Font Testing

Curlz MT

This font is called ‘Curlz MT’,. Culz MT is a very casual font that I feel this font is quite girly, and would be suitable for a magazine that’s target audience was teenage girls. This being because it isn’t formal at all and is very fun and interesting to read.

Times New Roman

‘Times New Roman’ is universally a very formal font. Due to the fact it is the general font people use for writing letters and many business would use it for everything. Therefore I don’t think it would be a good reflection of my magazine this font because I want my magazine to attract a younger audience. However it would be suitable for a tech or business magazine.

Chalk duster

This font is called ‘Chalk Duster’. Chalk duster is a very large font compared to many others even though all my font testings are size 12. It is very fun to read. Overall I feel that this would be best suited to a young child’s book, as it is very easy to read and will keep the attraction of the children reading it.

Perpetua tilting mt

‘Perpetua tilting mt’ can either be used in ‘bold’ or ‘light’, however I chose to use it in light, as it looks very posh. I feel this is because it is permanently in captitals and is very thin and light. 

Colour Testing

GREEN is a very neutral colour that stereotypically has no gender attached to it I feel it would be suitable for any text. However it wouldn’t due to the fact it is extremely bright and colourful, which would suit a child’s magazine more than an adult’s magazine. Therefore I won’t use this as a text on my magazine, unless I am trying to attract children to a specific section.

GREY is typically a very sorrowful and isolated colour, however I feel it is quite light and would go well with a very simple layout of a magazine, so that you can then use extremely bright colours to attract the readers attention to certain sections. Overall I feel grey will suit my magazine very well, as it is genderless along with green, however is more sophisticated and simple at the same time.

BLACK is a pretty much worldwide used colour or all magazines. It is very bold compared to most other colours, and is extremely versatile (it can be formal and also informal when needed). I will definitely be using black for the colour of some sections of font in my magazine, as it is simple and expected in magazines.

RED is a massive contrast compared to black and grey, the two colours that I will be using the most in my text, therefore I feel that I should use a colour like this for the text I would like to stand out and catch the readers attention, also red is commonly used in rock magazines to do just that.

BLUE is usually associated with the earth, and commonly boys. Nevertheless it is a very light colour, and would suite a really cleansing relaxing magazine like, a health magazine. 

Reader Profile

                                                             Reader Profile

From the research I have collected I know that most people aged 16-21 listen to rock and pop-rock music therefore this will be my age range for my magazine. Also meaning lots of people will be interested in my magazine.

After reading my questionnaire it showed that most of the younger participants listen to music at least once a day, minimum. Therefore showing this is a good age range to target.

Most teenagers in my target market listen to rock/pop rock or dream pop genres  and listening to bands/people such as; ‘purity ring’, ‘grimes’ and ‘bring me the horizon’ etc.

Usually following a very ‘grunge’ inspired style, due to the want to be different and express themselves other than following mainstream fashions.
This magazine gives my target market access to more exclusive and less mainstream artists and provides them with an insight into not just their music but their style and culture. Which they will want to imitate. Readers will then look forward to an 'underground icon' feature every fortnight. 

Moreover, having a very wild lifestyle including regularly go to festivals and concerts, partying and going on spontaneous adventures. Not being afraid of who they are and very outrageous. Along the lines of the lifestyles of the actors from the programme ‘Skins’, which many of my target market would watch.

Double Page Spread Analysis

This double page spread is based on the singer Hayley Williams; the background is black with a large close up/medium shot of Hayley’s face filling up the entire left hand page. The colour of her hair being very bright compared to the dark background. Also the photo shows her singing (you can clearly tell this as her mouth is open and there is a microphone in the background behind the text on the right page. 

On the right hand page there is a large quote in white font saying ‘its okay to have scars and to show them’ this is taken from the article that may attract the readers eye and force them to read on. 

Double Page Spread Analysis

This double page spread is taken from NME magazine; it Is based on Florence Welch, who is mostly known as Florence and the machine.

The left hand page is a long shot of Florence posing on a structure covered by a large American flag. The use of a long shot shows her full body and the pose in which she is in, making her look extremely feminine and seductive. Attracting more male readers.

In the background of the photo of Florence in grey extremely large font says ‘USA’, showing the article will be about America, and possibly her experiences with it or even her love for the place.

The main text is written in paragraphs on the bottom right hand side, in extremely small writing. However due to the fact the font colour is black and the background is a very light grey it stands out very well making it easier to read.

Also, there is an informal introduction above the main text, showing what will be within the main article itself. ‘She’s 2009’s biggest success story, with America at her feet. So why is Florence Welch lying on her floor attacking herself?’

‘got the love’ is in bold black writing in a very fancy font across the second page, which is a lyric to her song and also stands out compared to the light grey’s of the page. 

Magazine Front Cover Analysis

The magazine cover I am analyzing is ‘NME’, a well-known rock magazine. The Masthead is in the top left hand side corner in bright white. This is a drastic contrast to the colour of Florence Welch’s, a bright red shade.

The main image is a close up of Florence’s face, which is very light and pale shade which also contrasts with her hair, drawing the reader to this magazine; One because she is a very well known singer and two due to the bold colours catching the audiences eyes.

The target audience of this particular magazine looks more adult due to the layout of the page. The subtitles around Florence’s face particularly add to this effect because they are in a formal font and the colours are complementary to each other. 

At the bottom left hand corner of the page there is a screamer reading ‘Florence’ in bold black letters, which stands out enormously to the other writing because it is in black. Meaning people that know of Florence and the machine will instantly be drawn to the magazine.

Also the magazine has a section on the front cover saying ‘2 of 10 Special Edition Covers’, meaning people already collecting will definitely want to buy the magazine. Moreover, even non-collectors will also want to buy this magazine as it is limited edition.

Magazine Front Cover Analysis

The second magazine cover I have decided to analyse is ‘NME’, in which they have also chosen to feature ‘Paramore’ on the front. The background is considerably plain compared to the bold colours with the different fonts on the page. For instance the contrast of the bold headline ‘Paramore’ is stretched infront of the whole band in bright pink writing will catch the readers eye automatically.

The four male members of the band are placed behind Hayley Williams showing she is a more dominant figure in the group and also is more known publically. This might be because of her unique identity, including her crazy style and her bright orange hair.

The masthead is obviously ‘NME’ as this is the name of the magazine brand. It is also a main feature on the page as it is in bright red and is the only other form of colour other than the pink headline.  The masthead is covered, however as it is such a popular magazine it is very recognisable anyway.

The target audience is left as a considerably open range as it is obviously for people aged around 16+, and people that are into rock music. However it is questionable, which gender the magazine is targeted at, as both woman and men enjoy rock music. Nevertheless the structure of the magazine itself (the bold fonts and layout) presents itself as being a more masculine magazine. 

Magazine Front Cover Analysis

The magazine front cover I have chosen is ‘Kerrang magazine’, a very well known rock magazine. The masthead is ‘Kerrang’ in large white letters; this is always the same position on the page and also the same font, however the colours vary.  This bold title contrasts with the dark background making it extremely eye-catching to potential customers.

This particular magazine is featured on the American band ‘Paramore’. Lead singer, Hayley Williams is the main attraction on the front cover, as she is posing bent towards the screen up close. However all the other band members are stood upright further away from the screen so you focus mainly on Hayley.

Hayley Williams has a very unique sense of style that stands out dramatically to other female singers of 2012, this making her a good role model as she has her own individual identity and people will be more likely to buy the magazine.

‘Paramore’ is the screamer, it is written in a white font (very similar to the masthead) much like the fact it stands out from the rest of the page. There is writing surrounding the screamer saying; ‘We were sick of it all!’ and underneath saying ‘Secret Conflict Revealed’.

Above the barcode there is a star in which in bold black font says ‘WIN’, which attracts you to the section. Then below it says ‘A spinal tap guitar worth £700!’ which makes you want to read more about it as you will be getting more for your money if you do in fact win. 

Dubstep

Dubstep

Dubstep is a genre of music that is ‘electronic dance music’. It originated in South London, England. It is commonly described as "tightly coiled productions with overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals."

·      Nero

·      Chase and Status

·      Skrillex

·      DJ Fresh

Pop Rock

Pop Rock

Pop rock is a genre of music that mixes the catchy style of light lyrics from pop songs with guitar-based rock songs. The term varies vastly and is very vague as there are many different bands that are socially accepted as ‘pop-rock’. The term ‘pop rock’ is mostly used to describe bands that are less authentic than rock music. These are several bands that are pop rock:

·      Paramore

·      You Me At Six

·      Boys like Girls