Final product for my DPS - Music Magazine

Update of my DPS

For the update of my DPS, I added in a grey sparkle effect for the background of my pages, this makes the DPS different and more eye catching to my reader without breaking the strict colour scheme throughout the magazine because i did not want it to effect my house style. I then went through all my text and double checked for any spelling, punctuation or grammar mistakes.

Audience Feedback on all three products

I printed out onto A4 colour all of my three products I then asked my fellow media classmates to comment and give me feedback on my cover, contents and double page spread. 

1. Love the cover page. Barcode is cut out at the bottom, can’t see part of the bottom. Make an issue number. Love the masthead on the contents page. Spelt changes wrong on DPS. Large image should be on the other side and the intro should be in a different colour to make it stand out. Another image on the DPS to show variety. But its unreal, well done!

2. Cover page is good. Maybe add another colour into contents page to make it stand out. Add another image into DPS. Overall it is really good.

3. Cover page- very good use of photo editing, picture is amazing with the use of the bright red lips really stand out

Contents- perhaps have the arrow more clear, the number on the top of the image is hard to make out.

Dps- nice use of different colours that match well with the colour scheme, very easy to navigate around.       Well done very professional looking magazine.            

4. Too much white space across all pages possibly more text and colour

Front cover – make barcode more visible

Contents – change black font

Dps – love it, wouldn’t change anything

5. Clear house style, good quality images

Love the layout of DPS, clear to follow

Cover: make barcode more visable

Good front cover, good colour scheme, lots of infor good images

6.Really nice images! And I like the pull quote but I think the question font on the dps should be different to separate the question from answer even more.

First draft of my DPS

Construction for my first draft of Double Page Spread

To create my double page spread I decided to use a different software other than Photoshop, I moved on to a software called Adobe InDesgin, It can be used to create works such as posters, flyers, brochures, magazines, newspapers and books. InDesign can also publish content suitable for tablet devices in conjunction with Adobe Digital Publishing Suite. Graphic designers and production artists are the principal users, creating and laying out periodical publications, posters, and print media. Also I wanted to learn a new skill whilst doing this task. First I opened a new document, changed the settings to have two facing pages with three columns for interview. I then began to add in text using the text box tool, I used the type face of Times New Roman throughout. This is a different font from which I have used in my other pages such as my contents, therefore I will go back and change that aspect. I then added in the image of my model, this close mid shot is different from my other two close ups I have used as my feature cover and contents image, I then added in a high angled long shot of the artist practising on the lower right of the second page. I wanted the flow of my readers eyes not to be confused therefore I created a simple convention of magazine double page spread style to achieve this.

 Previously I had written out my interview on word so I was then able to simply copy and paste it into a text box and into the column. After I changed the colour of the text questions so again it would be easy for my reader to read through. Then I was able to add in more conventional features of a double page spread such as the pull quote which I placed at the top right corner of the piece. I chose the same text style and colour from the title so they would correlate and a house style would shine through. I then simply added in the correct page numbers and a little subscription tag line at the bottom of the page with the font 'rezland' which is the same typeface as the masthead again, creating a flow and a dominant house style. I also at the top left of the dps included a 'News' head liner. I had seen this previously on magazine such as Kerrang and I liked the idea, so I took inspiration from it.

Main Images for Pulse Magazine

From my audience feedback I was able to receive 8 responses from my fellow classmates who have a deep understanding of music magazines and their conventions. In the end the most popular chose was Cover image 1, Contents image 2 and Double Page image 3. Personally I am not sure on these choices as these are quite normal conventions for any magazine whereas I wanted to create something different, however it was great to find out what people thought of my images. 

Billboard Magazine Double Page Spread Examples

I have gathered examples from both magazines double page spreads to be able to see what house style appeals to me more, and also how I can choose elements that I do and do not like to help me decide on how to layout my own double page spread. I am able to easily compare house styles and layout to give me inspiration on how to create my own double page spread.  

Billboard Magazine Double Page Spread

For this task I took a double page spread from Billboard magazine which featured Breakthrough act of 2012 - The Lumineers an indie folk band who sold over 6 million albums that year. This issue with the band on thier sucess within that year. I have included a collage of what the article looked like on my iPad, I simply was able to screen shot the article and examine it in detail for this task; it includes a cover image of the band which takes up 100% of the page with their name in bold writing following the acutal double page spread.

The article features the band "The Lumineers", I can tell the genre off this band by the way they dress in the images. In a traditional quirky, casual bohemian look which consists of dark and simple colouring, I am able then to deduce that the band has an indie folk flair, indicating to me that the target audience are of similar preferences so that this style and genre of music will appeal to them in particular.  The spread includes the introduction of the band members, there rise to fame, their critically acclaimed albums and production of music ladi and spoken in a way which is clearly relaxed and chic, which again compliments there bohemian vibe. 

Beginning with a large drop cap "T" which takes up majority of the page, our eye flow allows the reader to be instantly directed to the beginning of the article. The interviewer has written this text in a story like manner, using sometimes actual quotes from the band but keeping it in such a way that seems almost like a nostalgic thought, again inkeeping with the band unique chilled vibe which their fans appreciate. The writer explains how they rose to fame "The 5th of Dec episode of the CW's "Hart of Dixie" was going to be the first place much of America would hear their single "Ho Hey."' This is quite formal language with no real colloquial terminology perhaps to portray an element of professionalism on behalf of the magazine; however there is nothing really that would not be accessible to read for all walks of life, therefore would not just appeal to fans of The Lumineers but for all to enjoy and read. This article can be seen as the inside scoop for readers to find out how this band came big, by sharing their story people will feel apart of it too - like they have been told it directly. This then gives a personal relationship between reader and feature.

Much white space is used in this article to portray that the most important elements within the article is within the text. However they do use a slight collage on the right side of the second page to illustrate not only an aural understanding of what the band are about but also show what they look like and gain a visual understanding. The typeface is New Times Roman which is black and stands well out against the pure white background, this is a very plain and simplistic as the magazine does not need vibrant colouring to distract the reader from what they see as important information. The article is extremely to read and navigate as there is only one column on each page with everything spilt up into different paragraphs. However I would like to start off each of my paragraphs within my music magazine maybe using a smaller drop cap than the first in perhaps different colours to emphasise each one more prominently.

On the right hand side of the first page there is a little column titled "Team Lumineers" - this is little boxes aside form the proper article which tell the reader information on their album, label, management, booking, publicity, attorney, sites and twitter account; which is done for people to be lured in to find out more about the bands music and to gain a bigger following especially on social media, cleverly done as this a multi-national magazine within America, meaning majority of American viewers would come across it everyday.  

Throughout this double page spread there is a consistent house-style which consists of the colouring of basic black and white, this is the intention to lure in more indie, alternative folk readers that are suggestive of this genre. The images used also support the dark plain house-style again in keeping with the chilled relaxed vibe of the band. Billboard magazines revamp in style is contemporary and stylish by only including the minimal number of images and a lot of text to thereby keeping readers directed on the information and not just flick through to look at the images. 

Overall this double page spread is extremely simplistic with little colouring, easy navigation and little images.