This is my final contents page for my music magazine. I have used a similar layout to the contents page in Look magazine. However, I have developed on it and made significant changes.
I have used a collage of images for the top half of the contents page. I have done this because from the results of my questionnaire I found that people preferred to have an even amount of text and images. The collage consists of four images I took on my digital camera while at a music event. The reason I have used images of artists performing/standing on stage is because the music magazine looks more authentic and relevant as it is images of a music event.
The reason I chose the image on the left hand side, under the other two images is because it is of a pretty female, which girls, who are the niche market, would enjoy reading about as she can be seen as a role model for them. She and the band behind her are all wearing white, which denotes purity and cleanliness. However, her dress is made of latex which symbolizes promiscuity. This contradicts the symbolism of the colour of the dress and creates juxtaposition. The effect of this emphasizes her role as a role model to the consumers, who are likely to be teenage girls who strive to be pure and ‘perfect’ but ‘sexy.’ Her black wavy hair denotes power, authority and mystery, while the waves in her hair symbolises femininity.
On the right hand side I have used an image of a pretty female singing into a microphone stand. The microphone stand signifies music, which is relevant to the genre of the magazine. Her hair is blonde and curly, which symbolizes youth and femininity. This is precisely who I have catered our niche market to be. She is wearing a cream lace dress which has connotations with femininity and fashion. Again, this is what I believe the niche market for the magazine would want to read about. I have used a strap line containing the signifier special!; I have done this as the word signifies exclusiveness and to emphasize this I have highlighted the word in pink which denotes femininity, passion and sensuality. Pink can stimulate energy and increase blood pressure and increase action and confidence- pushing the consumer to read it. I have also used the font Bradley Hand ITC as it doesn’t look too harsh or sophisticated; it resembles handwriting which has connotations with girls’ handwriting. I used the font size 38.
The two images I have used in the bottom left side of the collage I have used to create a slideshow and storyboard effect. I rotated both images slightly to the left. I have also bordered the image with a vibrant pink colour. Vibrant pink denotes high energy similar to red; they are sensual and passionate and appeals to females. It is also part of the colour scheme of my magazine. The left side image is of a rap star with a skull T shirt and khaki coat. The skull T shirt signifies death and decay, his khaki coat signifies war and is a synonymous of the colour brown which has connotations with earth. Therefore it is juxtaposition. He is also wearing a red poppy, which connotes war, death and remembrance. I chose to include him as he depicts a genre of music different to the other images and is a more controversial figure but also appeals to girls. He is also looking straight into the camera, instantly making the consumer feel like they’re on a personal level with the artist. The image on the right side depicts four good looking boys- a key marketing strategy for attracting teenage girls. They are all wearing dark colours- primarily black which denotes mystery. Mystery links directly to a person’s sex appeal; this is what teenage girls enjoy looking at.
For my masthead I have used the font Adobe Caslon Pro- similar to the main font layout of the page of Times New Roman- it is sophisticated yet simple- relating back to the results of my questionnaire that my consumers prefer an understated layout. I have also used a font size of 28. I have highlighted Welcome and Wanted in orange. Orange has connotations with energy and warm, similar to red and yellow. Orange is a stimulant which stimulates emotions- which is why I chose to use it for my colour scheme. I want the colour scheme to bring out an emotional reaction to the consumer, urging them to pick up the magazine and read it.
I have separated my contents in three columns which are situated in the bottom half of the page, below the collage of images. Above two of the segments of text I have used a black box and used a white font over the black. This creates effective contrasting so the text inside the box is easy to read and stands out. I have also used italics, for variety of the main font of Times New Roman. The text as I’ve mentioned before are set in Times New Roman and is written in a font size of 11. I have also created the first column a segment of four features that were featured on the cover- this creates ease for the consumer to find something on the cover they were interested in reading. I have also bolded the numbers so that they are clear.
I have used signifiers such as hot gossip and exclusive, reveals, shock and juicywhich signifies exclusiveness, secrets and up to date information. Gorgeous, swoon and sexy and fierce which signifies attractive people- good looking boys that girls enjoy looking at and pretty girls who they want to be like. It also signifies female empowerment; good for my niche market of girls.
I have used one more image situated in the middle of the second column. The image is of the cover star and is a different image to the one on the front cover. This tells the consumers that it contains a photo shoot which means the images are exclusive. The image is a head shot and depicts the person facing away from the camera, but drawing looking to the side slightly to draw her eyes to the camera symbolises mystery as she is not revealing her entire face to the camera. However, she evokes warmth to the reader by her smile. This urges the reader to read about her. Her hair is a deep, brown- burgundy colour which has connotations with passion to conflicting emotions of warfare and violence. It also denotes power and has the ability to make consumers stop to look at it. It can also raise blood pressure, provoking an emotional reaction. Her eyes are light blue, which denotes calmness, the sky and the sea. The sea is often used to symbolise women; therefore her eyes convey calmness, warmth and femininity.
I have placed an editor’s note’s box in the third column, which I have sectioned off with a box. The font inside here is Adobe Caslon Pro and has font size of 11.
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