Evaluation – Question 7

The Preliminary & The Final product(front page)

(The Preliminary contents page and the Final product. I have now learnt how to construct text such

as the title of the contents page, in order to link with the masthead placed on the front cover. Creating a link such as reinforces and maintains corporate Identity. The link between the contents page and the masthead on the front page is that both text use the same colour scheme as well as font style.

Construction of imagesThe construction of the images is more professional and organised in the final product of the contents page. The main image used on the preliminary appears quite unprofessional in sense that cropping of the image is highlighted which makes the contents page look like an image rather than a contents page. Furthermore the images used in the contents page of the final product will be more appealing for an audience because they have been positioned in places in the contents page, and also the composition of the mise –en –scene for the images used is organised and they all link to the articles placed on them.

UNDERSTANDING OF LAYOUTFor the preliminary task the understanding of creating a layout before actually undertaking the production process of the creating the product was very limited. This is highlighted in my contents page as there are no subheadings (numbers) used to help the readers navigate their way through the product.

There are no numbers used to help readers navigate through their way through the product.

However, the placement of the contents page title which is positioned at the top of the contents page ( the preliminary task) shows there is some understanding in the conventionality of real media products; many real media products contents page title is usually positioned at the top of the contents page. What is more, the formation of a layout would first need a mock up (draft of potential layout) which would act as a template for the layout of the product. My preliminary contents page lacked this because, I did not create any mock ups in order to guide me in the process of creating the product. Below are two mock - ups (contents page and front page, in which I used as a template guide for the production process the final contents page and front page):

What could have worked better?The mistake that I made for my preliminary task was that there was a focus on the colour scheme of the contents page too much as an opposed to

the focus of creating an appropriate layout in order to make it look like a contents page rather than a poster.

A failure of the contents page is the colour scheme in which the colour of yellow has been used for the text. This is a failure because the yellow text merges into the background of the lighter colours on the contents page such as the green. This will make it difficult for readers to understand the information on the page. This is reason in which I used a series of images that worked well against the use of white space in my contents page for the final product. Also, for the final product I used colours such as black and red which would make it easier for readers to understand as there is no clash in text and image.

Understanding of layout (double page spread)

For the double page spread I used three columns in which the text would be divided into. Using this amount columns would mean a lot of text would be needed to fill up the space of the page, in order to make the placement of the enlarged letter look effective. I used this double page spread of a real media product to guide me in the construction of making the double page spread, as well as the mock – up. For the double page spread I also placed the main image on the left hand side of the double page spread so that it would act as an introduction to the topic of discussion on the next page.I also placed a pull – out quote into the interview to draw the readers attention to it but, however to also create interest for the readers. On top of the main image is a caption of who the people in the image are - again this is a conventional principle component that is used in many real media products.I also used a Stand – first on the second part of the double page spread to introduce the subject matter of the page which was an interview. However, I also used the Stand – first to introduce to the readers who would be in the interview.

Understanding the layout•The masthead has been placed in the left hand corner of the front page to create space for the main image. • The main image is the dominant principle component of the product because the musician in the product (the musician in red) has a direct gaze to the target audience which is effective in terms of communication with the target audience. However, the main image is dominant because there are not a wide range of cover lines used on the front page. The main image has been used as a principle component because the image speaks for itself, again , this is because of the musician in the image gaze with the target audience; the direct gaze to the target audience already creates a message for them. •The selling line of the product has been positioned right beneath the masthead in order to reinforce the institutions Ideology :‘Find your voice’. The idea of the target audience finding their ‘voice’ is symbolic of them finding who they are through Jazz music. •At the bottom of the front page I have a used a strapline unconventionally by including an extended cover line within the strapline. This is unconventional in regards to many real media products because, many real media products use straplines for advertising or promoting a special price deal/offer for their readership.

How could you make your product better the next time?

• Spend time more wisely – • Look into more depth of real media products

and why they create specific layouts