feedback for front cover, content and double page spread

Updated Front Cover

Comparison

"The white background behind the whole content of the front cover is a great improvement"- Emila

Updated

"The use and display of the chosen colour scheme flows well throughout the content, font and clothing of the model"- Robert

Updated Contents 

Comparison

"The page layout is better balanced when compared to the original copy in terms of use of space. The images and text blocks are more evenly displayed"- Lee

Updated

"Really like the use of social media links to give the reader a broader experience"- Kirstie

Updated double page spread

Comparison 

"The changing of the font makes the article look more formal and clearer to read"-Richard

Updated

"Good use of image layout and Pull-out quote to break up the text"-Lilly 

Using the data from the feedback collected, it is clear to deduce that the improvements made to Good Vibes magazine were for the better; in particular, the feedback regarding the white space on the cover, was something I made sure was consistent throughout.

Final double page spread

These are my two double page spread pieces for Good Vibes. Above is the original, older version and to the right is the updated, new one. The updated version hasn't been added any features apart from the page numbers at the bottom corner of the page. Most of the updated double page spread is rearranged. One of the features that I have taken away from the dps is the blue panels behind the text. These were not a conventional feature which was used by any music magazine and gave readers the impression that the magazine was uncoordinated and tacky. All professional magazines have the text on a white background; giving the page a sense of space with a modern look. The modernisation of the double page spread will appeal particularly to the older end of the target age group; 18+ years old. The panel of extra images has been rearranged to accompany the main image below. This whole page is dedicated to imagery of the band and shows that a range of photography has been used to create this impression. The social media box blow the old extra images has been relocated to the contents page along with a Facebook and Twitter account. This means  there is more room on the page for other content. The title of the dps is another big thing changed within the magazine; before, it contained a big box which was too wordy for an introduction and had too many fonts. The actual font of the main story was too childish also; creating a youth based magazine decreases the size of my target audience so it is important to avoid this. Now the title is bold with a clear introduction that is based on a white background.

Overall, the improved double page spread reflects the target audience increasingly more than the original copy, this is mainly because there are features that have been rearranged and been inspired by NME music magazine as well as my own creation. Also, features missing such as the page numbers added to the tacky look of the page. Now, the pages look professional as well as portraying a clear view of the genre, audience and layout of the magazine.

double page spread draft 3

This is my final draft for the double page spread within Good Vibes. As you can see, the double page spread is almost finished; the cover line has been emphasised, the images have been alined with the text and the introduction stands out. However, there still needs to be page numbers added on each page as well as making the title of the double page spread bold and attractive to readers.

double page spread draft 2

This is the second draft for the double page spread within Good Vibes. As you can see, I have edited the text to make sure it is obeying the column layout. This is one of the major improvements to the double page spread. However, the row of images at the bottom of the page need to be in line with the text, the cover line needs to be more bold and the title and introduction needs to stand out more. Also, page numbers still need to be added. Other than this, the double page spread is being constructed well and the layout is following the flat plan well.

double page spread draft 1

This is the first draft of Good Vibes' double page spread. As you can see, there is still much work to be done. The reason as to why there is a great deal of content at this early stage is that i have edited and rearranged the content from the original piece. The work that needs to be done mainly consists of the placement of the text within the columns; there is a line at the top of the middle column which needs to be relocated. Also, a cover line and page numbers need to be added in order to contain the conventional features a professional music magazine has.

FInal copy of Contents page

This is the final copy of the contents page for Good Vibes. I have changed and rearranged a great deal of features since the original copy of Good Vibes that is located on the left. The updated contents page features designs that have been adopted and inspired from professional music magazines; mainly NME and Q. The first obvious difference is that there is not one main  background shot for the contents page; there are two images and a white background. This makes the magazine look more professional as well as enabling blue text to be written on the background without needing a box like the original design. There have also been social media accounts for the magazine added at the bottom to create a sense of creativity and intractability of the magazine. It also makes the magazine look like a bigger organisation than just a magazine and it also keeps Good Vibes up with the technology trends. The contents panel has been moved from the left to the right and the blue has also been darkened as well as the contents of the magazine being changed. This was because the panel looked better on the right hand side, the light blue reflected youth rather than Indie-Rock, which is why I darkened the blue, and the contents of the magazine, i feel, didn't reflect the target audience of genre very well. That is why I created new contents giving examples of bands who are Indie-Rock and articles for reader to relate to and discover about the genre. The new contents panel gives an all round better ideology of the genre and target audience. Overall, the new contents page contains better contents within the magazine as well as including a range of look and features inspired by professional magazines to make it look like a professional Indie-rock music magazine.

contents draft 3

The third draft of the contents page is one which, again, has made great improvement; the contents column has been added to to create divisions of the sections of the magazines. Another feature that has been added is the bold colour of the headings of the articles. This creates a division between the articles to prevent them blurring and creating confusion for the reader. Things that need to be done is: inserting the pictures of Bombay, a Twitter and Instagram address and page numbers.

contents draft 2

This is the second draft for Good Vibes' contents page and straight away, there has been great improvement. Firstly, there has been a large amount of text inserted below where the images will be places; it explains the gig and contains a social media link at the bottom as planned. Also, the title of the contents page has been highlighted in black as well as the text being altered to attract the readers attention. As expected, the colours of the contents page all obey the set colour scheme, this is important as if the contents page looked different, it would look unprofessional, tacky and the target audience will not be attracted to it. things left to do include: getting the images of Bombay, sorting out the contents column and highlighting page number, article titles and subheadings and a page number.

contents page draft 1

This is the first draft for the contents page for Good Vibes. There is obviously a lot of work which needs to be done in order for the contents page to be completed. For example, there is an essential demand for imagery which must be included. Also, the title of the contents page needs to be bold and attract the readers of good vibes. Another thing that needs to be added is a box around the text, if not, something to divide the page number, article title and the subheading of the article. This way, readers will find it easy to find stories within the magazine and what they will be about. Finally, there needs t be some text below the Bombay picture, explaining them and have some social media links for readers to follow to create a sense on interactiveness of the magazine.

Pictures for new contents page

The images displayed below are going to be used in my updated contents page for Good Vibes. The images are of Bombay Bicycle Club playing at Portsmouth Guildhall. The images were taken using screenshot on my mobile phone. This is because they were part of a video that i recorded of the gig. As  As Bombay are an Indie-Rock band and one of the best representations of the genre, they will be used to set the scene, and ideology of the genre; letting the readers and audience know what will be contained within the magazine. Although this will be the case mostly for the front cover, the contents page will give a visual example as to what kind of bands perform Indie-Rock.

The images that are likely to be featured within the contents page are the 5th and 7th pictures (the 1st being the top image) this is mainly because they are less blurry as well as containing a contrast in colour which portray the light and dark sounds and colours to Indie-Rock. The images will appeal to the target audience of 15-26 year olds because the younger audiences will be getting ideas of what the gig environment is like and the older audience groups will be able to look back and remember the gig or gigs similar to this one to keep a fresh idea of the excitement and emotion behind the genre.

Final draft for front cover of the improved Good Vibes

This is the final design of Good Vibes front cover. The original copy is located to the left and the updated copy to the right. As you can see, A lot has been changed, added, subtracted and rearranged. Firstly, the masthead is bolder and increasingly more distinctive compared to the original. This is because it is surrounded in a mid-blue box which has been inspired by Q magazine. Secondly, the main image has been changed completely; It is a medium close up shot whereas the original was a wide shot. This is a great improvement and looks more professional. There is not any specific inspiration for the updated main images, it has been the result of looking at professional magazines in more detail to realise that this is the shot type to include when creating a music magazine. The left third of the magazine has been changed also; there has been a pull-out quote added at the bottom of the page as well as text on the right hand side. There has been a range of fonts included as well as the colour of the text obeying the colour scheme. These features have all been inspired from NME and Q magazine. They Present a rage of fonts and colours that match their colour scheme as well as including a pull-out quote. Features that have also been added are the barcode and price of the magazine. These features are put in place to add a sense of reality to the cover; it is an essential part which all music magazine include that i have not. The cover line band within the bottom of the magazine has been removed and replaced with the pull-out quote; deleting the unnecessary text that has been relocated to the left third. A puff and  plug has also been added in the top right hand corner to attract the readers attention. It positioned here because the readers attention will be guided towards the top of the page because of the masthead. The content within the puff and plug also put into context what category of band perform Indie-Rock and an example of where readers can find it. The last feature of the updated front cover is the black strip at the top of the page. This has been inspired by NME's front cover; it is a crucial part of the cover as it is another feature which contributes to setting the genre of the magazine. This way, readers are able to easily identify the genre of the magazine and that way, the fan base is able to create an audience who is clear of what they are reading.

Overall, the updated front cover contains a range of features that is not included within the original copy. The features also serve as important factors which make the magazine look professional.

Third draft for improved front cover

This is the third draft for the improved front cover of Good Vibes. As you can see, I've added a quote which had been inspired from Q magazine. This gives the magazine a professional look as it includes features from professional  examples. There has been a barcode added in the bottom right hand corner to add a reality feature as well as filling up extra space the cover provides. There has been text added to the top banner to give readers a clear understanding of the genre as well as it being a design element that features in Kerrang music magazine. The free poster content has been moved to the right hand side as I feel it fits better as well as making room for the quote on the left third. Lastly, the bottom cover line and banner has been shrunk, however, that feature may be altered. The Puff and Plug in the top right hand corner still need text inside and it is still undecided as to what will be added within it.

Inspiration for quote within left third:

Second draft for improved front cover

This is the second draft of the improved front cover of the music magazine. As you can see, there have been many changes made since the first draft. For example, there has been more content added to the left third; a variety of text fonts and sizes have have been inspired from Q magazine, the image will be displayed below. Also, the Puff and Plug in the top right hand corner has grown to two bubbles, it is undecided as to what will be included within these bubbles, it is likely that the price and Puff and Plug of some sort will be added. The cover line banner at the bottom of the page has been cut into two blocks to give more room for the main image. Also, another banner has been added at the top of the magazine. However, this one is thinner and will include a catchy piece of text about the magazine. This banner has been inspired from Kerrang magazine, an image will be displayed below. The feature of the masthead has obeyed the flat plan well and is a great improvement from the previous cover. Although the shape and size of the box may need to be altered.

Inspiration for a variety of fonts and sizes of text within the left third:

Inspiration for banner located at the top of the magazine: 

First draft for improved music magazine cover

This is the first draft for the updated Good Vibes front cover. As you can see. the main image is zoomed in much more than the previous front cover as well as an altered version of the mast head which obeys the flat plans posted previously. The beginnings of a Puff and Plug have been created in the top left hand corner and a new feature of a cover line band has been placed within the bottom of the magazine, the gap between the band and the bottom of the page has been deliberate to give the illusion that there is lots of room on the magazine, making the main image seem larger. This inspiration for a cover line at the bottom of the page has been taken from NME music magazine as shown below.