The Four F's

 

 

Format:     They are the design choices that are included in every issue to keep an overall consistency of the magazine. This includes colour scheme and font. For example, magazines aimed at young girls will most likely have pastel pinks and blues with doodles and sparkles all the way through the magazine and in every issue

For example 'girl talk'  has lots of pink and little doodles of love hearts and females on the cover which is featured in every single edition of the mag. (With exceptions to boy bands or actors that may be featured on the cover)

 

 

Formula: Editorial content (what's inside the mag) for example, article content, departments and their length. The address and the way the article is written will effect the audience. An adults magazine written like a child's magazine wouldn't work because people may think that the writer is insulting their intelligence and consequently the audience may lose interest in the magazine entirely and not buy it again.
 

As this example shows, its very clear just by the headlines which magazine is aimed at adults. The one on the right features mostly adult themes and cultures and is also mostly blocks of writing whereas the one on the left is much shorter and more fun and seems to be aimed towards the bands fans and young girls.

 

Frame: Margins and gutters are kept to a standard size to keep a familiarity and consistency in every issue of the magazine. The white space from the margins mean that it gives an eye break for the reader but also allows the reader to hold the publication without covering words. Without any white space at all the magazine would be very off-putting to the reader as it would look too overcrowded and time consuming to read. It'd be very difficult to escape a standardised margin layout whilst still having a good visual effect on the reader.

 

 

Function: What a magazine is trying to achieve. This can be the message it wants to convey to the reader whether that is fashion, music or political views. Other magazines that support wildlife could want people to volunteer for a charity for example.






Deconstruction of a school magazine

 

Deconstruction of a school magazine:

 

 

                                                   
 Headline - Is in all caps in big, bold, black lettering  and shows the formality of the magazine as well as this, it is central and quickly attracts you to the title. Its short and snappy letting the reader know exactly what the magazine is about and what to expect from it                   
Image - This picture sets a tone for the magazine. It shows a high standard of uniform fitting with the sub line 'reflecting the best' as well as the engaged faces of the students to the teacher, it looks natural and shows their students as hardworking. This magazine is clearly aimed at adults because of the formality and language of the text. It's very minimalistic and would probably not entice the majority of younger generations
Overall - The magazine is clearly for middle to upper class parents because of the formality of the text and its stereotypical that they would have more involvement in the quality and standard of education of their children opposed to working class people.

This magazine is much different to the other. It seems to be aimed at a 'working class' average family. This is shown

in the use of colour and the less formal font and language used. It has a much more fun and welcoming vibe than the other and shows much more diversity on the cover however some of the language used like 'innovation' shows that
this magazine is aimed at adults and older readers rather than the child themselves. On the other hand, the magazine itself is based on choosing a secondary school, which, you would expect, the child would have some say in. This suggests that it may be a magazine aimed at the middle class as well. To further support this, the prices of magazines are rising therefore, it may be that wealthier families are the ones buying magazines but this magazine is trying to appeal to the masses rather than a niche group like the first one

 

 

 

 

 



The Task

Task:

                       1) Using DTP and an image manipulation program, produce the front page of a new school or college magazine featuring a medium close-up photograph of a student and some appropriately laid out text with a masthead. As well as this there must be a mock up of the layout of the contents page
      
                       2) Create a front page, contents and double page spread of a new music magazine