Music front cover analysis 2

Front Cover Analysis

Analysis of Completed Problems Page

Overall I think that my problems page was successful as I used many typical conventions of a successful problems page, for example the layout in columns, a friendly picture of the agony aunt, a slogan, a bold title, subtitles, images and quotes. However I also challenged some of the conventions so that the article would suit the theme of the magazine. I did this by making my target audience both genders, instead of being female orientated, and this is shown through my colour scheme and font. The colour scheme is blue and pink to reflect the target audience and the font is not swirly and feminine, like a typical problems page. Moreover I believe that the fact I challenged this convention makes my problems page unique and stand out as well as more interesting for the readers.

To get feedback on my problems page I questioned a range of people who were the age of the target audience and recorded their answers:

From this I discovered that many of the males from the target audience did not feel the colour scheme was masculine enough and therefore would not be interested in reading the page. To improve this is I would try to use more masculine colours and maybe an alternative colour to pink to reflect the girls, such as a purple, as the pink may be too feminine. Furthermore to improve I think I should use a different software as the second person I questioned said that they felt the page didn't look professional enough as a result of this.

On the other hand my choice of design features such as the font and layout were very successful as the interviewees found that the layout was easy to follow and interesting and the font was suitable for both genders of my target audience.

For my main coursework portfolio I think I need to work on making my work look more professional looking by using more advanced computer software such as adobe indesign. I also need to make my colour schemes more suitable for my target audience and to make sure I do this I will do more market research before designing.

Analysis of Completed Problems Page

My Agony Aunt Page

Agony Aunt Page Design

Readership Profile and House Style

Readership Profile

The magazine that I am creating is a sixth form magazine so I have decided that the appropraite target audience age range would be 15 to 18 year olds. I have chosen 15 as my youngest age because it is the age just before entering the sixth form and so the magazine can provide useful advice about what life is like in the sixth form and how to prepare for it. The age range increases to 18 because this is the age of the final year of sixth form allowing the magazine to support and advise the whole way through the sixth form. The magazine will also include the issue of the different options people have to go to after sixth form which is a very common concern for the 16 to 18 year olds.

As many sixth form's are mixed gender the target auidence for the magazine will be for both boys and girls. Many of the students of both genders will suffer from uncertainty and want advice during their time at the sixth form, from problems such as making new friends to struggling with the jump from GCSEs to A level which the magazine will deliver.

The people that will be interested and buy this magazine will be those of take their studies seriously and want to make the most of their time at the sixth form. The target audience are not all top grade students, but they work very hard to achieve the best that they can. Furthermore they are able to manage their time effectively to make time for hobbies and not just school work.

House Style
I have decided to call my magazine 'advanced assignment' meaning latest assignment. This is because the words reflect the theme of school and education, echoing the theme of the magazine. Furthermore the use of aliteration is catchy and gives a more fun and relaxed feel to the magazine. The slogan for the magazine will be 'In order to succeed, you must read'. I think this is effective because again it fits the idea of school and studying. It also includes a rhyme which makes it catchy and memorable.

The colour scheme will be a mixture of pinks and dark blues reflecting the concept that the target auidence are both boys and girls. (The pink portraying girls and the dark blue boys). I chose dark blue instead of light blue so that the colour scheme would not be overly feminine.

                                     I have chosen these three fonts as they are not too

 masculine or two feminine, making it suitable for the target audience. I will used the third one as the dominant font as it replicates hand writting which can be associated with school and work.  

 

Agony Aunt Annotations

Conventions of a magazine's problem page

• Female orientated
• A picture of the writer of the article.
• The writer of the article reflects the problems of the audience. (e.g. a doctor for health problems)
• Writer of the article is friendly looking creating the sense they are easy to talk to and trustworthy.
• One interesting main story/question, which the layout makes eye catching, followed by more smaller questions.
• Slogan enticing people to read the article.
• Often related to everyday problems that many people will face attracting a broad audience.
• Includes clear questions and answers making the layout easy to follow.
• Girly colour schemes (pinks, light blue, etc.) reflecting female target audience.
• Drop caps are commonly used to clearly indicate the questions from the answers.
• Article layed out in columns.
• Images echoing the theme of the questions.
• Feminine fonts reflecting the female target audience.
• Quotes from the questions, often shocking to entice the reader.
• Subtitles for each question to summaries what they are about.
• Contact information for the writer to encourage the readers to write in.