Time Management

Areas to improve:

• Change the magazine Double Page Spread
• Upload final draft of magazine Double Page Spread
• Plan and then write evaluations to upload on blog.

2nd Draft Contents Page

With the feedback I was given, I decided to redraft my contents page. I was given the feedback of: 

Strengths of this assessment: 

• Good variation of suitable images 
• Strong links to target audience. 

Areas to improve in this assessment/ targets for next piece of work: 

• Cover should be reflected on Contents 
• Some notes on page to consider

The notes on the page were: 

• Possibly consider aligning colour block with text 
• Possible a little too much dead space around the front cover and each of the page numbers surrounding it. 
• Good idea:the magazine website, but perhaps move it, it seems a little bit out of place where it is. 
• Page Number 

Before:

After: 

I decided to get rid of the arrows for each of the page numbers and then proceed to move the page numbers on the side of the corresopnding article. I have also moved the website underneath the contents page masthead, becasue it looked out of place where I had it previously. When doing this, I also extended the 'We Love Shopping' column and the 'All about you'/ 'Wins and Offers' column to close the gap between the original columns and the magazine Front Cover. This benefits the contents page, because it makes the columns easier to read and I can space each article out better without being cramped.
 I also changed the Front Cover image in the top left hand corner to match it to the actual Front Cover of that issue. 

Futher Research into Magazine Institutions

I think that it would be more beneficial to my magazine, if I had it published by Bauer Media, because they offer over 300 magazines in 15 countries, as well as online, TV and radio stations. The company is also built on personal relationships with engaged readers and listeners, meaning that they are very 'in touch' with their consumers, and listen to the things they want and need in a magazine. Bauer Media is very involved with their consumers and they know their demographic in depth. This is the thing I would be looking for when it comes to publishing my magazine. I would like a company that I could trust to publish my magazine and help concrete the longevity of my magazine in the future.

2nd Draft Front Cover

Using the feedback I was given from my lecturer, I have decided to change certain things about my magazine front cover.

Before:

After:

I have decided to reposition the barcode from the bottom right hand corner up to the top left hand corner just under the masthead. I then added pink stars behind the barcode to fill the black space up around the barcode. This then gives The Vamps headline more room in the bottom right hand corner, instead of being squashed up against the 5 Seconds of Summer cover line. This makes my front cover look almost cleaner that it did before, and it doesn't look as cramped and crowded as the before picture. 

I also decided to move everything up slightly, because when I first moved the barcode up to the top left hand corner, it looked too bare and forgotten about. 

Further research into my Demographic

I have decided to collect more research for my demographic, just to make sure that  I am including the most important factors when I am designing my covers and when it comes to changing anything if I need to.

Since I am designing a music magazine, I have decided to do some more research into the music that is in the charts at the moment, just to help me further understand my demographic and their likes and dislikes.

The music thats in the charts at the moment has a very upbeat, pop - influenced, 'mainstream' sound. The artists that are in the charts at the moment are mainly One Direction, Meghan Trainor, Bruno Mars, Ellie Goulding, Ed Sheeran, Jessie J etc.

However, the charts also includes music of other influences such as - pop punk/ rock, with bands in the charts such as 5 Seconds of Summer and Imagine Dragons.

I need to take these artists into consideration when re-designing my covers, because these are the factors that will cement my genre into being Pop.