. This is the type of effect I was going for with my magazine ‘PLAY’. When putting this idea forward to my focus group, many of the responses were positive, agreeing that my masthead looked much more suitable positioned in the top left of the magazine.

When designing my magazine one of the things to take into account was the colour scheme and lay out of the writing. The colours situated on my magazine are black, white and red. The colour red, myself and my focus group thought it would be appropriate as it does link in with the model – therefore standing out and enticing you to read the magazine. The same colour red is used for the text in the cover lines as it is for underlining the cover line on the right of the magazine.

I took the idea of underlining the cover lines with the same colour the cover line is written in on the left from ‘Q magazine’.

As you can see Q have underlined the cover lines using a blue colour – in which I took on board for my magazine, changing the colour to red.

When positing my masthead on my magazine I chose to have a strap line which would be located under the masthead. Based on my research from NME and Q magazine, both magazines choose to have their strap lines located straight under the masthead.

Like in both these magazines, my strap line is located under the masthead.

I chose to position my models name ‘ROBYN’ in the middle right of the magazine, as when looking into my research an planning for my front cover, many of my researched magazines used this feature.

For example, in Q magazine, the models name is located in big letters on the front cover, drawing your eye towards it.

In VIBE magazine the models name is situated in the top left.

Rather than having the models name at the top of bottom of the page, I felt it would be more appropriate to situate the name in the middle, therefore challenging my researched magazines.

When researching into VIBE magazine one of the things I liked, and took on board for my own magazine was the layout of the cover lines down the left hand side of the front cover. The colours

of black and red contrasting against each other really stood out to me, hence why I have taken on board the idea of the colour theme on my cover lines.

On the right hand side of my magazine I also have another cover line. This cover line consists of artists names. This is a typical convention used by many magazines, and one in particular is NME magazine.

During my research of contents pages in music magazines to base my contents page on, one magazine in particular stood out to me. I was drawn to the layout of Q magazines contents page (magazine below) and challenged this design in creating my own contents page with a similar house style.

I chose a similar layout, with the mast head and ‘feature’ column. Also positioning the picture in the same place (on the right hand side) taking up half the contents page. I developed my magazine on the bases of Q because I thought it was the most suitable magazine choice for the genre I was heading for.

The main image of my contents page was inspired by Q magazine. With a medium close up featuring on Q, I went for a different approach featuring a full body shot on my contents page. However, both photographs have a direct mode of address with the reader. I chose the direct mode of address to attract my target audience which would create a personal bond with the reader, which relates to uses and gratifications theory.

I also chose to have the same feature of the page number in the top left hand corner of the image – which will be the feature on my double page spread.

The house style of my contents page features the colours red and pink. I chose these colours as when carrying out my research I felt it would be appropriate.

When researching feature columns, although I went for the style of Q magazine, the layout of VIBE really appealed to me.

When asking my focus group which feature column would be more suited to my magazine, the response was Q magazine.

Q’s feature column is very conventional. I liked the layout of having a picture first, and carrying on a theme of red and grey to separate each cover line. I have taken this theme on board with my own magazine – mimicking the design.

My double page spread has been inspired by the magazine featuring Nicki Minaj. I have gone for a similar house design, with the main image featuring right across the double page, taking up three quarters of the feature.

I chose the conventional theme of laying out my double page with three columns. This was based on my research, as many magazines have three separate columns spread across the page.

When writing my magazine article, I chose to use a certain feature that my researching double page spread used. This was to highlight certain important parts of the article. This draws your eye to the article, making you want to read more.

When carrying out my research and planning of my magazine, I chose to look at a double page spread article of Nicki Minaj. I liked how the name featured in big bold letters on the page, and though it is not a quote as such, there is a strap line introducing her to the article.

The idea of placing a quote underneath the caption was from the magazine featuring Kate Nash. When asking my focus group which theme they thought would be best for my double page spread, the response that came back was the Kate Nash magazine. I chose bold capital letters as this stands out and catches the readers eye.

Along with the quote underneath the models name, another feature I liked from the double page spread featuring Kate Nash was the introduction to the main magazine article. I challenged this, taking it on board and having my own introduction featuring on my double page spread in the same style.