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Well done Hiten, you are up to date with most of the research and planning work. Please look into your focus group audio file as it doesn't appear to be working.

Front Cover Sketch 2

This the second idea for my front page, its more of a free relaxed theme of my front cover which is simple but effective and eye catching. The masthead style would also be different the font and layout of it wouldn't be the same. This is just a backup idea at the moment during my planning process. The masthead is positioned differently to my first sketch, i did this to keep variety in my ideas, also this sketch has less images and information.

Double Page Sketch

This is a image plan of my double page, it has may typical features of a double page spread, such as big main images and smaller images, also the copy shown in typical blocks of copy, also i will have floating quotes in the middle of text. I aim to use one big main image, of my artist looking like shes performing, then followed by the Q and A article. with the effective use of the floating quotes, then i will use an additional one or two images. 

Contents Sketch

This is one idea of my contents page, i want to make it a busy layout which is very effective, i want to use allot of images which will make my contents page standout, i want to use the colours of blue and white which will continue from my front page, so my brand identity continues throughout my magazine, so when people pick up my magazine they straight away know its for Rhythm and Boom. Many of my ideas have come from looking at other successful and effective contents pages.

Main Cover Sketch

This is the main idea that i want to use for my front page, i am going to be using a big main which stands out, a cover line of the artist with additional sell lines which will attract more readers, and for my masthead i am going to make it look big and sophisticated in a shade of blue which attract males and females, my main image is going to be of a women.  My front cover is going to positioned over a white background. I will make tweaks to my design throughout my design process, this is just a general idea and overview of a plan which i will follow

Double Page Analysis 3

This double page spread article is based on the indie group art of darkness, the double page spread is very dark and mysterious, we see the group on the right hand side which consist of the 3 members of the band. With a masthead unconventionally on the left hand side of the page, then with the interview written article which is in continuous prose with direct speech as opposed to a popular and usual way of Q&A interview style which we normally expect to see from a music magazine which suggests a journalistic reportage style which signifies the bands importance as a group.  The masthead is a use of intertextuality (art of darkness) which may connote an enigmatic indie group. The lighting used in the photography reflects a mysterious sense which the use of the colours, which is very dark and the main image also gives off the vibe of mystery. The main has been positioned in a certain way which the two males are on either side of the female which is significant because the photographer is trying to show that the males are protecting the female. The female in the middle is dressed and looks androgynous due to the short hair and clothing. The sub headings are very useful and informative. In bold white it says ‘The XX’ we normally associate XX with expletives and X rated which may connote the group are rebellious and provocative. The main article is presented in a sophisticated manner which connotes it is aiming at an older and intelligent audience. Overall this double page spread is very unique and has a mystery theme running throughout it. It’s different from other double page spreads, also the group is aiming at a more niche target audience which is much older. 

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Hiten you have made a good start to the research and planning work.
Target: use the checklist to ensure that you complete all of the tasks by 18th Feb.

Main Article

Double Page Analysis 1

This is a double page spread from NME magazine with Lily Allen as the main article. The main image takes up half of the double spread, while half of the other page is floating quote and in the bottom left hand corner. It works very well because the layout is simple but effective, it strikes out the page.  Lily Allen is represented as a stereotypical rock artist, and this is shown through her appearance, body language and stance. Her hair is black with dark make up put on and wearing a combination of dark red and black shirt with her hands on her waist. This article depicts the genre of the music magazine as rock. Her posture is conveyed as she has no care for anything or anyone due to her hands put on her hips.  As she does that she looks directly in to the camera which shows her direct address. This double spread has typical characteristics of a music magazine because the article has been placed into columns also with a big heading.  The page has conventional features like the floating quote. The floating quote in this magazine is 'People think I'm an attention seeker, but I'm just honest' this quote is straight from Lily Allen which makes the reader aware of what might feature inside the article.The use of the floating quote is shown as a newspaper headline which could connote she is always in the news and it makes the floating quote look unique. NME's main article has unconventional features that we aren't used to seeing in a double page spread. one of these features would be the size of the main image Lily Allen which takes up most of one side. The interview is very small which may show that they are mainly focusing on the main image and the floating quote giving it a very visual effect. The article is presented in columns which is the most conventional way in which magazine present the text for the audience  to read. Other conventional features that the magazine is direct address it does this by the floating quote and through the main image where Lilly Allen is looking directly in to the camera.

Double Page Analysis 2

This is a double page spread for NME magazine. The layout is very visual and eye catching and looks very professionally produced.  I think NME are trying to attract a younger audience due to the title name ‘the teenagers’ and the visual effects and the colours which make it a preferred reading. The main colour used is the blue which is a unisex colour which can appeal to males and females, the use of the blue black and white go very well together as it jumps out of the page and attracts the eye. By using a few use of colours it keeps the page simple and effective. The use of blue connotes a youthfulness  of the article, also it uses the colour black which we normally associate with the rock genre

The layout and composition is very busy as loads of things are going on at the same time, but its not too busy that its hard to read, the main image focuses on 3 teenagers lying on a bed, the mis en scene of the room is typical of a teenagers room which makes it easier for the audience to relate to the main image.  We can tell they are part of a rock band due to the clothes they are wearing is typical of rock stars to be wearing skinny jeans, t-shirts and one of them is wearing a leather jacket these are typical clothes that rock band members tend to wear. The band The main article looks very short compared to the rest of the double spread, the double spread is very heavily visual, which teenagers like more. The main article is presented in columns which is a conventional in music magazines which looks very nice visually. Overall this article has strong typical conventions providing a very visual and good looking double page which is very attractive to look at and focuses on the genre and target audience very well.

Contents Page Analysis 2

This contents page is for the magazine vibe, it is shown as very plain and simple, but it works very well as a contents page because of the simplicity, the simplicity makes it unique and it stands out. Vibe produce more than one contents pages this is a second contents page out of 3, this allows the contents to be heavily focused on the photography which is mainly focused in this contents page. The use of copy is minimal, but with not allot of copy it does not inform the audience very well. The main image makes the contents page stand out the most, the mid shot image is of Movado; Movado is a Jamaican reggae musician, he is shown looking half dead with no pose at all, with his head tilted to the right.  There is a bare use of colour; it’s just black and white making the contents page looking very gloomy and plain. There is a second image on the contents page which is the front page but a smaller size image of it. The brand identity continues to run through the magazine from the front cover to the contents page, the colours of the black white and red. The contents page has a dark tone and connotation to it. The layout and composition is not busy at all, the copy has been minimal and the use of photography has taken over the contents page. Vibe have a unique feature that they only use so when you see their contents page you know it’s a vibe magazine contents page they do this by breaking up the word contents in too 3 words, this is a unique feature that sets out vibe differently to others. This contents page subverts the stereotypical features that you would expect to see from a contents page because it is very simple and mainly focuses on the photography rather than the copy.

Contents Page Analysis 1

This contents page is of drummer, the contents page strikes the reader as it is structured very well and has a very simple design with very good use of colours and layout, the layout and composition is very simple but it stands out and looks very bold which connotes strength and power, the first thing that attracts our eyes is the ‘drummer’ its big and bold and instantaneously we know what genre the magazine is aimed at. The ‘drummer’ stands out and it is very loud. I expect this magazine to be aimed at a younger audience because the use of lots of images makes it a very visual contents page which younger audience like more. The main image is of drums, this also jumps out of the page and it is very loud, there are loads of sub images of drums which connotes that is a rock magazine. The brand identity is very clear, and the use of colour is excellent, the consistent colours of red, black and white make the contents page elegant, sleek and simple. By using just a few colours it makes it look very professionally done, the deep red that is used is very catching which makes the audience notice it and read the contents page. Right in the middle of the contents page there is a sub heading in bold white saying ‘Exclusive’, this draws in the reader and excites them and informs them that there is a special piece in the magazine. Overall it is a very good contents page it stands out and attracts the reader and has a good use of typical conventions and features.

Thanks for adding me to your blog Hiten.