Evaluation

For the preliminary task for the foundation portfolio in media the brief specified the production of a college magazine splash. This was accompanied by research into existing college magazine splashes and their conventions as well as mock ups of both the front cover and a contents page as well.

Firstly I had to research into existing college splashes. This involved recognising the codes and conventions carried throughout each choice. It was clear to me from the beginning that the main image played an important focus on the splash as a whole. The representation of the main images model was of critical importance. Each main image I looked at had the same aura: calm and enjoyable. This was reflecting the ideology of the college to the audience – something which I had to do. The next thing which became apparent was the language used in the coverlines. This was brief enough to give insight but vague enough to entice the reader. I also very quickly realized the type of coverlines I would have to use – I would have to showcase the students and colleges strong points upon the front cover as, again, this draws in the audience.

I had already specified the genre in which my magazine would appear. Next I had to allocate my target audience. Since this magazine splash was for a college magazine the age group would target mainly 16-19 year olds. My target audience would also be of mixed genders and social classes. This means I would have to create a universal magazine to stretch to acknowledge each segment of my market. These would all affect my decisions as I made my magazine splash.

To start the production of the splash itself I first had to organize myself a set, model and props. For this I decided upon a light, bright space with a neutral cream backdrop. I felt this highlighted the model well and also represented the classroom environment. Next came the props. These came in the form of a table with a notebook and my model holding a pen. Again, this was representative of the working college environment. In the medium close up of the model I posed her looking directly at the camera with a hint of a smile. However, the way she is posed also gives the impression she has just quickly looked up from her work for the shot. The ideology and symbolism behind this is to sell the college lifestyle of working hard. This is altering the mindset of the consumer making them think: ‘I have to go there,’ after seeing the students and atmosphere.

After taking the image I then had to edit it. Upon doing this I realized there were certain areas of the picture I wanted to crop out of shot, such as the unnecessary background. Then I sharpened the image to define the models features before accenting the highlights in a brighter light and making the shadows darker. This was to try and imitate the really bright strip lights in a college classroom. This tampered with the representation shown in the image: she was no longer sat near a cream wall but instead it created the atmosphere of a classroom. Next I faded the edges slightly to blend it with the background of the splash for stylistic purposes.

Next I moved onto appropriately laying out my masthead. This was done in a new layer using a bold text in a stylistic and recognisable font. This was changed in colour to stand out amongst the background it was placed upon but also fit in with the purple and white color scheme, the same one as used by the college. I then added a sell line directly below the masthead. This, too, was in the chosen colour scheme carried throughout of white and purple. And whilst it is still readable it is unobtrusive on the masthead since it is in a smaller font.

I then moved on to the main cover line. This was layered across the bottom third of the main image and in a large and bold text. This diverts the attention to the words. The colour scheme used here is once more adhering to the overall colour scheme of the splash.

Once I had the main sell line and masthead in place I moved onto the finer details. The dateline was layered below the masthead in small but legible font in white. This was to detract attention from it and let the focus be on the rest of the page. The rest of the coverlines are true to the usual connotations of splash coverlines whereby they give enough information to tease but not enough to give everything away, this makes the target consumer more interested. My coverlines are as in a mid-sized bold black font which is easily readable. These are staggered down the edge of my model in my picture. This is usually where the coverlines are seen on existing magazines.

Throughout the process of producing my college magazine I encountered a couple of minor problems. The first one I had was with the image on the splash. I couldn’t get the contrast right after altering the high and low lights at first however, after a few attempts with different settings I resolved this. I also had trouble with the masthead/ sell lines and getting them to fit the colour scheme but still contrast with the image they are layered on enough for them to be visible. However, after experimenting with different colour combinations and line thicknesses and such I overcame this and the headings were visible.