Magazines: Front cover practical project

 Research

1) Use Google to research potential magazines that you could use as your brand/design for this project. Create a shortlist of three potential magazines and upload an example front cover from each one. We recommend looking at lifestyle magazines or a similar genre as these are more achievable to re-create.

                 

2) Choose one of the three magazine brands to use for your project e.g GQ, Vogue or The Gentlewoman. Then find three different front covers for your chosen magazine and embed them in your blogpost. Analyse the fonts, colours and typical design. What is the language or writing style? How are the cover lines written? What camera shot is generally used for the cover image? You need to become an expert in the design and construction of this magazine and its branding.

Planning

1) In your blogpost, write your main cover line (also called the 'main flash') - this is the main cover story that links to your central image. It must be 100% original - all your own words.

The main cover line will be Timeless. Original. Skill.

2) Briefly plan the image you will need for the cover - model, costume, make-up, lighting etc. At this point, simply describe the image you need to capture.

The image I wish to capture is the model standing under a picturesque bridge using natural lighting with dark makeup to accentuate the eyes, dark and clothing so there's more attention on the picture as a whole.

3) Write the cover lines and any additional text you need for your magazine cover.

The original magazine doesn't include additional text as it has a very simplistic layout.

4) Sketch out your cover on plain A4 paper using your written planning. Take a photo of your sketch and upload it to your blogpost.

Photoshoot

We will do a photoshoot in class next week with lighting and backdrop. However, if you prefer you can arrange your own photoshoot for the cover image in your own time - you can use your phone or your own camera to take an image. If you don't have a phone or camera that is suitable, you can sign out a camera from Mr Ray.

1) On your planning document blogpost, state the date, time and location of your photoshoot and the name of the model or photographer you will use (you can choose anyone to be your cover model or you can be the cover model yourself).

Sunday 4th May, 12-1PM, the Hanwell viaduct, the model is myself.

Publication to blog and evaluation

1) Once you have completed your design you need to save or export a copy as a JPE/G image. Then, upload it to your blogpost. 

2) Upload two genuine covers of the magazine you have used and put them next to your front cover. This is a brilliant way to check how professional your work looks alongside the real thing.

                        

3) Write a short evaluation of your work: have you succeeded in your brief to create a new, original edition of an existing magazine? Does your cover stand up alongside the genuine covers of your chosen magazine? How professional is your work alongside those genuine examples?

My work stands out a bit due to the difference in how much of a focus the model takes in the picture compared to my version, due to moving the image across multiple editing platforms the images quality decreased.

4) Finally, what would you do differently if you completed this assignment again?

I would do an editorial look instead and use a blank background to bring more attention to the model