Front Cover Evaluation

College Magazine

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

• My Media Product uses conventions that real media products in the industry use such as; Lead Line, Cover Lines, Mast Head, Barcodes and a Main Image. I have also placed the majority of my information into the right third. This keeps it organised and also makes my buzz word stand out as it placed alone on the left third.

My Mast head I have designed to catch the attention of my audience. I have used a rubix cube shape as “college is a challenge”

For my Main image I have used a close up of a young man, laughing with a cup of coffee at the forum. I have used this as I wanted to represent a typical student. The forum is a well known spot for students to hang out which is why I have kept it in the background. I have included the Starbucks cup as Starbucks is a very popular supplier and City College Norwich even have there own Starbucks on campus. The image I believe has the persona of a stereotypical student and portrays it well through the image. The Cup also directly relates to the Lead Line as it is a new idea Starbucks are trying to advertise with students as there main target audience.

I have included a Date and Issue number. This is to make my product more realistic. I have made it clear underneath my mast head in my top right third but I have not tried to draw any extra attention to it as I do not believe that those who wish to see it will not find it clear enough.

I have placed the majority of my information into the right third. This keeps it organised and also makes my buzz word stand out as it placed alone on the left third.

I have interpreted the Barcode into the main image. This makes it stand out and also I believe it make the design more interesting.

I have placed the cover lines at the bottom of the page this is to keep it clean and simple. My magazine is for the specific audience of students. I do not believe I have to make it too flashy as the content is useful and I believe they will purchase it for these reasons and not because it is attractive, although that will help attract attention I do not consider that it needs to be more than it is.

How does My media Product represent a particular social group?

• My media product is not specific to any gender or race. It is however designed for students which can consist of a very large age range. For these reasons I have used a simple yet attractive design with a large variety of content. Though I believe students form an age of 17-25 will be most interested making them my main target audience.

My main image I believe attracts both sexes as it is rather friendly. The image does not discourage men as it is quite open with no signifiers to suggest any thing specifically feminine. I also believe it will entice females as the young man is quite attractive, hopefully catching their eye. Also the familiar background is easy to decipher and is a very common place for students to hang out. Also Starbucks is popular within my target audience as they do a large range of coffee's and other hot drinks, thus inviting the target audience.

I have used Nandos to attract students because it is a popular restaurant that often targets students with stalls at fresher's week, competitions and loyalty cards. For this I have used it to advertise a common competition they have had in the past as I believe it will attract students because of its popularity within my target age group.

My cover Lines are also specific to my target audience as I have included advice on exams, new cheap places to hang out, and an adverts page to sell and buy your possessions. This will attract those with some money issues or even those who just want to save. It also includes competitions and reviews attracting students who would like to keep up to date and have some fun.

I believe the Mast head also attracts students as I believe that one of the few things everyone would be able to agree with is that college, and university is a challenge. This gives the impression that the magazine is here to help as well as a way to let off steam.

How did I attract/address my audience?

• I have attracted my audience with conventions such as eye catching images, interesting lead and cover lines related to my target audience, colour schemes, and thought into the deign and placement of my magazine to produce a stimulating and motivating design. My colour scheme, mast head, font and design in both my front cover and contents page creates a clear house style.

I have tried attracting my audience through a visually stimulating layout and design.

I have used a red and natural colour scheme to entice my audience. I interpreted my main colour into my main image and mast head to carry the colour through. I have also used black and white to create a contrast making it more eye catching.

I used Popular locations and brands this along with the main image of a young man signifies what kind of age group my target audience is this is a signifier to my audience that this the type of magazine they might be interested in.

The font is serif as it has been proven that serif is more stimulating. I believed it would interest my audience more as it is easier to read and attracts more attention. The layout is simple with two

columns splitting the page and the masthead. I have only used the columns to show for the lead line as after that I have placed my cover articles beneath the main image. This is because the more writing the less interested people become so I have left my image and mast head to interest my readers.

What have I learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this

product?

• Before this project I already had a sound idea of Photoshop, but this product has reminded me of some aspects I had forgotten such as how to colour splash and how to create designs such as my mast head. It has also given me a better idea of how to work a camera as that was never a strong point of mine.