CLOSING POST

Dear Moderator,
You will find my research and planning work under the A LEVEL NEA RESEARCH AND PLANNING label, found on the right hand side. I hope you enjoy reading.
Abbie
This blog is now closed.

POST 10: REFLECTIONS ON FINISHED OUTCOMES/TARGET AUDIENCES RESPONSES

Below are my finished outcomes.

Target Audience Reactions

In order to discover the reactions of the audience to my production, I created surveys and gave them to 10 members of my target audience to fill in. I selected 5 males and 5 females; 3 of them were 17 years of age, 1 was 19, 2 were 20, 2 were 22 and 2 were 24. This enabled me to get reactions from a range of different members of my target audience. I emailed each member individually with a survey, my final products and a link to my website and then had them send a picture of their completed survey back to me. Below are two of these surveys, one the most positive review I received and the other the most negative review I received.

From the surveys I have learnt that my target audience have enjoyed my representation of diversity and the ease of use of the website. Most people in the survey enjoyed the opportunities for interaction, with comments that the social media content played a large part of their engagement with the magazine. Next time I would consider the idea that the layout of my website would change slightly on different devices, like mobile phones. I would also try to make my magazine appeal to members of my target audience who are new to fashion, rather than those who are already engaged with it.

I believe I have met all of the demands of the brief in that I have created two covers and contents pages of the first two issues of a magazine that were created for retail sale and is an appealing magazine to my 'culturally sophisticated, 16-25 class AB demographic' target audience. My final production has been carefully planned and inspired by the research that I have done into magazine audiences, industry, codes and representations and I feel as though I have fulfilled my own intentions in creating a strong sense of brand identity due to both the house style and the representation issues that I have selected to raise in my production.

I believe that my production is an effective example of a convergent and interactive cross-media production, as it includes use of shared articles across the magazine's social media presence and as all of my online and social media platforms work synergistically to push the audience to purchase the magazine by including an image of the front cover of all of these platforms.

POST 9: 2nd WEBPAGE

In this post I will provide the planning behind the second page of my magazine's website as well as the inspiration behind it.

Below is the fashion page that inspired the main image and layout of my own.

Below is the draft of my magazine's website second page.

Below is the mock up of my magazine's website second page.

Below are shoot boards with my casting and costume choices.

The second page of my website will share the minimalist and sophisticated design of my house style as well as including the diversity that is part of my brand's ideology. It will converge with the other products as it includes the articles found on my social media pages.

Upon reviewing my second page, my teacher suggested that I could;

• Include a home page button on the fashion page,
• ensure that the link between the article and the audio-visual content was clear,
• ensure all of my models are looking at the camera,
• make the street style images become larger when clicked on and include some copy about the article. 

I responded to this review by;

• including a home button on all of my pages,
• adjusting the titles of my articles in order to clearly link them,
• replacing an image of one of my models with another image of them where they are looking at the camera,
• added more copy to my street style article and made the images get larger when clicked, as well as making this larger image include some copy that includes a quote from each individual and the prices of some of the articles of clothing that they are wearing. 

Below are screen grabs of my magazine website's second page.

POST 8: WEBSITE HOMEPAGE

In this post I will provide the planning behind the home page of my magazine's website as well as the inspiration behind it.

Below is the home page that inspired the main image and layout of my own.

Below is the draft of the layout of my magazine's website home page.

Below is the mock-up of my magazine's website homepage.

The home page of my website will share the minimalist and sophisticated design of my house style as well as including the diversity that is part of my brand's ideology. It will converge with the other products as it includes the cover article of the magazine's first issue. It will contain links to all of my social media pages and the cover itself will be found on all of my social media platforms.

Upon reviewing my homepage, my teacher suggested that I could;.

• embed the magazine cover onto the page,
• include a social media feed,
• ensure that all of the articles are in the correct tense.

I responded to this review by;

• adding a Twitter feed,
• placing a image of my magazine's cover next to the masthead,
• corrected the tenses of my articles.

Below are screen grabs of my magazine website's home page.

Below are screen grabs of my magazines social media accounts.

POST 7: MAGAZINE EDITION 2: COVER AND CONTENTS PAGE

In this post I will provide the planning behind the second issue of my magazine's cover and contents page as well as the inspiration behind it.

Below is the cover that inspired the main image and layout of my own magazine cover.

Below is a draft of the layout of the cover of my magazine's second issue.

Below is a mock up of the front cover of my magazine's second issue.

Below is a draft of the layout of this issue's contents page.

Below is the mock-up for this issue's contents page.

Below is a shoot board with my casting and costume choices.

The cover page of my second issue will share the minimalist and sophisticated house style of my production as well as including the diversity that is part of my brand's ideology, through the main feature of a female photographer.

Below is the first copy of the cover page.

Upon reviewing this, my teacher suggested that I could;

• include magazine strapline,
• make sure that there is reference to a male presence,
• remove 'all new' as it is the second edition,
• add some colour variation to the text,
• make the text more visible,
• make the image more saturated.

I responded to this review by;

• including the magazine strap line to the right of my masthead,
• including a sub line that references a male reporter,
• made the strap line a pink to add colour variation and match the background,
• removed 'all new',
• made the main image more saturated,
• added effects to the text to make it more visible.

Below is my final cover page, having made use of this review.

Below is the first copy of the contents page.

Upon reviewing this, my teacher suggested that I could;

• ensure that the sections are in the same order across the two contents pages,
• add colour variation to the text,
• check industry conventions,
• ensure that there are enough articles that capture male interest.

I responded to this review by;

• adjusting the order of the sections to match the other contents page,
• made the sub lines a grey colour to add variation,
• included text outlining the cover pages photography, including details on the photographer, model and costume. 

Below is my final contents page, having made use of this review.

POST 6: MAGAZINE EDITION 1: COVER AND CONTENTS PAGE

In this post I will provide the planning behind the first issue of my magazine's cover and contents page as well as the inspiration behind it.

Below is the cover that inspired the main image and layout of my own magazine cover.

Below is a draft of the layout of my magazine front cover.

Below is a mock up of my magazine front cover.

Below is a draft of the layout of my contents page.

Below is a mock-up of my contents page.

Below are shoot boards with my casting and costume choices.

The cover page of my first issue will share the minimalist and sophisticated house style of my production as well as including the diversity that is part of my brand's ideology. It will converge with the other products as the cover article will be found on my website home page and the cover itself will be found on all of my social media platforms.

Below is the first copy of the cover page.

Upon reviewing this, my teacher suggested that I could;

• include the magazine strap line,
• include more reference to a female presence,
• include some more colour variation of the text,
• make sure that cover lines are the same size,
• make the text of the cover lines more visible.

I responded to this review by;

• including the magazine strap line to the right of my masthead,
• including a sub line that references a female reporter,
• made the 'all new' and strap line a blue to add colour variation and match the background,
• adjusted the size of the cover lines,
• added effects to the text to make it more visible.

Below is my final cover page, having made use of this review.

Below is the first copy of the contents page. 

Upon reviewing this, my teacher suggested that I could;

• include some colour variation in the text,
• check to ensure that I haven't missed any industry conventions,
• ensure that there are enough articles targeting each gender,
• ensure that the language used in the cover lines is powerful,
• ensure that the sections are in the same order on both contents pages. 

I responded to this review by;

• adjusting the order of the sections to match the other contents page,
• made the sub lines a grey colour to add variation,
• included text outlining the cover pages photography, including details on the photographer, model and costume,
• included more powerful language in my cover lines.

Below is my final cover page, having made use of this review.

POST 5: PROPOSAL/RESPONSE TO BRIEF

In this post, I shall outline the demands of the brief and state how I am going to respond to them in my own production.

The product is the first two editions of a new fashion magazine. It is being produced by an independent production company and launched by Bauer and is intended to be sold in retailers. Its target audience is a culturally sophisticated, 16-25 class AB demographic and this must be reflected in the diverse range of fashion issues and styles included in the magazine. There must also be a website that promotes the magazine to the target audience and enables them to interact with the content. There must be a clear sense of branding across the two products.

The two magazine covers and contents pages must include:

• four different main images,
• using original photography,
• editing of photos, text, graphics, typography and layout,
• written text including masthead, cover lines, selling lines, headlines, caption, subtitles and copy, 
• a different setting for each cover,
• different material on each contents page,
• at least two models from at least two different social groups,
• a call to action pointing readers to the website. 

The website homepage and linked page must include:

• at least two original images that promote and reinforce the brand identity of the magazine,
• appropriate conventions of website design,
• text introducing the main features of the online website,
• working links from the homepage to the other page,
• a range of appropriate media techniques,
• original audio or audio-visual content.

Below is an overview of my response to the brief and some of the decisions that I have made surrounding my own production. 

Title: Spotlight

Tagline: One to watch

My magazine will be inclusive of all genders, with focus on power, pride and independence as well as including a range of ethnicity and sexuality, making the magazine a true representation of diversity.
Independent Production Company: AR Magazines
Focused on creating high quality magazines with unique and exciting features that break from traditional ideals of print media.

Overview of Magazine Issue 1
My first magazine issue will be the culture issue and will feature a MCU of an Asian male model in a suit, looking directly into the camera. He will be on a plain colour background with a gradient. The headline will include an intertextual reference to the film 'Crazy Rich Asians', as the model is an actor in the film and the cover lines will be focused on fashion with a reference to a female presence in order to present the magazine's unisex nature. The contents page will include cover lines that follow the theme of the culture issue and these will be sorted into four sections; On the Cover, Fashion, Beauty and News. The contents page will have three images; one of an Asian female against a wall background, one of the same male found on the cover of the magazine and a final image of an item of clothing. Both cover and contents page will have a clear and sophisticated style and will share the same fonts and masthead. Below is the inspiration for my first cover.

Overview of Magazine Issue 2
My second magazine issue will be the talent issue and will feature a MCU of female model in a black shirt, looking directly into the camera. She will be on a plain colour background. The headline will include a reference to emerging talent in fashion design and photography, as the model is a promising female photographer and the cover lines will be focused on fashion with a reference to a male presence in order to present the magazine's unisex nature. The contents page will include cover lines that follow the theme of the talent issue and these will be sorted into four sections; On the Cover, Fashion, Beauty and News. The contents page will have two images; one of the same female found on the cover of the magazine and another image of an item of clothing. Both cover and contents page will have a clear and sophisticated style and will share the same fonts and masthead. Below is the inspiration for my second cover.

Overview of my Magazine's Homepage
My magazine website's homepage will include the magazine's masthead at the top of the page to clearly establish the Spotlight identity. Beneath this there will be buttons, which lead to my websites other pages and links to the magazine's social media pages. There will be three articles on this page, each with an image, a headline and copy. The first will be an article about the cover star of the first magazine issue, the second will be on the LGBT+ community and fashion, and the final one will be on the latest fashion brand releases. Below is the home page that has inspired my own.

Overview of my Magazine's Second Page
My Magazine website's second page will be the website's fashion page and will include the magazine's masthead at the top of the page to clearly establish the Spotlight identity. There will be a large banner underneath navigation bar, introducing it as the fashion page. There will be two articles that link to each other on this page, each with a headline and copy. The first will be an article on street style, with images of three models and the second will be audio-visual content in the form of a behind the scenes video of the above article. Below is the fashion page that has inspired my own.

Digital Convergence and Brand Identity
My production will be digitally convergent due to the integrated nature of all of my online spaces, they will all link to each other. They will also link by including the same images and articles so they will be working together synergistically in order to create media storm around the articles. They will also share articles that are found in the magazine, and the front cover of the current issue will be available to view on all online platforms to encourage the audience to purchase the magazine. My production will show a strong sense of brand identity through the use of a minimalist style across all of the products and through the use of the same masthead on all of my print and online products. The brand identity of challenging the norms of cultural expectations, such as the break from 'white beauty' in my first issue, will also be present in all of my products, clearly showing the brands values. Below are some examples of digital convergence that have inspired my own production.