Author: lydiasymphorien

Branding Ideas + Mission Statement

My Music Magazine is going to be based on the genre of Kpop. This includes bands such as EXO, Red Velvet, Orange Caramel, NCT, CLC and many more. My magazine is going to be called ‘Selca’ as it is a common word used in Korea to refer to taking selfies. The modern era of Kpop started in 1996 with the band H.O.T being created by SM Entertainment. Since then, Kpop has become more globalised with fans all around the world.

Here, I chose some words that can be related to the genre of Kpop:

Mission Statement

‘Selca’ is a fun, cute magazine all about the wondrous Korean music style of Kpop. Here, you’ll find all the latest songs and all the gossip from top groups such as EXO and Orange Caramel. It also includes popular makeup styles from top beauty gurus of the industry. We have sneak peak images on recent concerts and steps on how to be one of the first to buy fast selling tickets.

Previous Student’s Work

Use of Camera and Photoshop to Take & Manipulate Engaging Images

The midshots used are able to show most of the outfit of the idol. This stands out for the audience who have a liking towards fashion. The angle also makes the audience be able to show the pose of the idol which can also be shown in the longshots. The closeup image in the main story show her up close and personal. This may be used as the interview is looking into her life and it may be personal to her and her fans. One of the images goes out of the frame. This makes the image pop and stand out, which is effective as it can’t be contained within the frame. The main cover image is cut and put in front of a blue background which is very bright. This may have made more of an impact if it was a softer colour.

The Selection of Mise-En-Scene in the Photos

The pink outfits portray a cute and innocent style. The target audience may be able to relate to this as their demographics tend to be young, teenage females. Also, the audience may follow this style and incorporate it into their fashion. The range of hair colours used are normal in the kpop industry. This makes the idol stand out to their fan and draw them into buying the magazine as they might admire the idols fashion. The peace finger signs may also portray a cute style as the idol is acting and posing for a photo. Despite making some of the idols cute, the student has also made one of the idols look sorrowful and mysterious. They have done this my making him look down. I believe they shouldn’t have added this as kpop is usually high and bubbly. Finally, the makeup doesn’t fit the genre as it’s too bold. The makeup usually used is light and natural, to make the idol look natural.

The Choice of Words That Talk To and Engage a Specific Audience

In the contents, the words “EXO in trouble” make the fans worried, leading them to buy the magazine as they are able read more to find out what happened. This may then make them buy future magazines as their favourite band is mentioned. On the front cover, the student used the word “Exclusive”. This shows the audience that this interview is only shown in this magazine, which means they can’t find this interview anywhere else. The customer may then buy future releases as this magazine may conduct more interviews. Finally, the target audience may be able to relate to the quote “I wasn’t the person my music was selling me as” as the idol had rebelled against the people who made her that way. This may be because during a person’s teenage years, they are rebellious.

The Creative Use of Desk Top Publishing To Integrate Images and Text and Use of Colour

The fonts used on the front cover are inconsistent as they used multiple styles. This is too much going on and can get very confusing and would put the audience off from reading.  Also, the main article font is hard to read and unclear as it looks like it has full stops after every word. It makes it look like more writing than there actually is which would make the target audience, which consists mostly of teenagers not want to read. The image used on the double spread is very effective as it splits onto both piece, this shape makes it look unique. The masthead font is bold and in bubble writing. This makes the masthead pop out, drawing attention to fans of this magazine.

It’s important to look at previous student’s work as it gives me an idea of what is effective and what is not effective in creating a magazine. This will help me in making my magazine as good as I possibly can as I also understand the assessment criteria so I know what I should be adding to my magazine.

So… I’m ready to make some media!

After doing all these tasks, I have learnt that a magazine has to meet certain expectations for it to be made well and effective. I will have to follow this criteria to make my magazine stand out to a specific audience.

I will need to:

  • Use a wide range of camera techniques varying from high angles, to a long shot. Also, I should use Mise-en-scene to make the model look appropriate to the genre I will use.
  • Use magazine features such as masthead, main cover title, plugs, captions, inserts and more as it lays out the magazine.
  • Consider fonts as that is what people read to get the information. I will need to make it clear and a colour that people who are colour blind are able to read.
  • I will need to consider the ‘rule of thirds’ so the main focal point is off to the side, not dead centre.
  • Use AIDA – Attention, interest, desire and action. This will make it stand out to an audience and make them create a course of action, leading them into buying my magazine.

My Tour Poster


This is the Country and Western tour poster I made. I believe it is too minimalist as there are a few spaces that I could’ve filled. I found it quite difficult in finding what I could do with the poster as I am not a fan of the genre. I chose to make it look like a wanted poster as that is what I think of when I hear the words ‘Western’, this will make it easy for an audience to decode what genre my model is for.

I like how I added the filter over the main cover star as it makes it look sandy like a western desert. I also believe that the font I used is very similar to a sign for a saloon, which I liked as it also links with the ‘Western’ genre. I believe that my poster is quite informative as it shows where you can buy tickets, where the concert is at and what date it’s on.

What I could improve on:

  • Adding information in the eyeline of the model to focus attention
  • Adding more venues and dates
  • Making my poster stand out more as the colours are quite dull

Self-Assessment

My copy of professional magazine front page

 

I started by analysing the colours, fonts and images of the professional magazine, NME. After this, I chose a grey background and chose the main image picture closest to the original. I had to cut them out of the background they were in using Photoshop, then I put a black and white filter over the top. I added both of these images into InDesign, locking the background first as I didn’t want it to move out of its place. I was able to add the title ‘NME’ behind the main image using the layers. As the image was in black and white, I had problems reading the writing. To fix this problem, I made some of the writing black as it was more readable.

By using InDesign and Photoshop, I have learnt how to do many things such as taking advantage of the layering tool. I have also learnt how to erase the background of an image and how to add filters. This will benefit me in making  my magazine as I didn’t know these techniques before making this copy.

Youtube videos I watched

What could have been better

  • The spacing of the text are quite close together
  • I could add all four of The Vaccines in
  • Try to cut out the image better so there are no white patches around the main cover stars

What went well

  • The positioning of the text
  • I managed to find the closest font to the original magazine
  • I was able to get the free posters into the right position and angle

A front cover analysed

As a media producer, I must be able to target a specific audience for my genre of music. This is to ensure I have an audience that would buy the magazine. I analysed NME which targeted the male audience demographic within the ages of 18-24. The magazine appealed to this target audience by using this model as the main cover star as the audience can relate to him. He is also giving a mysterious look towards the camera which intrigues the audience into reading more. The audience is able to relate to his look as he looks to be a young adult, similar to the age of the target audience.

For my magazine, I need to ensure that I use all these techniques and to understand my target audiences demographics as this will make my magazine stand out to my target audience. I will need to carefully choose the language, colours, images and fonts as it is crucial in making a magazine.

 

 

Audience Profiling

It is important for a media producer to research the target audience they are going for because it will grab their attention. If they want to target a teenage boy, they might want to add blue colours or green colours to stand out. The font may be bold and messy as a sense of rebellion. However, if their target were girls, they might add a main cover picture of a popular celebrity and have big, bold, neat, pink font. They may also want to add a free gift of makeup with it.

By analysing this magazine, I have learnt that media producers have to consider a lot of details that would go into their magazine such as the target audiences demographics (age, gender), where they’re from, their profession or if they’re left or right wing. We found out this information from yougov. I have also learnt that their psychographic group comes into consideration as it shows the media producer their attitudes and interests.

 

So… How can an image communicate meaning?

An image can communicate meaning through framing and mise-en-scene as it is effective in encoding hidden details for the audience to decode. It is important using these techniques as it makes a magazine stand out from others.

High angles can make a person look vulnerable if used in the correct way. In addition to this, if the model acts weak, it will make the camera look more dominant over the model.

Using depth of view to make a person far away look blurry is effective in making it seem like they are a stalker. It’s mysterious as you aren’t able to see what that model looks like.

When I am able to make my magazine, I will use these techniques to make my magazine stand out. I will consider mise-en-scene and different camera techniques to tell a story that my audience is able to understand.

 

 

The design features of a magazine

We broke down the magazine front cover with technical features that make the magazine stand out. These are common in all magazines to make them effective towards their audience. There are features such as the main cover star, main story cover line, captions and inserts, pugs and plugs.  I learnt that a caption links with the insert to inform the reader more about what’s in the magazine.

The main cover star shows the main story. It usually is a popular celebrity who catches the eyes of people walking past. The main story cover line is in big, bold writing which also catches the eyes of people walking past. The pug is a feature that tells the audience what is inside and what they will get from the magazine. Also, the cover line is at the top as our eyes go from top left to bottom right in a clock-wise motion.

The front cover is the most important page in a magazine as it is very informative. It’s important for me to put these features in my magazine because without them, no one would want to buy it. I will need to add them to make my front cover look professional.

The Camera Talks

These are the final nine photos I chose. We used a variety of camera techniques like long shot, extreme closeup and framing to make our pictures look effective.

In my opinion, the bottom left image is the most effective by the use of the high angle. We also used depth of field to make the girl blurred out in the background. These techniques made the girl look vulnerable as well as the dominant high angle the camera is at. We incorporated mise-en-scene by the use of acting to make her facial expression look weak.

It is important to incorporate these different camera techniques into my magazine as they are used to make a story. I want to tell the audience this story as it makes the photos look professional. By doing this task, I am now able to use these techniques so when I make my magazine, I will be able to convey a story to my audience.