Research and Planning!
. Research existing magazines
I aim to create a magazine cover, contents page, and double page spread using my preferred genre of music, thus being Rap and Hip Hop. I will research many magazines to find out relevant information I ought to include in my coursework piece, which will help me select techniques and methods of design to utilise in my own piece.
'VIBE' magazine provides me with a perfect foundation to build my own piece on. It features relevant artists to my specific genre, an appropriate colour scheme which is bold, eye-catching and uses only 3 colours as to not make the spread look cluttered. It doesn't use bleeds of imagery, which keeps the layout clean and tidy. The masthead is large, and stands out, despite the image of an artist's head covering the letter 'B'. It is easily distinguishable, and I aim to use a large masthead in my own piece, however I do not intend to overlap imagery and the masthead, due to my desire to have a clean-cut layout, featuring no over-laps or bleeds.
I like the use of sans serif font, as it provides a clear-cut type of font, which is appropriate to all audiences, and adds slight informality to the cover, which is relevant to subject matter, thus being genre. There is a specific audience appropriate to this genre of magazine, thus being those who enjoy rap/hip hop music, and usually aged between 14 and 30 years old. It appeals to both males and females, as it contains subject matter on both gender artists, within the rap/hip hop music industry.
I like the main image on the cover, as it is appealing to individuals who find the artist attractive, and enjoy his music. It also stands out as the colours contrast to those on the background of the cover, causing it to catch a consumer's eye. I intend to use a main image that will be similar to the font colours, however, the model in my piece will wear something that contains a colour that contrasts to the background, in order to stand out.
The image denotes the artist, Trey Songz, who is associated with the musical genre. He is shirtless, and displays many of his upper torso and arm tattoos. The image does not connote the musical genre, as it is an image of the artist, and nothing that he is wearing represents his music. He can be perceived as a male model, due to his pose. His pose represents power, and the stern look on his face connotes aggression. He is staring directly at the camera, which is important, as he is directly addressing the consumer. The fact that he is shirtless can represent freedom, and in this case; artistic freedom. His tattoos connote an expression of identity. I like these techniques, and believe that connotation is very important for interesting an audience. This image was taken in a studio, and has been edited to get rid of imperfections.
The use of a running masthead is vital when attracting any audience, especially those of a select musical genre. The running masthead on 'VIBE' has other artists associated with rap/hip hop. This is an important technique which I will incorporate into my own piece.
Not only does this advertise other artists associated with this musical genre, but it draws you to a particular artist you are fond of. For example, anyone interested in 'USHER' would be drawn to this magazine, and for this reason, they will be more likely to purchase the item.
'XXL' Magazine is very similar to 'VIBE'.
It is a hip hop/rap genre magazine, like 'VIBE', and features a main image of a musical artist, in this being 50 Cent. Again, he is looking directly at the camera, which addresses the consumer immediately. The layout differs slightly to 'VIBE', as the caption bleeds over onto the image. Like before, the masthead stretches over the artist's head and the colours are plain and simple. The colour of the masthead background is brighter, and contrasts with the other colours on the page. I like this use of colour, and will include it in my own piece. This image was taken in a studio, and has been edited using computer software such as photoshop in order to remove imperfections.
The masthead for XXL magazine is clear, using sans serif, bold font. The red background makes the white lettering stand out. Like 'VIBE', it doesn't represent the musical genre in the masthead, but 'XXL' denotes extra, extra large, which connotes that their is a lot of content within the magazine. The font colour is gender-neutral, therefore allowing it appeal to both females and males.
The running masthead completely describes the magazine's content, thus being the musical genre- rap/hip hop. I prefer 'VIBE's technique of incorporating rap/hip hop artists into their running masthead, and from contrasting the two magazines, I have decided to use 'VIBE's technique.
This method of 5mm wrap-around of fellow musical artists associated with the magazine is used well, as it can be perceived by the consumer as a list of contents, thus describing the other artists within the magazine. The bold, sans serif font is clearly visible on the page. I like the idea of a 5mm wrap around, and therefore aim to use it within my own piece.
This caption on the 'XXL' magazine is very effective, as it is bold, sans serif, and large. The black and white of the font are plain, but contrast to the background, making it very visible. I aim to use a large caption like this in my own creative piece, in order to draw attraction to the main feature and image on the cover.
The audience most applicable to 'XXL' magazine are those aged around 15- 40. Unlike 'VIBE', 'XXL' appears to focus on hip hop music. The way in which 'VIBE' doesn't do this, is that it features artist Trey Songz shirtless on the cover...this does not represent the genre of music. 50 Cent is a well-known rapper who works under the specific genre of music, and genuine hip hop fans will be more attracted to the musical content rather than the imagery which only represents that of a sexual nature.
Contents pages:
This is the contents page featured in 'VIBE' magazine.
The main image features two female hip hop/rap artists. It denotes that they are wearing heeled shoes, short skirts, and low-cut tops, which connotes sex, and their brash jewellery connotes money and power.
There is one straight column of text which provides the contents listings. Serif, black, bold font is used for the areas of interest, and the titles also use ascenders and descenders, which adds a more feminine effect. The remaining text, thus being the contents, is varied, using both bold and regular, serif and sans serif font. This can be perceived as messy, and informal to the reader, therefore is more likely to attract a younger audience, aged around 15-25. The column gutters also change throughout the text.
The contents title is broken down over three separate lines, which adds to the informality of the magazine layout. The black, bold font contrasts with the white background, causing a simple but effective look, as it easily draws the audience's eye. I like the use of this break down in text and aim to use this technique in my own magazine contents page.
Their poses are forced, and they are stood at a side angle, with their hands on their hips, thus again, connoting power. They are both directly facing the camera, which immediately addresses the audience. This CVI (Centre of visual interest) is very prominent, immediately gaining the audience's attention. Poses are very important, and I will take the possible poses of my model into serious consideration when creating my own piece.
This is the contents page from XXL magazine.
The rap/hip hop male artist featured in the centre of the contents page denotes a young, black male, dressed in white, staring directly at the camera. His folded arms connote power and annoyance, and the hard glare and curled upper lip resemble these elements also. He is stood on a bannister, which represents power, as he is above it, and above the audience, tilting his head downwards.
The title of the contents page is named 'TOP BILLIN' DEPARTMENTS'. The white, bold, serif font contrasts to the red background. The apostrophe on the "BILLIN'" adds strong informality to the title, which defies the initial age-range of audience suitable to this magazine, now applying to a perhaps younger audience, with a similar range to 'VIBE' magazine. Therefore, aged between around 14 and 30.
The white font contrasts to the brown background, making the text stand out. Page titles are written in bold, and details are written in regular font. I aim to use this method in my own piece. The sans serif font adds informality and makes it clear to read.
Double Page Spreads:
This is the double page spread from 'VIBE' magazine. The text is split into three columns per page. There is ample alley which makes for a cleaner layout and easier read. The body is black, regular and serif. The black contrasts well to the white background, again, allowing for a cleaner layout. The capital letters at the beginning of new column and copy are highlighted in a large font, with a grey font. This is easily distinguishable for the reader.
This image is featured on the top-right of the second page of the double page spread. It bleeds over the crease of the page which makes the layout look informal and cluttered. It features rapper, The Game. He is wearing a black and red hooded jumper, a red beanie hat, and is stood with his back to a black punch bag. He is staring directly at the camera, which is an essential technique used, as he immediately addresses the reader. I intend to use this technique in my own piece. His facial expression is stern, with his upper-lip curled. It connotes arrogance.
This is a quote taken from the featured interview with rapper, The Game. It is a CVI, and the bold, sans serif, large font draws the reader's eye to it. It is spread over both pages in order to become eye-catching.
This is the body from The Game's interview featured on the double page spread. It displays the serif, black, regular font mentioned previously, which contrasts to the white background. It does not look cluttered, thus improving the layout of the column.
This is the double page spread from 'XXL' magazine. It features a large image of rapper, Nas. The body of the interview is limited to one column which runs down the far-left of the second page. Like 'VIBE', a drop cap has been used at the beginning of the text. This is effective as it is clearly visible to the reader. The font of the first capital letter is serif, brown, and large. The font of the body is sans serif, black and regular. Like 'VIBE', it also contrasts to a white background.
This is a quote taken from rapper, Nas. The font is serif, bold, and brown. It has an authentic style which adds formality. This is a simple technique of adding formality which I aim to utilise in my own piece.
This is the featured image of rapper, Nas. It is very large, and takes up three quarters of the double page spread. Nas is displaying his tattoos- which connote originality and a sense of identity. He is directly looking into the camera, which like 'VIBE', addresses the audience immediately. His facial expression is vacant and placid. A punch bag is also featured in this image, like 'VIBE'. It connotes aggression, and the release of it. Nas is wearing jewellery, which connotes that he is wealthy, and portays power and authority.
This is a double page spread taken from 'XXL' magazine. The left page features a large image of rappers, 50 Cent and Soulja Boy. It does not feature text. The right page features the body of the report. The font of the title is bold, sans serif, and typed in capital letters.
This quote is taken from the right page of the double page spread. This is used as a headline for the story. The use of capital letters and bold font emphasises the text, and the black font contrasts to the white background of the page. The text stands out and is clearly visible to the reader.
This is the image featured on the left page of 'XXL's double page spread. The models are rappers, 50 Cent and Soulja Boy. 50 Cent (far left), is stood facing the camera and is looking directly into it. The stern expression on his face connotes anger and aggression. His stance connotes power and authority, however, his black cap is tilted, which adds informality and gives him a more relaxed look. His jewellery connotes wealth. The fact that he is wearing black connotes authority and formality. Formality is not usually associated with the specific musical genre; rap/hip hop. Fellow rapper, Soulja Boy (far right) is wearing more colourful attire, entailing a gold chain which connotes wealth, fashionable blue jeans and a hooded grey sweater, which connote informality, and black and white shoes. His pose is attention seeking, as his hands are raised and he is staring directly into the camera, addressing the audience immediately. He connotes power, and authority. Together, the models contrast formality and informality.
From the research I have obtained, I have been inspired to use many techniques that magazines 'VIBE' and 'XXL' utilise in order to create a similar clean layout of contents pages and front covers as well as bold font.
