Mixmag DPS Analysis

This double-page spread from Mixmag is unorthodox in that the image is spread out over the two pages, the text being shoehorned to the far ends of the pages. The colours are yellow, black and white, evoking the imagery of a danger warning sign, implying that the magazine is radical or dangerous in some fashion. The font also evokes this, it is in a block serifs font, giving across both stylish flare and a sense of urgency. The central image, that of a club, is tinted black and yellow to remain consistent with the text, and also to appear lively and energetic. I will also frame one of my photos to appear to have lots of activity. In the image itself, the crowd is slightly off-centre, invoking the rule of thirds.  

Mixmag Double Page Spread Analysis

This double page spread from Mixmag is evenly divided between text and the image. The image portrays it's subject, reclining in a leather seat, demonstrating wealth and a lax attitude. The text is arranged in four columns. Though industry standard is three, clearly there was enough information exchanged to warrant a fourth column. There is also a small photograph, with text wrapped around it. As there is a limit on the amount of photos I am allowed to use, I may not use this. I will however be sure to take a photo of the subject matter of the feature article, asking them to pose in a particular manner with set dressing (mise-en-scene) as it would help relay the subject's character and personality.

Mixmag Cover Analysis

The front coevr of Issue 213 of Mixmag, rather than displaying any notable personality or group, shows a generic DJ from the back, making the cover abstract. The cover story isn't about any single artist, but rather the issue of how "today's DJ stays ahead of the game". The colours are mostly orange and blue, a colour scheme, interestingly, not upheld within the contents of the magazine itself. The subheadings are strewn across the far left and right of the page. I will make the colour scheme of the cover disparate from my contents page, as the cover of each issue of a magazine tends to be unique, and will also set the text to either side of my centre image.

Mojo Contents Analysis

The contents page of Mojo has it's text and images slanted, giving the page a disorientated, "radical" feel to it. The text of the contents is formatted to the centre, breaking some codes and conventions of standard magazine layout as most text is aligned to the left or right of the page. There are several inlay images, showing a pictoral representation of the contents of some pages. As many magazines do this, I will use this feature. 

Tillate Cover Analysis

TILLATE.com Magazine

The colours of the subheadings on the cover are all extremely vibrant, often using a gradient colour rather than a single colour. The centre image is surreal, depicting a man wearing a mirror-studded suit, a top hat and with a telephone wire wrapped around his neck. The letter “E” is replaced with a “3” occasionally, and the font sometimes changes between subheadings. This gives the magazine an eclectic, eccentric feel to it, fitting as the story is "one of dance's most flamboyant stars". I aim to recapture the surreal tone put across by this cover through the use of vibrant covers, and a front cover that isn't immediately connected to a story.

Preliminary Magazine Evaluation

In order to coincide with the conventions of other school magazines, my preliminary magazine showed a student at work as it's main image, as this will give the audience the impression of a studious, hardworking school. I have also used the main colours of the school (blue and white), on both the cover and contents as I wish to maintain consistency. The text of both the contents and cover is aligned to the far-left hand side of the page as that is the part of the magazine the audience will see first. As the specification required a photo of a student in mid-close up that is what I have produced.

In assembling the magazine, I learned how to use different layers within Photoshop, as well as the magneto lasso function. I also gained experience in using a digital camera specifically in order to edit them later in Photoshop, as well as taking lighting and shadow into consideration. I could improve upon this, as a photo I took of the school appeared dull due to the prevelance of shadow

Early Drafts of Contents and Cover

School Magazine Contents

School Magazine Cover

Conventions of School Magazines

Chapel High’s student magazine appears to have been designed in a cheap editing software such as Microsoft Publisher or Adobe Reader. The images and text both quite jarringly clash and the photographs don’t appear to have been edited. There is also no single central image. The magazine appears to have been developed with a smaller, local community in mind rather than national publication.

The contents page follows the red and black colour scheme established by the front page. The contents are all aligned to the far left side of the page, as it is the part of the page that the audience wishes to see first. As this is not a professional publication, some spelling errors are noticeable “Diary of Ther Week”.

Fusion: Issue 1 however looks far more professional than Chapel High’s magazine, as it was designed by a professional graphics firm, and appears to have a wider audience in mind. The cover has a central image, which as clearly been edited to be a silhouette. The subheadings compliment the light red background, and are again set to the very far left as they will be the first things the audience will see.

The contents aren’t aligned to the far left, but occupy the entire page. The main font and layout of the page, featuring colourful banners at the top and bottom of the page is used throughout the magazine. Each page varies in colour, but layout is the same as the magazine covers a wide variety of topics.

Bishopbriggs Academy Magazine is also designed unprofessionally, though is still in keeping with many traditions of magazines. There is a blue and white colour scheme designed to fit with the school’s logo. The logo contains the colour green which is noticeably absent from the magazine, showing some consideration for graphic design. The cover however lacks any strong central image, but what images it does have involves a group of students smiling whilst engaged in some sort of activity.

The contents page is bare, containing only the text and no images. The text is all blue to contrast against the white page and blend with the blue-and-white colour scheme established beforehand.