EVALUATION: QUESTION 7

EVALUATION: QUESTION 6

EVALUATION: QUESTION 5

EVALUATION: QUESTION 4

EVALUATION: QUESTION 3

EVALUATION: QUESTION 2

EVALUATION: QUESTION 1

FINAL DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD

MAKING OF DPS (CONTINUED)

When creating my double page spread, I included page numbers as it is one of the conventions and in order for my magazine to look at a professional standard, I must follow the rules and conventions of it. I also added the date of the magazines release date.

MAKING OF: DPS (PULL QUOTE)

When creating my pull quote I first started off with a very simple and plain design, just to experiment how it will look with the rest of the double page spread design. As I proceeded, I realised that pull quotes are typically meant to be big and bold, and something that captures the audiences attention which mine did not do at the time.

But, after making a few changes and looking at researched pull quotes on double page spreads, it broadened my ideas on how I should set it up. So, when creating my final quote I decided to use the rectangle tool to create a few boxes as a background for my quote so that it can stand out from the rest of the text. As mentioned previously, I used the colour of the models lipstick for the boxes (just like the quotations in my article text) so that it follows the colour scheme I had decided and created in my pitch.

I also used the same font as my article text which is CLASS A REGULAR in the colour white, just so it can match the colour of the artists clothing and the rest of the text on my double page spread.

RESEARCHING: EXAMPLES OF PULL QUOTES

 

As I am now midway in creating my double page spread, I drew closer to deciding on how my pull quote should look like. I researched a few magazine double page spreads pull quotes just to get a few ideas on how my one would potentially look like.  

The style of pull quotes is that it must be big and bold, and as most magazines use this style it is clear that it is a very popular and common trend amongst magazine designers. 

It is also one of the most important aspect of a double page spread as it must stand out to by passers and its specific target audience. Pull quotes vary from being chaotic and surprising or sweet and simple, giving the readers a sense of urge and an insight on what to read within the article. 

Pull quotes also vary from different range of colours and it's colour scheme, mostly depending on the style of music and the general magazines style. For example, a pop music magazine has a colour scheme of the colour red, pink, blue, yellow etc. Therefore, using their colour scheme when designing a pull quote. Whereas, we have NME magazine in which they maintain their consistent colour scheme which is mostly black, red and white. Resulting to their pull quotes being in dark tense  colour. 

MAKING OF: DPS

I changed the colour of the artists answers to the interview questions which are in quotations in order for the readers to know what the artist had said. I did this by using the eyedropper tool on photoshop and using the colour of the models lips as the colour of the text, so that they can match. The colour of the text also contrasts with the brick walls which is the background of the main image.

MAKING OF: DPS

For the article on my double page spread I have used the size 7.2 for the font size, in order for my readers to be able to read the article. I have also chosen the font "Class A Regular" which I had downloaded from Dafont.

I have chosen this font because I feel like this meets an indie pop magazine text convention as it does not look too bold or too simple and is also readable to my target audience. Therefore, fitting the criteria perfectly. 

I created a box using the rectangle tool as a background for my text in order for it to stand out. I used the opacity option to lighten the white box in order for the white text to stand out and also contrast with what the model is wearing.

Furthermore, in order to align the text, I used the grid method on Photoshop as a guidance so that the text can stay within the column style that I have followed, having recently researching double page spread conventions. 

DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD INTERVIEW

“I BELIEVE THAT SUCCESS FOLLOWS AUTHENTICITY.” 

We had the absolute privilege to speak to AMAs ‘Album of the Year Winner’ Aria! Being a young artist in the music industry has flipped her whole world around. One minute she had her head in books, to now with millions of fans supporting her, popularity hitting the roof and finally winning album of the year. 

15 minutes after striking her prominent poses, we sat down at Aria’s West Coast Residence situated in Beverly Hills. She whips out her phone and starts showing me images from the music video shoot for “Made it Go” including selfies with members of Fifth Harmony. Honestly, I’ve never seen a photo album filled with selfies with amazing artists! We then went onto the topic of her second album “Each of their Own” set to be released on February 18. “I’m really proud of this album, I put my heart and soul into each song and made sure that they all have a meaning of their own. Which is pretty much how I came up with the albums title as each song has a different meaning. This album is pretty much a reflection of me as a person and it started a new chapter for me.” 

Being a young girl in the industry may seem intimidating, but for Aria, she’s got it all under the hat. So I ask her how she feels about being in the constant spotlight. “I think it’s a part of what we as artists do. If you’re known in any industry you’re bound to get all this attention. But for the duration of the time I’ve been in this industry and being in the media, I kind of know how everything works now, with the journalists, paparazzi, you know what I mean. There’s only so much you can do. At the end of the day, I enjoy what I’m doing and if this is part of the package, then so be it.” Aria smiled, content with her answer. “At least I kept a bit of my sanity!” Aria laughed, causing the whole room to erupt into laughters too. 

Being real or being successful? To which she answered “Being real.” Why? “I believe that success follows authenticity. People can see through all of this, they can see through all this hoax. They want someone that’s real. Someone who speaks their mind and talks about real things that actually matter. Like Tupac did! In his album “All Eyez On Me” he is the first rapper to talk about his mother’s drug addiction and that takes a lot of guts. He spoke about this openly, with every little detail, all this without any shame.” These words truly struck me and made me as well as everyone else in the room perceive things differently. Seeing as though this album had a massive impact on Aria, it then proceeded to my next question on whether this album had an influence on her new album. “Most definitely. It helped me understand that it’s okay to be honest with yourself and with your art. So I decided to be real with this album because this is what people appreciate.”

As the interview progressed we noticed a stack of marvel comics on her bedside table, to which we asked whether she was a collector of comics as she went on to grab a few to show us. "Oh I love comics! I've been collecting them ever since my brother had introduced me to it because he always used to buy them, and would even trade some with friends at school! It's a shame comics aren't a big deal now as they were before." She pouted as she flicked through her favourite comic: Captain America. 

Following her recent performance at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, it has made her feel on top of the world. “Oh man, that was crazy! A good crazy. It just makes you want to go on a strict diet and work out 24/7. To be honest, I felt pretty short being surrounded by all these tall models!” She laughed. 

Any advice to practising musicians out there? "Yeah, I guess just be true to yourself and to your music you know? You want your music to mean something. you want to leave a positive vibe on people and there are always going to be people who disagree with you and your music but that's just a part of it all and you gotta take it on the chin."

Words of advice from Aria as the interview comes to a close. A smile from the head full of silk black hair, and a hug from the most humble artist, we leave the beautiful residence in Beverly Hills. 

RESEARCHING DPS: ANALYSIS

DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD MOODBOARD

The purpose in creating this moodboard of double page spreads from magazines is to give me ideas on how the layout must be, what kind of shots are used when taking the pictures, what kind of fonts are used, the colour scheme etc.

FINAL CONTENTS PAGE

MAKING OF: CONTENTS PAGE

BEFORE 

When creating the "FEATURES" aspect of my contents page, at first it had no background but I then decided to display a light grey background in order for the texts to stand out, which it did. The page numbers are at the size 24 and I decided on this size as I wanted it to stand out and be bigger than the text next to it. 

AFTER

MAKING OF: CONTENTS PAGE

I have included another picture of the artist on the contents page and included the page number of where the interview is (which is the double page spread) so the readers know what the magazine is going to include. Furthermore, I included a text at the bottom of the picture to simply summarise of what the interview is going to be about, giving them a closer insight of it. 

UPDATE ON: CONTENTS PAGE

MAKING OF: CONTENTS PAGE

The reason why I have included these 3 main cities on my contents page is because it is the main headquarters for my music magazine, in which they distribute the magazine and promote it through a number of ways. I added this right under the "CONTENTS" as when readers first open the page of the contents they will read the title and then immediately see the main cities underneath it and may wonder why they are included, to which they may even research about why it is there, and have an insight on the music magazine company as a whole.

MAKING OF: CONTENTS PAGE

Most popular magazines, whether they are a sports magazine, fashion, music etc. they tend to have an official website for their magazine which gives readers a more broader access to an insight of their magazine and what may consist in them. 

Some may even have Facebook Pages, Twitter accounts and Instagram accounts in bid to attract readers that are more likely to be on social media and is also an easier access of the magazine. It is also a way that magazine producers promote their company and what they do, in order to gain popularity and captivate the audiences attention. 

Which is why I have also decided to add a website and a Twitter account for my magazine as I wanted to follow the conventions of a contents page, so it can meet its professional criteria and to attract my target audience as they are all young teens/adults who tend to be on social media very often. 

MAKING OF: CONTENTS PAGE

I created a box in the shade maroon (as it is part of my colour scheme) and as it was too dark at first I changed the opacity to 80% to lighten it a little. 

I have included the "FEATURES" section on the left hand side on the contents page.
I preferred having the numbers of the pages in a bold font so that it can stand out and not clash with the text next to it. To keep my constant theme and style of my magazine I used the font CLASS A REGULAR just so that it does not differentiate from the other pages and instead has a continuous style.

MAKING OF: CONTENTS PAGE

To create my CONTENTS page title I have used the type tool to add a line through the text as I feel as though it adds an indie gist to it, as it is something unusual and different, just like the music genre of Indie Pop itself.

 I also used the grid method so that it can assist me on how to align the text so that it is straight and also helped with keeping it one box down from the edge of the page, which is one of the conventions of a contents page as the title of it should not be right at the top, and should leave some space.

I also decided to use the colour black as I wanted to maintain my colour scheme (as mentioned in my pitch) I felt that it fits best in the context that I am basing my music magazine on. For example; as I am focusing on the Indie Pop genre, it is known for its originality, bright colours that pop, but also dark colours to balance the colour scheme and the intense vibrant colours. Which is what I wish to do for my contents page, to meet the criteria.

RESEARCHING CONTENTS PAGE: ANALYSIS

CONTENTS PAGE MOODBOARD

As part of my magazine research, I have looked into a range of contents page in which they are all different from one another as they have their unique style. For example, VIBE use a continuous colour scheme and same style of font for their contents page. On the other hand there is WE LOVE POP music magazine where they use a range of bright colours but still sticking to the same font. I have created this moodboard to assist me on any ideas that these contents page consist of, and will allow me to picture how my contents page will potentially look like.