Layout Ideas for Contents Page

Here are some ideas for my layout for my contents page, I have used power-point to construct these. I have experimented with use of images and text boxes. Some of my ideas are more text dominated and others are more focused on the images. 

  

Contents Page Research

There are many key conventions to follow when constructing a contents page. I am going to carry out detailed research into existing products to help me construct my own. I am going to look at various magazines especially popular music magazines as this is what genre my magazine fits into.

This is a collage I have made using music magazines contents pages such as:

• Spin
• MOJO
• Billboard
• Blender
• Q
• NME
• Vibe

I have chosen a variation as some have very minimalist contents pages with little text and are image dominated such as 'Blender' and 'Spin'. Whereas the others are busier with a lot of text around the contents pages such as 'Q' and 'NME'. I think I prefer 'MOJO's' as it has some text but the image also seems large and important on the contents page.

I have picked out the Key Conventions of a Contents Page:

• A title of contents that stands out e.g made bold.

• A main image or object that draws your eye to it.

• Page numbers that aren't in chronological order relating to the content of the magazine.

• House style which usually follows the front cover, the rest of the magazine and the colour scheme.

• Structured layout which is clearer and flows. Has been created using grids/ guidelines.

• Columns vertical rows of text, usually more than one but less than four.

• Blurb of contents which shows main stories and cover line info and images. 

• Date and issue no. showing the reader regular information.

• Pug/starburst with subscription information about getting the magazine regularly.

I especially like these two contents pages as they have strong dominant images which are the main focal point of the page.The colours are kept minimal and they have plain/white background. The double page contents page looks effective as it has black filled text boxes with the page numbers in a red box. This makes them stand out so the reader can easily pin-point which page to turn to and which article it is too.

I want my contents page to look similar to these two but to also make sure that I adhere to the key conventions as well.

Double Page Spread

Interview with Elijah:

So, Elijah we’re so glad to finally meet you. You've become a media sensation in just a matter of weeks. How does it feel to have become famous so quickly?

I know it’s been an absolute whirlwind! I still can’t believe it, I never in a million years thought this would happen to someone as normal as me.  I can’t get over the fact people recognize me in public and ask for a photo *laughs in shock*. It still feels like a dream that I'm about to wake up from!

I bet you can’t! We can’t believe you’re only 19 and you've been signed already, what a fantastic achievement. How did it all come about?

Well, I've been performing small local venues and sometimes just in my town Centre since I've been 12 years old. I've always wanted more though, but never had confidence in myself to apply for an audition for a small record company let alone the likes of Syco! My friends kept saying how good I was and that I had something special and I should start posting on YouTube to create a fan base. So that’s what I did and that’s how I got spotted by Simon Cowell.. it felt surreal at the time, actually it still does!  

Sounds like you've got strong friends supporting you! Has anyone else inspired you to create your music?

I come from quite a musically talented family, my sister is a professional backing singer for Rizzle Kicks, and my Dad is a music examiner for RBSM and he can also play the piano. He has always encouraged my sister and me to join choirs and that kind of stuff from an early age so I guess my inspiration mainly comes from him!

Wow, he sounds like he’s been a pretty amazing Dad! Has he supported you the whole way through since you started performing?

Yes, he’s been so helpful and amazing to me. He bought me my own sound system and microphone for my 15^th Birthday! He’s also paid for my professional singing lessons and came along to every single gig I have had since I can remember, I owe him a lot.

So, everyone at Fusion wants to know, is Elijah really your name?

I'm afraid it’s not! *laughs* It is just my stage name; my real name is Elliott so it’s not far off! I love the name Elijah and it sounds really fresh and different. I chose it because it means the ‘The Strong Lord’ which I feel is how I have been brought up to feel like to aspire to be. So, there’s my big secret revealed *rolls eyes jokingly*.

Well, I'm glad that’s cleared up! You have such a distinct style both musically and the way you dress, if any, who would you compare yourself to?

Yeah I guess I am quite unique, with music I have a very broad taste. It ranges from Justin Timberlake to Jay-Z to the Arctic Monkeys! I have no specific taste in a particular genre of music but I do love when artists sing acoustic because that way you get to hear their voice raw without any beats. When it comes to fashion I do dress a bit randomly, I usually put on clothes that reflect how I am feeling. At the moment I am loving denim! Denim jacket, dungarees, denim shirts and jeans. You name it I've got it *laughs*. Although double denim is definitely a fashion crime! *cringes*.

Continued on next page

Fireworks Techniques

Here I am adjusting the text by 'kerning', 'leading', adding filters and the font size. This tools allow my text to look more professional and eye-catching to the reader. 

Front Cover Mock-Ups 

Black & White Theme

For my first mock up I have kept to black text so I can focus on the text which is going on the front cover. Later on I will add colour to achieve a distinct house style for my music magazine. I am experimenting with positioning, size and font of the text to see which looks most professional, and which best fit my brand identity. 

Added Teal for 'House Style'

Here I have added in some filters to the text such as 'drop shadows' which I have done on Fireworks. This makes the text stand out to the reader and makes it look more vibrant and interesting on the front cover. I have also added in some white transparent boxes which I have placed behind some of the text to make it easier to read behind a darker background.  

Further Photo Editing Using Photoshop & Online Photo-Editors

I have used fireworks, photo-shop and PIXLR. I have cropped the image and arranged it so a masthead and other text will be able to fit it around it. I adjusted the brightness/contrast and saturation of the image so it looks clearer and more vibrant. I used the 'blemish correcting' tool on photo-shop to remove any dark patches or blemishes. This makes the image look more professional and refined. 

For this image I got my inspiration from the photography in 'DAZED & CONFUSED' magazine as they use a lot of mise-en-scene and very vibrant make-up. I have chosen metallic coloured paint as I think this makes a statement and looks interesting as it is just on one side of the face.

This is showing how I edited the image in PHOTO-SHOP, I also used a pixel grid so it was easier for me to pin-point which sections needed editing. 

Development of Front Cover & Experimenting with Fireworks

I have chosen the best image from my photo-shoot and positioned it in the middle of the page so it is the main focal point for the reader.

I have chosen my music magazine name and also added the main artist's name and the headline. This gives me a good over all idea of what my finished product will look like.

Using guidelines has helped me to construct my front cover so the visual syntax flows well. Also I have been experimenting with the house style and colour scheme of the music magazine.

I have tried using white font on a grey background and this has allowed me to see how legible it is. I have also added filters to my text such as 'drop shadows' and 'glows'. I have also used black font on a white background this is very clear to read and I have also added a transparent box behind the headline.

Final Masthead Choices

I have chosen my magazine name which is going to be 'FUSION'. The definition of this word is 

"the process of joining two or more things together to form a single entity"

this is what my magazine is going to represent and is going to focus predominately on new and upcoming music artists and how various bands formed.

Mastheads & Edited Photos - Development

Here, I have just positioned my two potential mastheads with two of my favourite photographs to see which one looks best for my music magazine. Also this helps me to see where I can fit cover lines and head lines around the image. I have also faded the images by reducing the transparency levels which takes the main focus away.