i-D Magazine - Image Series Analysis

Here are some examples of images taken of an artist in i-D magazine. 
Next to these images, a quote from the artist is shown: "I like my music to be as bright as my clothes.", giving the reader an insight into the artist's personality and also making a link between her fashion and music style which is something I need to focus on as I'm doing a 'Fashion Special' of a music magazine. 
I think the bright yellow wall in the background really helps the image to stand out, and again relates to the artist's fierce personality. I may experiment with this idea for my own magazine images. 

i-D Magazine Cover Analysis

Here is an example of the front cover of i-D magazine. This cover in particular is very simple with only one main close up image of the artist (Leona Lewis') face. It uses a very neutral colour palette and no bright colours are used to stand out. 
I like this cover because the image is used as the focal point and main focus of the cover. I may experiment with using a similar style in my own work. 
There are very few cover lines on this publication further emphasising the photograph and making it the main focus. The masthead is written vertically on this cover, which I think is a good design feature and makes this magazine differ to many others that target a similar audience. 

Typical Magazine Conventions

Here are some of the basic conventions of a magazine. Here the main image is layered over the masthead suggesting to the reader that this is a well known magazine that doesn't need to worry about it's audience not recognising the cover. It uses bright pink and lime green colours over the otherwise fairly monotone image to stand out and catch the audience's eye.

Contents Page - Planning and Research

Here is an example of a contents page with lots of smaller images around the edge, with page numbers next to them indicating which page that article is on. Here is an example of Vogue magazine's contents page, and I like the use of one image placed next to the columns of text. I also like the large title across the top of the page, and the pink bold letters used for the subheadings.

Cover Ideas & Research

For my magazine I plan to have a plain background with a large image of my artist (that my double page spread is aboout) being the main focus. I'd like to have my masthead in either black layered behind my image, or a bright colour that matches an element of my photograph. For example, bright red title and bright red lipstick.  

Here is an example of a vogue magazine cover that uses a similar idea. The red of the model's lips tie in with the red on the masthead.











Again in the image below, colours in the model's clothing and the writing are the same shades of pink.

Double Page Spread Article - Planning

I'm plan to include an article on my double page spread surrounding my image laid on a white background. I'm going to have the questions in bold and the artist's answers in normal font to make it clear to the reader which is which. 


Hey (insert artist's name here)! Thank you so much for agreeing to meet with us!
Oh, you're so welcome! I'm still trying to get my head round the fact that people actually want to ask me questions! It's mad! (Laughs)
So, tell us what inspired you for your new album? 
It was a mixture of happy times from my childhood and trying to express what direction I want to go with my future. My easiest way to express that was through music, and it always has been ever since I was tiny. 
If you only had a chance to introduce someone to one song from the album, which song would it be?
It would definitely be "Never Forever" because the message behind the song is made really clear through the lyrics. It's about how no bad feeling ever lasts forever and how everything can always get better if people give themselves time and actually decide to let things improve. 
What artists are you listening to at the moment?
I'm obsessed with Nicki Minaj! I also love Beyonce, Jessie J, and Ms Dynamite.
Who would you love to perform with?
Beyonce would obviously be a dream come true, but I'd also love to work with some male rappers this year. I'm looking to branch out and attract a wider audience to help me grow as an artist. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the phone call will come through any day now... 
What's your favourite high street shop?
I adore Topshop! I really like the key pieces they sell and every time I'm in London I make my manager set aside at least a day for me to spend in there! (Laughs) I also love Urban Outfitters and especially American Apparel because they sell such outrageous clothes that are perfect for raves and festivals if you want to stand out! The hotpants are a particular favourite of mine!
Who are your style icons?
Jessie J is a big style icon for me, as she goes against the crowd and mixes lots of key style pieces in the same outfit. I have also have a lot of respect for women who manage to look stylish, classy and sexy all at the same time. For example Kelly Rowland. 
Do you have a favourite designer?
ALEXANDER MCQUEEN! Long live McQueen. My favourite piece is a coat I bought about a year ago, I never leave the country without it!


We like her style. Order her Album now on iTunes. 

My Double Page Spread - Planning

I plan to feature an urban sort of artist photographed a similar way to Rihanna or Jessie J.
Here I like the way the artist is placed on a white background, and I plan to also do this with my image layout. I'll use features of the styling of the artist to make them stand out in a similar style to this, for example bright red/pink lips or bright clothing/jewellery.

Further Double Page Spread Research

Looking more closely at design styles of double page spreads has given me some further ideas to ways in which I could lay out my text. Here, the interview with Nicki Minaj has been laid out in a more abstract way with the writing surrounding the picture instead of just being placed next to it.
In particular the way the writing curves around next to her neck is a clever way of using layout, and I'll take inspiration from this in my own work. In a similar way to the photo of Florence with bright red hair relating to the red of the material in the photo, the pink background of these pages, the darker shade of pink for the artist's name and her pink lipstick all tie in together and draw the reader's attention.

Double Page Spread Research

Here is an example of a double page spread interview featuring Florence Welch. I really like the way the large picture is used as the main focus on these pages, and overlaps over both. I may choose to use this technique in my own double page spread.
The colour scheme used is clever because red ties in with the theme "USA" written in faded grey letters behind the image of Florence, as the audience's foreknowledge allows them to understand that red is in in the American Flag. The image is also cleverly used, because the bright red colour links to one of the things the artist is best known for; her bright red hair. I think I will use a similar style in my image, and have certain colour elements that relate to the text. For example; a pink item of clothing, with pink writing for the questions in bold.
The content of the article includes a long introduction about the singer herself, followed by some interview style questions about what she is planning on doing with her careers in the following months. This is a similar style to what I will do with my own artist, and will begin by giving a brief background before asking about future plans.

Here is another example of a magazine double page spread, this article featuring Ellie Goulding. This style of DPS is different to the previous because the picture and text are kept separate. I prefer the other style as I think it makes the magazine look more professional. However the title still overlaps both pages making it clear it is in fact a double page spread. I like the style of photograph, because it's done the same way as the photo of Florence, with a white backdrop and little props cluttering up the image. I think I will take inspiration from both of these when taking the photographs for my own double page spread. The layout for this one is more basic, and doesn't make any design conventions or techniques obvious to the reader. This layout would maybe not be as appropriate to my target because design features may need to meet the high standards of people looking for more alternative music.

Possible Titles for my Music Magazine

• Defiance (Defiance Magazine)

I like this title because I think it sums up the genre of music I want to represent with my music magazine. Defiance suggests an idea of going against the crowd, which many people like to think they do when selecting which music they choose to listen to. I want my target audience to be people who don't necessarily just listen to mainstream chart music, but also like to look outside the box and find more undiscovered, alternative music that fewer people have perhaps heard about.

• These Beats

I like this title, but I also think it sounds slightly like more of a band name than a magazine title. It's also not very specific in connoting an idea towards genre of music or theme to my magazine, so I don't think I'll select this one for my own publication.

• Listen

This title helps make it clear that it is in fact a music magazine to the reader, but again doesn't give any vague hint to what genre the music might be.

• Tuning Magazine

With this title I don't think it sounds catchy enough to attract the right type of reader. It would perhaps be suited to a magazine aimed at an older audience, whereas my target audience will be ages ranging from 16-25 so it may not be appropriate.


Existing Magazine Titles - Analysis

• Billboard Magazine -

"Billboard" connotes an idea of wide spread news and information put across into the public eye. This suggests that Billboard Magazine wants to target a wide range of audience who perhaps listen to a wide range of music genres that come under the 'mainstream' category.

• Q Magazine -

By not giving much away in the title, it suggests that the magazine is so well known that a single letter alone is enough for their audience.

• Kerrang! -

By including an exclamation mark in the title, Kerrang! Magazine suggests that the music genre it covers is exciting and loud. (In this case, rock music)

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By Lockerz

BLOGGING – (PLANNING)

Print

Examples: General & Specific to genre

I have taken a look at Company magazine as another example of print because I like the way they use a specific theme throughout the magazine using a certain font, and I like the layout of the images and text. I’m going to take inspiration from this for my own print. (have photo of company magazine in blog)

The music magazine I plan on basing my print product on is Billboard magazine because I think it covers a wide range of music genres and could appeal to a wider audience than some other rock magazines for example.

Covers: Star, text (size, font, colour), layout, title, schemes

Billboard magazine has had many urban artists on the cover in the past, such as Nicki Minaj, Drake and Beyoncé.  On my cover I will have a photo of one person and edit the image by increasing the level of contrast and brightness to make the image more dramatic. I’m going to use pink as my main colour to attract my audience’s attention as my target audience is women aged 18-25 who are interested in urban music.  The background behind my image will be plain white, as shown on most Company magazine covers, and I may have to manipulate my image to create the white background. I’m going base my cover’s colour scheme on Company magazine by having the colour of the text match an element of what my cover star is wearing.