Evaluation

My magazine cover uses a variety of conventions so that it follows what is expected of a typical magazine. For example, it has a masthead directly at the top so that you know what the name of the magazine is, and a skyline above the masthead which promotes the magazine in a good light. It also has cover lines to show snippets of what  is inside the magazine and most importantly a main image that relates to what the magazine is about in the specific issue - so in this case a student because its a student magazine. 

My magazine represents different social groups due to the fact nothing is being specified in terms of who it's aimed at apart from the fact it's for sixth formers. Other than that it has a a wide range of pictures that consists of all sorts of people interacting, therefore representing all sorts of social groups instead of just one in particular.


I think the type of media institution that would distribute my magazine would be one that specialises in school magazines. For example, the SPC (School Publications Company) would probably consider my magazine as I have made sure that it has everything that is looked for in a school magazine and more. They are probably looking for new and well put magazines to publish and I feel that my magazine meet that criteria.

As I've mentioned before, the audience for my magazine is sixth formers. I've made this clear through the conventions on my magazine cover. The name of the magazine is 'iStudent' and since the 'i' stands for independent. I feel this is a good way to reach out to my target audience because then sixth formers are going to relate to the fact that they are now independent learners. Also, the cover lines consist of things that sixth formers are going to see as interesting or helpful. One of my cover lines promotes a double page spread on a sixth formers journey through to A2, and I'm sure sixth formers would like know what happened because then they will feel that they can relate to any struggles along the way or just out of pure curiosity as to how some else's sixth form years went.

Looking back on the preliminary task, I feel I have learned a number of things. One of the main things being how to go about designing the front of my magazine cover. Throughout the weeks I've learned exactly where to place things on the page and about colour scheme and typography. During of the early weeks of being set the task, I wasn't sure on where to place things and I had a very vague idea of what I wanted but had no idea of how it was going to be created as the end result. Though as the weeks have gone by I have managed to learn skills that have produced the end result of my magazine cover.
  

iStudent Contents Page - Plan

My Magazine Front Cover: iStudent

My Masthead Design For My Magazine

This is my design for the masthead that will appear on my magazine. I feel that this design will appeal to my audience for various reasons. I made the 'i' a lower case letter, and so it indicates it stands for something. In this case, it stands for independent and I think independent students relates to my target audience (sixth formers) considering once you are a sixth former, you are more independent in terms of work etc. I also made the typography look as if a student had drawn it. This again will attract the audience because they can relate to things like doodling in class and such.    

The Main Image: Five Possible Photographs

Here are five photographs that I have taken that could be used as the main image for my magazine.

The Main Image For My Magazine

I think this is the best photograph for my front cover out of the five I've taken. This is because out of the five, it shows a the best use of mis-en-scene. The environment in the background shows that it is of a school setting from the bulletin boards. The use of props (glasses, student I.D) give you the impression that is a student. Also the facial expression of the student is happy, which gives of positive vibes, that would then reflect off the audience in  a good way.

Body language is good as well, because the posture of the student isn't slouching as if they are not bothered to be in school, but as if they are ready to learn. So in conclusion, I think this photograph as a front cover will do good in terms of catching my target audience's eye.

Design Ideas: My Flat Plan

This is a flat for my student magazine. I've made sure to add the typical conventions of a magazine such as the masthead, skyline, cover lines etc. This will give me a basic guide of what I want for the end result. I find the typography I have used for my masthead ( that I've roughly drawn out) to be quite good. It will stand out and attracts the audience. The 'i' in the name iStudent stands for independent and has an eye drawn on top of it instead of a normal dot to represent the eyes of a student. The skyline says 'The magazine for independent students (6th form)' and I think this links in well with the masthead. I also made sure my coverlines have things to do with the genre of this magazine and that they are interesting enough to get students to want to read inside.