Audience Research

To find out more about my target audience, who would be aged 11-19, i conducted a survey to find out more about what they wanted to see. I will then uses these results to help the creation of my magazine to include what the target audience would want to see.

The first question in my survey was 'What is your gender?' I used this information to find out more about the audience that would be answering the survey. I also asked them 'How old are you?'

This again allowed me to gain more information about the people who are answering my survey to find out what they would like to see. I then asked them 'What is your approximate average household income?'

This question allowed me to see what sort of social class the people were and so I could build the magazine around that. This allowed me to know what sort of language and design to use. I found that they were mostly of a lower social class and so would not be using long, sophisticated words like someone possibly from social grade A.

I then asked them wether or not the currently read the college magazine. I found that most people would occasionally read and many would not ever read it. However, some people did read. I used this information to help find a design so that everyone would be pulled in and want to read it.

I then asked them why do they or would they read the magazine. I found that everyone wanted entertainment in it and most wanted information. A few wanted news. I used this to help decide what i wanted to put in the magazine so that every one would be attracted to it.

After this, I asked them what topics they would like to see. I found that most people wanted sports and clubs and events. A few wanted Help and tips and not many wanted fashion. I used this to know what sort of stories I would put into the magazine.

I then asked them what they would like to see on the actual cover. I found that everyone wanted quality images and most wanted similar colour schemes an bold masthead and interesting typography. This allowed me to create a cover that would be interesting and attractive to all of the target audience.

Then I asked them what colours they wanted to see on the cover. I found that most wanted warm colours and a few wanter blues and dark colours, but no bright ones like pink or reds. This allowed me to create a good colour scheme that would be attractive to my target audience.

Finally, I asked them wether or not they would pay for the magazine. I found that no one wanted to pay for it and so I decided not to charge for it.

Using all the information I got from this survey I was able to create an attractive cover that would draw in my target audience and have what they wanted on it.

Analysis of Contents Pages

The primary target audience for Empire would be males aged around 17-25. This would be for people who are interested in films and reviews.  Its secondary target audience is for males and females both younger and older. Most of the target audience would in social classes B-C2.

The layout for the contents page is rather simple with the main features down the side and a main image in the other half. At the top the word ‘Contents’ is placed in large, capital letters. This simple layout allows the reader to easily see the content and to find what they are looking for, rather than searching through a busy page with lots of text. The text on the page is in a column making it easier to search through and more effective.  Each new feature is clearly shown with a bolder red headline. This again makes it easier to search through and to read which allows it to widen its audience.  The page numbers are also placed, in large typography, beside the feature. The whole page also uses similar typography to make it effective and look professional to draw in any potential reader.

This contents page has a clear three colour palette of red, grey and white. The use of the bright red on the darker grey background allows this text to stand out. This makes the features clear and easy to find. In the top right corner there is a yellow-orange circle which, as it does not follow the palette, stands out from the page. This draws the reader’s eye to it and so would attract the audience. This use of colours represent the target audience as they generally like darker and less colourful colours.

This page uses a single large image which takes up around half the page. The picture closely follows the colour palette and uses an image that will be instantly recognisable to the primary target audience, therefore drawing them in. The use of the single image almost keeps the look of columns as he, himself can act as one. This keeps the page from looking busy and will draw in the potential audience.  The image also represents the main feature of the magazine which is also shown in the yellow circle. 

This contents page is effective at drawing in its primary target audience and appeals to them through the use of colours and images. It keeps the page simple and easy to search through to find what one is looking for. This makes the page appealing for the target audience. 

The primary target audience for this contents page would be for males aged 18-30 who are interested in sports. Its secondary target audience would be other males and females who also like sport. The social classes would be B-D.

This page uses a simple layout that keeps the page easy to read and simple to scan through. It, also, uses a column layout for its text, with the main features down the left hand side. This makes the content easy to find and immediate to see so the audience would be drawn in quickly. The page also uses similar fonts across the whole page with the word ‘Contents’ in large bold typography at the top of the page. This makes it easy to see what is going on and does not make it confusing and too busy.

The page has a clear colour palette of black, white, green and red. The use of the red as page numbers on a white background makes them stand out and easy to see and search for, immediately letting the reader know what page they want. These colours keep the identity running through the pages and represent the target audience as the generally like a brighter, more colourful look. The page does not use any unusual colours and they all blend and work together to appeal to the audience.

The page uses a large main image to represent the sports this is a large image that will attract the audience and appeal to them. The page also uses smaller images of the cover and of the people who work on the magazine. This would appeal to the audience as it shows the people behind it and so could pull them in. These three smaller images are also shown in black and white so they do not immediately pull you in as to not drag you away from the mage features of the page.

The page makes good use of its colour palette and follows it closely. This makes the page effective at pulling the target audience in along with the use of the large image and the clean simple look of the page. 

Analysis of College Magazines

I am going to be analysing the cover of Bodmin College magazine, which has a primary target audience of students of the school who are aged 11-18. It has a secondary target audience of parent and teachers who are older than the students. It is for both male and females. The purpose for the magazine is to inform the readers of events that are going on around the school. It is also partly for entertainment.

The masthead does not work for this magazine as it uses unappealing fonts and colouring. This masthead would be the first thing you see when you look at the magazine and having unappealing typography would not represent the target audience of 11-18 year olds. These people would be more attracted to bold typography. The masthead does not make good use of content or colours, as it does not jump out to potential readers. If this had a competing magazine this masthead would not be effective to pull in readers as it does not use bright or bold colours and typography such as Empire would use.

This magazine cover does not have a clear main image; this does not go along with the common conventions of magazine covers. This cover uses three photos rather than one main central image. It also does not follow common conventions by using long shots rather than the use of close ups of the subjects. The photos are also three of the same type, dancing, which would not be appealing to the target audience of the magazine. The magazine uses mostly females in the photos, which would not draw in a large male audience as they are not featured and may not be pulled in by the dancing. However, the male readers may be attracted through Mulvey’s theory of male gaze with the use of the female dancers. The images used are also blurry and are not of high quality that again does not attract the readers. The photos also has poor lighting making the cover unappealing and would not pull in many readers. This cover does not feature any smaller, minor images such as the common conventions of a magazine. It has the three larger images and so does not help to show other content or features inside. This means it would not appeal to the target audience, as it will not be able to drag in people who don’t like dancing.

The cover does not feature a colour palette of three of four colours. This cover uses many colours that don’t mix and go well with each other. This use of colours does not keep and clear brand or pallet throughout. This can make the look of the cover confusing and does not appeal to a potential reader of it. The masthead also has a very different colour palette than the rest of the cover and so the two do not mix or blend together, again making it unappealing.

This cover does not feature much text or teasers, which show the content or the magazine. It does feature a textbox in the centre of the cover. This text box is hard to read because of the chosen colours and it’s chosen font, this does not pull people into it, as it is unattractive to them. It is a plain and not very exciting text box and so it would not attract the target audience. This cover does not have any other teasers on it and so it doesn’t show any other content. It doesn’t have a headline or any other teasers, which appeal and attract the target audience. This would not draw any other readers in and so would have to rely on the images to do so. This would mean people who don’t like dancing wouldn’t be attracted. The text used in the masthead is hard to read because of the colours being used on the text and the image being used. This would not draw in the target audience as it isn’t readable and the text is of a font, which would not appeal to the target audience of the magazine.

The cover doesn’t use an effective layout and it does not follow the common conventions for a magazine. It does use a masthead at the top however it is a very busy masthead and so it is unappealing and ineffective. The cover does not use much text and has three large images on it. The does not follow common conventions with one main image and a few smaller ones, and text which tells the reader what is featured inside. This makes the cover unappealing and ineffective at drawing in the target audience.

This cover would have the same primary target audience of students who are aged 11-18. It would also have the secondary target audience of teachers and parents. It would also be for both males and females. The purpose for this magazine would be to inform people of events as well as provide entertainment.

The masthead on this cover is effective as it stands out with the brighter orange and grey on a black background. The masthead uses a more modern typography that would appeal to the target audience and pull them into it. The use of smoke and fire would also be appealing to the target audience as it suggests and more rebellious and younger themes, which would help it to be attractive to the target audience. The masthead and its style also help it to create a recognisable brand through the word ‘Skive’. This, again, appeals to the target audience. The use of the word skive connotes that you could relax and be entertained through reading it rather then going to school.

The layout of the cover follows the common conventions. The cover has a lot of the main information down the left hand side, which helps the reader see, quickly and easily, the content inside. The cover also has the large masthead at the top that will drag people in and so makes it effective. The cover also follows the common conventions by having the large central, main image with a few smaller images to the side.

This cover uses a clear three or four colour palette of black, orange and white with some grey. This has a more appealing palette to its target audience and would be more effective to pulling people in. All of the colours blend in well together and so makes an appealing colour palette. On the left hand side minor image a bright pink is used which does not follow the main colour palette. This however, is carefully used to work well on the cover. It also would help attract females of the target audience who may not necessarily have been pulled in to read it.  The use of darker colours connote different emotions such as the black being depressed and dark, and it represents stereotypical behaviour of the target audience committing crimes.

This cover has a clear main image. It is a large image located in the centre of the cover. The colours of the image mix and blend in with the colour palette of the cover. The image uses an extreme close up of a teenager of the target audience and so it represents the target audience of the magazine. The image is also heavily photoshopped, which creates a more appealing image used to pull in the audience. The image has a cracked and broken look to it so the target audience would be attracted to this style. The image stands out on the cover

The cover also has a few minor images that are placed along the sides of the cover. The images on the right hand side have fire on the corners which would draw people in so the will be encouraged to look at the images. The use of flames would appeal to the target audience and represent them as it shows some rebellion and so the target audience would be attracted to it. The image on the left shows a more female subject of make-up and fashion. This would help appeal to the females of the target audience, possibly more than the cover’s colour palette and the main image. The images use long shots and mid shots of both people and objects, such as a boat.

The cover uses both basic typography for the smaller text as well as bold text for the main headlines.  The colour of the text follows the colour palette. The bold text draws the audience into the headlines of the cover.  The cover features the main headline of ‘Stress’ this is in a bold font with a cracked look, much like the main image. This word is the only text, apart from the masthead, that is not either black or white. The grey would draw in the readers and it stands out so it can be easily seen.

The cover also features many teasers to show the audience what would be found within the magazine. These uses more basic typography which makes them easy to read but it relies on the target audience are attracted to one of the larger, headlines as well. The teasers on this cover are aimed mainly at a female audience, which would not be appealing to the entire target audience of the males. The use of lexis like ‘monogamy’ would mean the cover is using more complex language and so may not be appealing to the whole of the target audience as not every one would know what all the words on the cover means.

This cover is both appealing and attractive to the primary target audience with the use of its colour palette as well as the layout. The cover follows the common conventions of a magazine cover and so it could be used effectively. However, the topics chosen for the cover may be a bit to feminine for the male part of the target audience. Its use of more complex words may also put a few people off, as they wouldn’t understand. Overall, this would be effective at pulling in the target audience. 

Analysing College Magazine

So that I know what common conventions that need to be used in my work, which represents my chosen target audience, I will analyse two college magazine covers which have been carefully chosen. It is very important for me to research and then to follow the existing, common conventions so I can follow what the needs of my target audience. It is important to follow these conventions that would be expected because these theorists have stated these creative processes of developing the creative products.

'Creativity results from the interaction of a system composed in three elements: a culture that contains symbolic rules, a person who brings novelty into the symbolic domain and a field of experts who recognise and validate the innovation.' (Caikazentmihalyi, 1996)

'A process needed for problem solving... not a specific gift enjoyed by a few but a common ability possessed by most people.' (Jones, 1993)

'The making of the new and rearranging of the old.' (Bently, 1997)

Preliminary Task

Before I started the main task, I need to create my preliminary task. For this I need to create a cover and contents page for a new college magazine. This allows me to first develop my skills in the creation of a magazine cover. I can develop my skills in photoshop, media terminology and theories  and critically reviewing my work which I first gained in my GCSE. This will allow me to gain a greater understanding of print, the skills required and the common conventions. This will then allow me to create a better and more advanced product than that of the one I did at GCSE.

My AS Coursework

The Brief:

I first looked at each of the briefs carefully. I then decided that the best brief for me to do was the print brief. I felt this would be the most appropriate brief for me to do, as well as the one I would be most interested in doing. I had produced a magazine previously, at GCSE, however, it wasn't very advanced and it followed some of the common conventions, but not too many, or well. I chose this brief as I wanted to improve my skills in the creation of a magazine and crete a much better example and gain better knowledge of this form of media. I also chose this because I enjoy music and creatively designing   print for this subject.