Double Page Improvement

Next to the page numbers on my double page spread, I added the magazine title (Tide) as this is a conventional feature found in all the similar media products I have researched.

Different Photo on Double Page

So far, on my double page spread, I have been using this photo

However, it felt slightly forced and out of place, so I have chosen to use this photo instead.

Blog Brush Post

Using Photoshop, I used the black and white brush tool on a mask to remove the background of the photo of my male model for my double page spread. I did this as the studio was a very drab area that would look overly forced and out of place in my magazine. Cutting out the model also makes the background more clear for concise text.

New Background for Contents Page

I chose to use the following photo on my contents page for the background:

However, the colour scheme on the photo did not match the theme, so I added it to my contents page but then also created a white box on top of it.

I then changed the transparancy of the white box to 53%, allowing the photo to be seen but also modifying the colours to fit the colour scheme of the magazine.

Week in Review

This week,  I have taken photos of a male model to use in my double page spread after Rough Cut Feedback suggested my current model did not have enough 'attitude' . I also organised and arranged a location photoshoot for my contents page, as well as made a layer mask of my female model's head on the front cover in order to create a conventional overlap over the title.

Following Friday's photoshoot, I intend to change the background on my contents page, as well as small photo editing improvements on my double page spread photos. I am also considering a change in double-page spread photo, but I will decide this for definite at some point during this week. I am also considering adding a drop capital to my double page spread article.

Cover Photoshop

I have cut out my female model's head on Photoshop using the black and white brush tool on a mask to remove the background. This allows me to place it over the magazine title, which is a typical convention in music magazines, of all genres.

New Contents Page Photos Taken

Today, I took new photos for my contents page. I retook the surfer photos from last time, but in accordance with my rough cut feedback to give the model more 'attitude', I attempted to achieve this effect mainly through facial expressions. Since my new contents page is not image-dominated, the surfer image is now a smaller image used as one of the feature articles.

Additionally, I took some photos of the sea to use as background shots on my contents and potentially double page spread.

Below are a few examples of potential shots to be used:

Organisation of Tomorrow's Photoshoot

Today I met with my potential model, Josh, and proposed the idea of a beach photoshoot.

We sat and looked at the rough-cut version of these photos, and I suggested the main changes I wanted to make.

Firstly, I decided to arrange to meet early in the morning in order to catch the sunrise. I then instructed my model to wear a wetsuit so that he could go in the sea and achieve a more 'attractive' look, predominantly for the female audience.

We were unsure whether to use the surfboard as a prop, but eventually we decided to in order to make the photo look more realistic.

After briefing him on the shots I intend to take, me and Josh then arranged to meet at 6.30am the next day at Tynemouth Longsands, and with costumes and props and location all planned, everything was in place ready for a smooth simple photoshoot.

Major Changes to Double Page Spread

Following my rough cut feedback, I was advised that a different model with more 'attitude' was required for my double page spread, so yesterday (Monday 13th March 2017) I took some more with a new model, and have subsequently added them to my double page spread. I also intend to experiment with the positioning of the text in order to fill the space more effectively, so the below screenshots show the rough cut double-page spread and the current (work in progress) one.

I have also got rid of the blue bars on the outsides, and I have added page numbers in order to follow typical music magazine conventions.

New Male Photo Model

Today I took photos for my new male artist for the double page spread. Originally, I used Jamie as a model, an example of whom can be seen below:

However, my rough cut feedback suggested that my model needed to have more 'attitude', so I instead took photos today of a new male artist, Matthew; an example of one of his photos is below:

Major Changes to Contents Page

Following audience feedback, it has been decided to change my contents page to a blocky format. I have begun the layout and have now begun to fill in the featured articles, with more photos due to be taken in the coming days for the featured photos. 

Below is the rough cut contents page (7th March 2017) and the updated contents page (20th March 2017)

Week in Review

From this point onwards, I will be merging my Sunday 'review' post and my Monday 'plan' post into one singular 'timekeeping' post every Sunday.

Week in Review

This week, I have completed all the tasks I had planned, including:

 -Editing my new double page spread photos.

-Creating a rough version of my double page spread with the new image.

-Editing new front cover photos to make them as effective as possible before using them on my front cover to follow feedback given after my rough cut..

-Got some audience feedback on my contents page, which decided I should switch to a blocky look.
-Initiated a complete overhaul of contents page

My Weekly Plan

This week, I intend to take photos of a new male model with more 'attitude' for my double page spread. I also intend to continue my overhaul of the contents page. I am also planning to organise a location photoshoot for Friday morning with a new male model for one of my contents photos. I also intend to take some landscape photos while I am there.

Framework for Updated Contents Page

After looking through my previous research into similar media products, I decided on the outline I want my new contents page to follow, and I have created it on indesign. Down the left side of the page will be 4 specific photos which represent featured articles, whilst other, less important feature articles are listed down the side without any image- instead with a brief description and page number.

Audience Research for Contents Page

Following rough cut feedback which said that the contents page looked 'too much like a front cover', I decided to get some audience research on whether the image-dominated approach was the best idea.

Using SurveyMonkey, I asked a question to the target audience asking whether an image-dominated or blocky contents page would be more effective.

The results showed that my target audience prefer a blocky contents page rather than an image dominated one, therefore I intend to make major changes to my contents page. I intend to completely revamp the page with a blocky style but I have not decided exactly how this design will look yet.

Major Changes to Front Cover

Following my rough cut feedback, I have taken a new photo for my magazine front cover with more 'attitude'. Additionally, the white jumper on the model has forced me to reconsider my colour scheme slightly; rather than the headline being written in white, it has now been written in black in order to be clearly seen, however I believe this to be more effective because it allows the headline to stand out in comparison to the rest of the page (this being the main reason I did not write it in blue like the other featured articles on the page).

Additionally, I have added more featured articles to my front cover as in my rough cut feedback, it was said that my front cover was slightly too empty.

I have also changed the layout of the bottom section to follow conventions more strictly; rather than having three photos along the bottom, I will now have just two (which have not been taken yet) with a small list of other featured articles in the middle of the page as is typically seen in magazines of this genre.

Editing New Front Cover Photo

Using Photoshop, I used the brightness and contrast settings in response to claims that the original photo was too overexposed. After retaking the photo, I noticed the heavy presence of white in the photo made it look slightly overexposed again, so I used this tool to manipulate the colours in the photo.

New Front Cover Photos

Today, I took a new front cover photo of a close up female. Although my audience research earlier in the month showed a female close up was the most popular photo to use, my rough cut feedback indicated more 'attitude' was needed, and I feel that is what I have achieved in this new photo.

Weekly Plan

Weekly Plan (Monday 13 March- Sunday 19th March 2017)
This week, I intend to make significant progress in improving my magazine pages following my rough cut feedback. The key tasks I aim to achieve this week are:

-Editing my new double page spread photos.

-Creating a rough version of my double page spread with the new image.

-I also took new front cover photos last week, so I intend to edit them to make them as effective as possible before using them on my front cover to follow feedback given after my rough cut.

-I also intend to get some audience feedback on my contents page, as I am currently debating changing it from an image-dominated look to a blocky look, but I want to get the target audience's opinion on this change before making it.

-Once I have audience feedback, I intend to begin a complete overhaul of my contents page.

Double Page Decision

Following yesterday's focus group feedback on my backup double page spread photo, I have opted not to use that photo. Instead, I will seek to achieve a similar style of photo to my rough cut double-page spread, but I intend to find a model with slightly more 'attitude', as was frequently stated in my rough cut feedback.

Backup Double Page Spread: Focus Group Opinion

After the somewhat negative reception to my double page spread photo in my rough cut, I asked my focus group their thoughts on my backup photo.

Olivia: "It's not very conventional to have the model at the side of the page."

Tommy: "Having the model in the centre is a bit unconventional but could work if you place the text all around him."

Luke: "It feels too symmetrical, I feel it would look more like a landscape front cover than a double page spread."

Megan: "It feels a bit boring with the colour scheme of grey predominantly in the background."

Rough Cut Feedback (Double Page Spread)

Teacher Feedback:
-Use a different photo; model needs more attitude
-Too white; needs to fit the nautical theme more, perhaps through background change
-Remember to include the conventions, such as page number.

Student Feedback:
-Image and text fit well
-layout slightly unconventional with text on both sides of page

Rough Cut Feedback (Contents Page)

Teacher Feedback:
-Need to add more detail to articles
-Need a more creative photo to 'tell a story'- coming out of the sea would be a good photo.
-Include all the neccesary conventions, such as page number, date etc
-Too much like a front cover

Student Feedback:
-Image used is very good
-Colour scheme most prominent and best used here.
-Need to add more text/stories

Rough Cut Feedback (Front Cover)

Teacher Feedback:
-Very conventional (especially the model overlap)
-Instantly recognisable as a music magazine
-Need to include more featured stories
-More attitude needed on photos
-Doesn't fit the nautical theme; it needs to have something small added, such as a wave in the title.
-Could perhaps add a bar along the bottom with extra featured stories on
-Headline too vague; add a shadow as well.

Student Feedback:
-Good variety of images use
-Good title and date
-Needs more text about images and other articles in the magazine

Weekly Plan

Weekly Plan (Monday 6th March- Sunday 12th March 2017)
This week, I will hand in my rough cut and get feedback from it. I will then use this feedback to begin work on the final cut and follow the advice given in order to achieve the best possible magazine, with work beginning on my final cut towards the end of the week.

Week in Review

As planned, I have completed a few pieces of audience research on Survey Monkey in order to get a sense of my target audience's needs and preferences, and to ensure I am including them in my magazine wherever possible.

Potential Double Page Spread Photo

Depending on Rough Cut feedback on my double page spread next week, I also have a backup photo that I may use for the double-page spread if feedback is negative towards my current one. However, I will consult my focus group on this if I need to do so.

Here it is:

Audience Research: Front Cover Model

In order to ensure a female close up was the most popular amongst my audience, I released another survey on Twitter for my target audience of young adults (16-24 year olds). As you can see, 71% of people wanted a close up of a female as the front cover, so I feel I am definitely catering to my target audience's needs.

Audience Research: Colour Scheme

As I have been debating whether changing to a Red/White/Black colour scheme, I decided to release a survey on Twitter asking my target audience for their preferred colour scheme. Here was my result: