Target Setting

The target of my project is to get it finished. To apply my photoshop knowledge to images and edit them to a high standard for my magazine cover and the inside. I aim to use the rule of thirds in my photograph for the front cover to catch peoples attention.

Audience Research

I need to carry out some audience research in order to produce a successful front cover.

In order to do so, i need to ask people a set of questions.

1. Do you read magazines? If so, which ones?

Freya: Yes, Gossip and fashion magazines.

Megan: Yes sometimes not that often though, i either read like gossip ones or fashion ones like vogue.

Jane: Yes, i read magazines such as OK! and ones which are filled with gossip.

2. How often do you read magazines?

Freya: Once a month maybe.

Megan: Once or twice a month, not very often.

Jane: Nearly every week as i buy a bundle packed which includes 3 magazines in it.

3. What attracts you to picking up and buying a magazine?

Freya: Mainly the stories inside it and the colours that are shown on the front cover.

Megan: The colours, bright attractive colours, especially in the summer when they use bright colours, and offers such as 10% off deals.

Jane: The stories inside, i don't always buy the same magazines, it totally depends on what is featured on the front cover for that issue.

4. What kind of stories do you like to be featured on the front?

Freya: Gossip, like shock ones like 'My Mum Married My Brother' and celebrities putting on weight.

Megan: Things like images zoomed in on celebrities armpits or spots and promotional things.

Jane: I enjoy reading stories about bad things that have happened in peoples lives, and celebrity gossip.

I am going to use this information for when i produce my magazine front cover and double page spread as the double page spread will be included on the front cover.

Mood Board

This is the mood board that i have created for my magazine.

I have chosen these images for several different reasons.

My magazine will be a music/fashion magazine and i have created this mood board in photoshop using a variety of different techniques.

I have used several singing celebrities to show that it is for a music magazine and on the other hand i have featured models such as Kate Moss on here.

To tie the two together i have included people such as Lady GaGa and Michael Jackson, of whom people believe them both to be fashion and music phenomenas.

Overall, i think this is a good thing to base my magazine around.

Front Cover Ideas

In order to have a successful front cover i need to have a few rough ideas and choose the one which i believe will work better for my magazine.

Having a medium close up shot of the 'model' will work best, and is the type of shot that needs to be included on the front of my magazine anyway.

I aim to approach several of my friends, some of which are models that could potentially be included on the front cover.

For the preliminary task, i aim to have a reasonably standard looking front cover with a bit more detail on the contents page although i need to include some of the stories on the front cover as this (along with the image) is what will be attracting the consumers attention.

The mast head for the school magazine does not really need to be on the top left hand side of the front cover as the magazine will only be issued to students of the school and potentially parents as well. Therefore it wont be the first thing that a consumer will see like, for example, on a shelf in a shop.

I am going to use one of my friends on the front cover that i know are photogenic as i believe this will add to the look of the magazine, also, other students will recognise them and are therefore more likely to read the articles within.

I have a few ideas for featured stories but i will make a note of them at a later date.