Original Billboard idea

My billboard has been altered by changing some colours and and removing some features. First of all, i removed the phrase, 'Fashion is what makes us who we are'. This is because in my opinion, this does not need to be there, seen as though Billboards are meant to be spacious and more imagery than text. So, taking it away will allow the regional image background to be more noticeable. Also, i feel this phrase makes the billboard look less organised and slightly messy, rather than spacious.

In addition, i changed the colour of the fonts at the bottom of the page. I done this, as i wanted to make sure my Billboard connected to the magazine product i made. So, they look part of the same Fashion Brand ( Essence Fashion). In this case, i turned the top and bottom lines of the text at the bottom of the billboard to the same colour as the background shade of my magazine pages. Also, i changed the middle line to the colour, 'white' to connect  to the title colour of the Billboard.

Original double page spread idea

My final Double page spread is slightly different, i that i changed the Puff to logos of attractions in the North east, like Cineworld and Costa offers. The reason for this is because they relate to my target audience feedback and stand out more than the Puff used on this draft.

We can notice that the text inside is very small and doesn't capture the audience's attention instantly. Therefore, changing this feature to regional attractions would appeal more to the audience, as they are easier to see and it's something they enjoy doing.

The billboard

This is my final billboard result. I like how i have given the billboard a theme of 'Creativity', it allows the billboard to have a positive impact towards the audience, as the style is unique and blends textures and colour tones well.

I love the level of colour the billboard goes into it. For example, the yellow tones in the billboard, enlighten the exposure of the main image and text. Plus, the pink tones used as a reflection of the bridge in the background, regional image, increase the vibrancy of the design.

Using bold upper case font for the brand name/ title and the text at the bottom of the billboard, allows the typography to stand out and capture the audience's attention. As well as this, the colours i have selected for the font connect well with my magazine product, as the colour relates to the background of the magazine pages. So, the billboard looks a part of it. Furthermore, the white font contrasts and it eye catching against the dark colour of the background.

The idea of the billboard being creative links to the 'Fashion' theme of my product. So, this idea is expressed within the design of the billboard.

Lastly, the logo of 'Essence Fashion' is another feature that connects to my magazine because it allows the reader to recognise and come familiar with it, so that when they see the logo somewhere else, they know its 'Essence Fashion'.

The conclusion to my Billboard result, is that i like how it is unique and advertises an event within the North east. I feel this is a way of telling the audience the fashion company is regional in only the north east. I also like the style of image i have chosen, as it's composition is different to the other images i have used in my magazine. It's taken slightly to the side as a mid shot.

The Double page spread

Here is the final result for my double page spread. Using many features like banners, logos, quotations and artistic techniques like bold and unique font styles, I was able to make the double page spread exciting and creative.

To begin with, personally, i feel the outcome of my double page spread is bold and contrasting. Enabling, the main important features and information to stand out and become the main focus. The experimentation of typography use is used widely. With a variety of different fonts made from 'Da font'. For my article, i made the font style 'cursive' to relate to the theme of 'creativity' and fashion in my magazine. However, i picked a font that was suitable and readable to the audience. For mast heads, quotes and advertisements, i used bold typography to capture attention.

The article discusses the way the model, 'Bethany Coyles', has made her way to a successful career path. As well as personal experience. In addition, the article comes across in an interview manner. Such as, using emotive language that is given to the audience to allow the model to sound like an inspiration.

The main headline uses language like alliteration, to make it eye catching and persuasive to the audience. quotations are used like "My life turned into a dream'', to give a hint of what the article is about before reading it and make the words imaginative. This is another persuasive technique towards the audience and is emotive, using terms like 'Real me' as well. In other words, 'It's who i am'.

I have included logos of regional attractions on my double page spread. Taking my audience feedback into consideration. I thought of their likes and hobbies and decided to use these as a form of advertising. For example, i used the 'Costa coffee' logo, as many people of my target audience genre like costa coffee. This was proven in my audience feedback post. As well as this, i included, the 'Cineworld' logo, seen as though there is a one in Boldon, tyne and wear. Also, the 'Intu Eldon square' logo, as this is regional shopping centre in the north east ( Newcastle). So, this shows i have thought about how i can engage my target genre of audience into reading my double page spread.

social media logos are another feature i used to advertise more areas and gossip on 'Essence magazine'. Therefore, i can gain more of an audience from this, as people may prefer to follow us on social media than read magazines, Allowing the magazine brand to become popular. Furthermore, i added the magazine logo to my double page spread, which is receptive throughout my magazine, so that it can become recognised by the audience.

Finally, the main image is a long shot, rather than a close up /mid shot like my front cover and contents page. This shows experimentation within the photoshoot i had taken and a wide image style use. Personally, i like this image in how a chair (prop) is used. This reflects a real model pose and looks official.

Leading on from this, i plan to create my billboard and web page. So, that i have the full media product. Continuing research and development of my knowledge for fashion products.

The contents page

This is the final outcome for my contents page. I feel it has many contrasting affects through the use of colour and textures.

To begin with, I have used a black and white main image, i done this using a 'filter' on photoshop. Then gradually increasing the brightness and contrast levels, as well as darkening darker areas and lightning whiter colours, using the 'curves' and 'levels' tool. This idea of using black and white against coloured features, allows the magazine contents page to look both modern and traditional, allowing opposites to be created.

As for the main title, i have used a deep red font colour, connecting to the other features on the magazine. As well as a bold, upper case font, to represent and make the title eye catching.

Again, i have included the logo on the contents page, for the audience to recognise and to identity the magazine brand. The date notifies the reader that the magazine is up to date. This is something i have made repetitive, as i used it on my front cover.

The styles of fonts i have experimented with is wide. Using the website 'Dafont' to download the fonts into Photoshop. I downloaded the styles, 'Starfish', which i used for the word 'Contents'. This added a creative affect to the page, expressing the creativeness of the theme 'Fashion'. It also added a cursive and unique font, different to the others used.

The index includes many features and stories within the magazine and gives the reader an indication of what the magazine is about. moreover, The features of the index, include, offers, tips and stories of fashion, that may attract and engage the reader into reading the magazine. I have also added the page numbers of the stories and index features because this makes an easy access for the reader to flick to the page they want to read, rather than reading the whole magazine until they get to it. In addition, the colours i have used as a background for the index, are the colours grey and brown, this is because it contrasts with the background colour/ fill colour of the contents page. I used the colour shade, 'Maroon red' to highlight the more important information, in which, i wanted the audience to notice first.

Moreover, i chose to use the dame background colour for my contents page as i used for my front cover. This is because when pages are put together they look connected and are relative to each other. So, the audience can recognise the pages are from the same magazine and look professional.

The puff advertises discount on the fashion store, 'H&M'. This is an important source of information. So, in this case, i decided to use an eye grabbing feature for it. Using an upper case font style to grab attention.

In the banner at the bottom of the page, i have added the web address, which is an extra source of advertising for my magazine brand. I used a banner on the front cover as well and i i find this feature quite professional and it adds quality to the contents design. The typography contrasts with the deep red banner colour. So, it stands out and is noticeable.

Lastly, i have included the quotation, " Style is a hobby". This is a form of persuasive language as it is a quote which i will use in my double page spread article. So, it gives the audience an insight of the article inside the magazine. The language is brought across using a metaphor, as 'style' isn't a hobby. Although, using this term, makes the magazine exciting and fascinating. as well as unique.

Overall, i am happy with my contents page, as it gives a lot of information. However, it doesn't look overcrowded. So, i have thought in depth about the design of the page. I will continue onto my double page spread and consider colour tone, contrast, imagery, quotation and language, to make it appealing to the audience i am targeting my magazine to ( young females).

Original Flat plan for front cover

Original Flat plan for front cover of magazine

 New flat plan for front cover of    magazine

original ideas for front cover of magazine

 

When designing my front cover for my fashion magazine, i experimented a few times with different fonts styles and coloured/ filled backgrounds, using photoshop.



To start with, i chose to design my front cover using a 'black and white colour scheme'. The reason for this, is because it represents editing techniques. however, i found the magazine would have more of an impact using the main image in colour and increasing brightness and contrast levels. as well as this, colour tone would stand out more using a colored main image.

Next, i decided started to design a magazine cover using the same image in colour and using a pale grey background/ fill colour. Therefore, i could use light colored font and dark coloured font with this background shade, as it is a colour that would allow my typography colour to be flexible. i downloaded the font, 'Starfish' from 'Dafont' and used it for my title. When using it on the front cover, i noticed the font was very cursive and did not look very bold and intense. the first thing that captures the audience's attention is the Title of the magazine, so it needs to be bold and eye-catching. As well as this, seen as though the font was cursive, i thought this may be difficult for some readers to see and read. So, i changed it to a more bold and intense font style.

I then moved onto choosing a pale green colour scheme for the background, rather than grey because i found this worked better, giving the cover a little bit of colour and creating a stronger contrast with the text on the page. This colour also relates to my target audience. Pale green is a popular female colour when it comes to fashion and it is connected to all types of female, wether they are very lady like or not so lady like.

The front cover

  

This the final outcome for my front cover of my fashion magazine. Personally, i am pleased with the result of the cover because it has many successful features like contrasting colours, bold text/ typography, official features such as a price, barcode, date, issue number and web address. These features are what engage the audience into reading the magazine and make it eye catching. I love the idea of the main image being a close up and the pose of the model making eye contact with the audience. This is another persuasive technique.

The colour scheme of the magazine will be light background colours that aren't so bold to allow the main features to stand out. Also, with my audience being young females wanted to create a colour that would be suitable for all females. For instance, if i'd used the colour 'Pink' as a background, it would only attract females with  'girly' characteristics but not all females are pink lovers as such, so i thought outside the box to how i would attract a wider range of females into reading my magazine by using a pale green/ turquoise blue. Attracting an audience is done  through the front cover, as it's the first page the audience notice of the magazine. So, it needs to be to a high standard. 

We can regognize that the fashion magazine is regional through the quotation ' The North East's biggest Fashion show yet'. This also represents the theme of magazine, which is 'fashion'. It's noticeable that the word 'Fashion' is repetitive on the front cover. The purpose of this, is to get the point across to the audience that the magazine is fashion based.

the banner at the bottom of the page, gives the audience a little indication of what the magazine consists of inside. Although, it doesn't give too much away, that is ruins the magazine. It's a way of getting the audience to want to read it to find out more.

As for the main headline, we can see this is important because it is in a different colour to most features on the page and is in a larger scale of text. the phrase uses both emotive and persuasive language. That is given using a metaphor and alliteration. 

i really like the logo i have created for my magazine. Personally, i think it contrasts well with the other colours used the cover. I created this using the software, 'Microsoft powerpoint', creating a circular shape and adding text and lines to it. The  front cover is the first place where the audience can notice the logo. So, i have included it on this page, so that the audience would know the brand of magazine if they saw it on another product. i will repeat this logo throughout the magazine, as a form of identification for the magazine title, 'Essence'. 

The outcome of my front cover in my opinion is strong and engages the audience well. I plan to stick to fixed colour scheme, relating my other magazine pages ( contents page and double page spread), to the front cover. This is so that the product can come together well and be noticed as one whole design.