Padlet Account

This is the link to my Padlet Account.

Stand First

I have cropped introductory paragraphs from a variety of music magazines, these are called 'Stand Firsts'.

Sometimes they are the first paragraph of the article or it is above the article and not in a column.

Page Furniture

• Pull Quote - a quotation from an interview placed in larger/bolder letters, usually controversial 
• Caption/Caption Header - a few words to explain the picture (the setting & who's in it)
• Drop Cap - a large letter at the start of the article to indicate where to start reading from
• Reader Interaction - gives the read info of how to get involved e.g Facebook Page
• Head Sell/Strap - the main headline/quote which is the title for the DPS
• Crosshead - info about the artist/celebrity which is inside a banner/arrow shape
• Byline - photographer & journalist given credit somewhere on the DPS
• Folio & Slug - the name of the magazine, issue date & page number in the corner of the page
• Information Bar - usually rectangles of information about artists songs or facts about them

Here are some secondary image examples of page furniture I have found from music magazines such as MOJO, KERRANG, NME, MIXMAG & Q.

Double Page Spread Layout Ideas

 

 

 

These are 6 layout ideas I have produced on PowerPoint. I have varied the positioning of the text and images this makes them all unique. Some are more minimalistic whereas others are busier with more page furniture etc.

Transformation of Contents Page

This is how my contents page has transformed. I have followed a more conventional layout plan which works in vertical columns. I think it also flows better as the visual syntax is clearer due to the straight long column. I have added some further page furniture such as the name and page number to the quote, some contact info & subscription/editor info. This makes my contents page for my music magazine look more professional and like existing products already out there. I also feel my new contents page will appeal more to my target audience as it looks contemporary but has sufficient contents blurbs on the page. 

Codes & Conventions of a Double Page Spread

The codes and conventions of a double page spread in a magazine are:

•  A Large Image - the image used is usually direct address which entices the reader to buy the magazine because the music artist in the music magazine is looking directly at the audience, therefore it encourages them to buy the magazine. The main image on the double page spread is usually on the left however some magazines go against the conventions and put it on the right side.

• A Quote - a quote from the interview is sometimes presented as the headline, or buy the picture and sometimes it is even used in the text, to break it up. This is known as 'Page Furniture'. The quote used are usually rather controversial or shocking to grip the reader. 

• Celebrities Name - This is usually in bold or larger/different font to make it stand out more to the reader to grab their attention. 

• Stand First - This is an introductory paragraph to the celebrity that is included. Some readers may not know who the celebrity is just from the image, therefore introducing them would help the reader identify who the article is about.

• Text - all text on a double page spread is size 11 pt and is usually sans-serif style font. However, some magazines make the font connote the genre. All double page spreads have a drop cap which shows the reader when to start reading. The text is usually set into 2-4 columns. This is to make the text appear tidy and not all over the page. The page number, magazine name and text throughout usually use the same font this creates a distinct house style for the magazine.

• By-lines - these are put under the images to give credit to the photographer and writer. The headline that is used for the double page spread is always short, this is so it makes the reader intrigued.

• The article is written in informal mode of address therefore it relaxes the reader.

• Colour scheme - double page spreads follow the same colour scheme that is ran throughout the magazine, it is usually simple so it doesn't overpower the article. The name of the celebrity is highlighted by the colour most of the time. 

Double Page Spread Research

Existing Products - Secondary Images

I have been looking at various existing double page spreads in music magazines. The ones above are all from Q music magazine. They are all similar as most of them have a very large drop cap letter which takes up a large part of the page. I like the style of Q's double page spreads as they have a clear distinctive house style even though the images and text is different. They all have a large image which is usually on the left of the double page spread.

 This double spread is from KERRANG and I think the colour scheme works really well. It is easy to read and would relax the reader as all the answers are in white font against a black background and the questions are in red bolder font which stands out. It has the conventional page furniture: a large drop cap in a different colour to the block of text, the main image on the left hand page but bleeds into right page slightly. A large bold pull quote which acts as the title of the spread, a header sell at the top of the article with the band in bold capital letters, bylines to give credit to the writer and the photographer and a pull quote placed in the middle of the interview to grab the readers attention as it is a controversial quote "I needed to do this just to stay sane". This also breaks the large blocks of text down so it isn't as tedious to read.

I like these 3 examples of double page spreads because they have good visual syntaxes which makes the layout flow. They also all have clear colour schemes which most likely coordinates throughout the magazine. They all follow the key codes and conventions of double page spreads and they all have the necessary page furniture e.g. pull quote.

Final Front Cover

This is my final front cover with all final adjustments made. I am pleased with it because I feel it has developed step by step, also the strap lines and cover lines look symmetrical on either side of the image. I am going to continue the colour scheme of white, pink and black throughout the magazine. This will make my music magazine have a clear house style which will make it easily recognisable to my target audience. 

Front Cover Developments

I have decided to change the image on my front cover so it is more centre aligned. This will make the front cover more symmetrical which is a key convention. I have also altered the house style colour to make it
bright as the teal was a slightly dull colour and the pink gives the magazine more of a lift.

I have added some more cover lines to the left of the main image. This balances out the layout of my front cover which creates an effective visual syntax.

Contents Page Mock Ups

I have experimented with different images to see which one looks the most effective for my contents page. I think the image on the last contents page looks the best as the model is facing more of his body and face towards the camera this creates a good connection between the magazine and the reader as he is also making eye contact. 

Development of Contents Page

Here I am adding and adjusted filters to the text. I am using a grid to ensure my layout has an effective visual syntax. Also I have added guides so all my text looks tidy and doesn't get to close to the edge of the contents page.

I am going to add two columns of text and another image in the bottom right hand corner of the contents page.

This is the layout plan for my contents page. The image is represented by the X. I want my contents page to look minimalist but have sufficient information for the reader so they can easily navigate around the music magazine. I will need to add small details to the contents page such as the page number and the name of the magazine etc.