Evaluation of preliminary task

Evaluation.

For my task I had to create a magazine designed to suit 6th form students, I was asked to create the front cover and the contents page using Photoshop. First however I had to carry out research and planning to find out what my target audience would want in a FREE school magazine, so I asked around with people from 6th form and from this I got a load of information that I could use as sell lines on the front cover which was very helpful, and this helped shape my overall design on what the final product would look like. 

After I had created my mock ups, I had to make a replication on Photoshop of what I had drawn, this included taking an image of a model, using Photoshop to make any edits needed (e.g. eye color change, cutting out backgrounds, adding features) and making something that looked like a professional magazine. 

Overall using Photoshop was successful, I had no real problems as such and I used as many conventions as I could fit whilst maintaining a professional feel to the magazine. I managed the time well and had the front cover created within 2 hours. I kept to the traditional big bold title, however I used two different fonts to show two different sides to the magazine. One dark bold font, to show class and professionalism and a more 'scraggy' and colorful font to show the social life of a teenager this age, and to bring a bright color to the front page. Also, I kept my sell lines bold and clear, as well as colorful, this is because I wanted to give the magazine life and soul, and something cheerful to look at when a 6th former enters the common room, I want it to grab their attention and it wont make them sad to read and look at. My choice of model and pose was also something I had to think about, because I wanted to use a 6th former that people know, and I wanted to make him look as if he was enjoying school, he wasn't stressed and he enjoyed going to school, and I chose this because I want the magazine to look as if it will make you like that, not stressed and happy with life.

I used a banner to help make the magazine look more attractive, by offering promotional offers, it will help in making people want to read the magazine and adds a more professional look. 

When it came to effects, I didn't have to use much, I cut out the background of the model and placed him on a plain background, and gave the fonts extra fonts to stand out more. The effect of this would be making the fonts more visible and eye catching, which is essential in a magazine. 

On my contents page I wanted to keep things simple but modern and colorful, because I did not want it to be complicated, but at the same time I wanted it to be easy to read but also nice to look at, I wanted to use a colorful, bold fonts and crazy eccentric fonts, which I think I did well. As I only did a mock up, I left a lot of space where images could feature relating to my topics, which will give the reader a clearer idea of what the magazine is about and what sort of topics are going to feature.

In conclusion my preliminary task was successful and everything went more or less to plan and I think I met the target audience profile and mission statement well, I think in my main task I will improve on the main image however and the positioning of the text because I think it could be positioned in a place which will make it more effective, more eye catching and make it look more professional.