Evaluation No.4

"What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product."

The technologies that I have learnt out about in the process of constructing this product incorporates: blogging, as on here, to note my actions to create this media project of a student magazine. I used Photoshop to edit the main image (the mid-close up photo) and constructed the rest of the front cover by adding on the text and features. in this programme too. I used Clarkepress to create the contents page, where I found out that you must use a white background to save ink; because this is what most contents pages that I researched beforehand did. The main problem that I had was making sure that my main image was definitely a medium close up, as this is one of the main conventions which magazines follow. Also, the layers in Photoshop were hard to keep track of, but I have learnt to crop, edit, apply text etc, in this programme; basically mastering the main known aspects of Photoshop.

Evaluation No.3

"How did you attract/address your target audience?"

As previously mentioned, I attracted my target audience of students by adapting the features on the cover to suit their appeal. For example, I used a Sans Serif font for the mast head to give an informal feel. The main image (which is of me taken by my project partner) is seen by the audience as a student, just like them - this makes it identifiable to the audience and more personal to them. Also, I used a variety of bright colours which stand out against each other, because youthful people like boldness and brightness.

Evaluation No.2

"Who would be the target audience for your media project?"

The target audience for my media project on student magazines is aimed specifically for teenage boys and girls, aged 16 - 19. I made sure that it was designed for both genders so that the magazine would gain more popularity and profit. The types of psychographic traits that I thought of were simply to be suited towards students, being either the radicals (where someone thinks of themselves as mainstream) or/and achievers, (who are people that want to constantly challenge themselves). Furthermore, I was aware that these radicals and achievers would most likely fall into the social value's categories of materialists, (where you have something now but pay later), and /or hedonists, (where you play and enjoy life in the present moment). Students could get anywhere on the Jicnars scale (levels of job importance) when they are older, so I was aware that my magazine would have to be adaptable to that and consist of varied information to try and guide any readers' aspirations.

Evaluation No.1

"In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?"

My magazine is not very different from other student magazines, because in my opinion, no matter who the target audience is (regarding age or gender), it is still aimed for the students - which will only be a certain age range. Therefore, the main-sells and cover-lines are always going to cover the same general aspects.
My main image was taken by the person who I was working with on this project. She took a photo of me because I am, myself a student, and therefore represent the audience (of students) who would look at this magazine. The fact that I am smiling in this photo connotes that being a student is enjoyable and rewarding. The masthead sign denotes as a large San Serif font, connoting as it being approachable for my younger audience because it appears 'less formal.' My main sell denotes as bright, bold, contrasting black and pink capital letters; confidently stating 'WHAT NEXT?' This connotes as the most important part of this issue's magazine of which students of all levels should be constantly thinking about in the back of their minds, signifying as to why it is made to appear so important on this cover.
In the making of this magazine, some forms and conventions were challenged, but eventually we tried to make it look as realistic as possible in comparison with previous student magazines that I researched beforehand. I had to make sure that the main image was a distinctive close up and that the proportions of the text and features were balanced out correctly, with the use of colour also kept considered on a constant basis.

Cover/Contents Page

Final Cover Page:

Contents Page with Text Boxes:

Final Contents Page:

Planning

Planning of the Magazine Cover:

• Connotations
• Importance of exams
• Revision tips
• Balance between school and social life
• Where you can use your student card and get students discounts
• What to do when you leave college

Audience:

• Students, aged 16-19
• Gender - Both

My Rough Drawn Plan:

This is a scan of my roughly sketched plan, which was aimed to outline the main aspects that I would definitely use on my cover page. I plan to use DaFont to download my Masthead's font, in Sans - Serif. This is because Sans - Serif consists of rounded edges to the letters, which is appealing to my targeted younger audience. I made sure that I noted down where everything would go, in a rough position; being the masthead, cover-lines, strap-lines, screamers, freebies, splashers, puffs, barcodes, issue number, price, website, main sell and main image. I plan to have a colour scheme that is quite bright and cheerful to attract my youthful audience. Also, I am aiming to make sure that I include all of the main ideas that I have originally put forward for the magazine. This magazine shall be built around my target audience of 16 to 19 year olds, for both boys and girls; because it is for both genders, I must make sure that the colour scheme is not too much for just boys or girls alone.

My Steps to Making this Magazine is:

• Use an SLR to take a photo of someone for the main image.
• Photoshop the image so that the subject has got completely clear skin.
• Use photoshop again to add the rest of the items onto the cover page.

• Use Quark Express to create the contents page.