Evaluation of the Preliminary Product

         

Front Cover       

 I have spent my time to create a magazine cover that would be appropriate for a school magazine therefore, I have decided to use some elements form other school magazines. I searched for a range of different styles of magazine covers and found that none of them have a barcode due to the fact that school magazines are usually free and are handed out to the school students to read at the end of the day. For this reason, I have not involved a barcode onto my design; therefore there is also no sign of a kicker with a price. This therefore allows the magazine appear more simple than a professional magazine in shops as they look more busy with their banners and kickers that inform the target audience of their cheaper prices which, grabs the attention of a target audience. It is for this reason that unlike a real magazine, I have chosen to place my masthead near the bottom of the cover.

This is because school magazines are handed out instead of placed on a stand, making it easily noticed which magazine it is. On the other hand, this makes the magazine stand out more as this makes it unique and therefore more interesting for a target audience to look at which, is the aim for a real magazine, while a school magazine would focus more on the information inside rather than the presentation. Like all magazines, this one has a banner which I have decided to add and used it to give the message “everything around you” which gives the message that school surrounds out with chances to get a good education as long as you work hard at it therefore, you can’t let opportunity slip away. This is an educational message given by a school to persuade others that their school is the best can therefore, tries to get the target age group to go to the school while professional magazines say things like “Best magazine to read” or “exclusive interview with (name of celebrity) only in (name of magazine)”. This is done to persuade people to buy the magazine itself which is not the focus of a school magazine. A school magazine is certain to have a photograph of a student at the school and for this reason; I look a photo of a student working, to make the magazine more down to Earth. It is also better to have this image as the target audience can relate to the product better, as the person on the cover himself a student going to the same school. The subheading involves “new record GCSE results!” This is done in the style of a list, making it look more formal and easier to read, giving information about the school. However, capital letters are not used (apart from GCSE) to make the product look more laidback and informal, to connect with the target audience who are young and want to relax at a time when there are GCSEs to revise for.

I have tried to create a magazine that focuses on the ethos of my school. Looking at the school website that the school itself believes in respect, dignity and pride to show everyone that our is proud of itself, it has high expectations of its pupils and expects for people to dress smartly, be well behaved and work hard. The school website it set out neatly and is made easy to understand therefore, I have made my work simple with easy to read fonts and a neat layout. I have used colours including red, which represents bravery and pride onto my front cover, to give out a message that the school only expects the best behaviour and that the school gives students a good education to have a good future. White has also been used to suggest that the school is up to date and youthful, showing that school is for people still in their youth, therefore showing innocence the cover. The black and white photo makes the school traditional and presentable, allowing the overall look show hard working students who learn new skills but also have a modern touch to show that the school can keep up with our generation.