I have done two mock up covers as I am uncertain which style I will go with.
The second design (above) is inspired by 'Loud and Quiet' magazine covers.
Friday, 31 January 2014
Survey on Audience
Please take this quick survey.
It will help me decide on how to make my magazine more appealing to my target audience.
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It will help me decide on how to make my magazine more appealing to my target audience.
Click here to take survey
Thoughts on things I will include in my magazine
My research has helped me to decide on what I would like my magazine to include.
I have chosen my genre, target audience, and I have some ideas on how I wish to present my magazine.
I think that features of indie magazines I would like to include are simple layouts, unusual images, creative typography, black text on a white background, clean fonts and a simple colour scheme.
I have chosen my genre, target audience, and I have some ideas on how I wish to present my magazine.
I think that features of indie magazines I would like to include are simple layouts, unusual images, creative typography, black text on a white background, clean fonts and a simple colour scheme.
I have decided that, in terms of the language register I will use, my magazine will be informal. I chose this register as it is more casual, friendly, and it is language you would use to address your family. I hope that my using this register, it will keep my magazine light-hearted and entertaining. Informal language also helps to create synthetic personalisation, building a relationship between the reader and writer.
Skills I have aquired
I have learnt new magazine jargon that I can include in my work, and I have learnt how to do some basic things on photoshop, including how to edit individual layers and how to copy and paste images, I would like to improve my skills further though.
Institution Who Would Publish My Magazine
After researching which institutions publish the indie magazines that are be similar to the one I intend to make, I have found that most of them are self-published (The Wire etc.). By self-publishing, my magazine would conform to the original meaning of indie, which is to be independent, not relying on outside help.
If I was going to self-publish but needed support, an institution that would support a magazine like mine would be MAMA and Company.
MAMA was founded in 2005 and has since become the world's leading independent live music business.
It operates internationally, so my magazine would have the possibility of reaching a wider audience.
Their network of business seeks to create, source and manage music and entertainment content. They then distribute it through festivals, venues, tech platforms and publications, so MAMA is ideal for building and developing my audience.
Their support services business would assist the more commercial side of my magazine, such as providing venues for magazine features, as they currently do for 'The Fly' magazine, which is similar to my own intended style.
MAMA website: http://www.mamaco.com/
If I was going to self-publish but needed support, an institution that would support a magazine like mine would be MAMA and Company.
MAMA was founded in 2005 and has since become the world's leading independent live music business.
It operates internationally, so my magazine would have the possibility of reaching a wider audience.
Their network of business seeks to create, source and manage music and entertainment content. They then distribute it through festivals, venues, tech platforms and publications, so MAMA is ideal for building and developing my audience.
Their support services business would assist the more commercial side of my magazine, such as providing venues for magazine features, as they currently do for 'The Fly' magazine, which is similar to my own intended style.
MAMA website: http://www.mamaco.com/
Analysis of Existing Magazine Titles
This is an appropriate name for a music magazine as the reference to sound makes it clear what type of magazine it will be and what you can expect to find inside. The idea that the magazine is both loud and quiet makes it seem like a wider range of subjects or artists are included inside.
The capitalized, large and bold font makes it seem like the title is asserting its dominance on the magazine rack. The title is never covered by an image and the colour is consistently black on every issue, making it seem serious. It is easily recognizable and I like how smart and clean it appears.
The Stool Pigeon is actually a music newspaper. The font used makes this apparent as it is the most common font used for newspaper titles. While the font conforms to the genre stereotypes of newspaper titles, the actual title 'The Stool Pigeon' conforms to the indie idea of being different or unusual.
I think this is a very unique title, however, it is not clear what type of text would be inside. It does not sound like a name for a music newspaper, but it does sound as though it would be indie.
The colour of this title does not stay the same on every issue, it changes to fit more appropriately with the images and colour scheme of the rest of the cover, which I think is very effective.
The magazine used to feature a small image of a pigeon next to the title which was the logo but they stopped using this which makes the magazine seem more minimalist.
The Stool Pigeon is also a 2010 Chinese film about a police detective who attempts to gain information about gangsters. This gives the impression that the newspaper will have gained information about its own subject, music. People may understand the reference and purchase it in hopes that it will provide them with an exclusive insight into music.
The Wax Poetics title has also changed, from the words 'Wax Poetic', to the abbreviation of 'WP' and the full name being displayed elsewhere on the page.
This abbreviation forms a nice image that can also be a logo.
I really like the font used for this title, the 'W' looks like tape, and the rounded part of the 'P' looks like a vinyl record, so people will associate the image with music, which is important so that people are aware what type of magazine it is.
The name 'Wax Poetics' is quaint, which gives readers an idea about the contents- it will be unusual, different, indie. Wax Poetics is not to be mistaken with 'Wax Poetic', the New York-based trip hop band.
The colour of the title changes every issue to a colour that compliments the image displayed.
The colour scheme within the magazine is mainly white text on a dark background (the background often an image), but the headings change colour, again, complimenting the corresponding image.
I really like the font used for this title, the 'W' looks like tape, and the rounded part of the 'P' looks like a vinyl record, so people will associate the image with music, which is important so that people are aware what type of magazine it is.
The name 'Wax Poetics' is quaint, which gives readers an idea about the contents- it will be unusual, different, indie. Wax Poetics is not to be mistaken with 'Wax Poetic', the New York-based trip hop band.
The colour of the title changes every issue to a colour that compliments the image displayed.
The colour scheme within the magazine is mainly white text on a dark background (the background often an image), but the headings change colour, again, complimenting the corresponding image.
This title is different from most as it is not capitalized, so it can be argued that the ascenders and descenders waste space. This also makes the title stand out from others.
The title used to be capitalized, but the updated version gives The Fly something other magazines will not have.
I like how this font has a mix of straight and curved edges, and the ups and downs give it an irregular but attractive presentation.
I like how this font has a mix of straight and curved edges, and the ups and downs give it an irregular but attractive presentation.
 |
| Old version |
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| New version |
I like the new version far more than the old. It looks modern and interesting.
The colour of the title, as a rule, is either black or white, depending on what would go best with with the image used on each issue.
In every issue, the colour scheme is black and white. The background and font will always be one of the two colours, but the images used are various colours.
'The Fly' is also the name of a 1957/1986 film about a brilliant but eccentric scientist. This suggests that the magazine may be brilliant and eccentric- out of the ordinary.
The colour of the title, as a rule, is either black or white, depending on what would go best with with the image used on each issue.
In every issue, the colour scheme is black and white. The background and font will always be one of the two colours, but the images used are various colours.
'The Fly' is also the name of a 1957/1986 film about a brilliant but eccentric scientist. This suggests that the magazine may be brilliant and eccentric- out of the ordinary.
Audience Profile
Name: Jess Adams
Age: 18
Interests: Music, art and photography, blogging, going to concerts with friends.
Brands they like: Converse, Vans,The Quietus, Soundcloud, BB Records, Cheap Monday, The Stool Pigeon, Rough Trade.
Magazine habits: She currently reads The Stool Pigeon and The Wire. She can afford The Wire's price of £4.50 because it is monthly, not weekly, otherwise she would not have enough disposable income.
Occupation: She works in clothing retail which provides her with some extra money that she can us to purchase magazines. She is a full-time art student so some of her money goes to supplies.
Fashion: She likes to wear skinny jeans with a pair of Converse or boots. She has a large selection of checked shirts and knitted jumpers that look like they belong to her granddad. She likes to complete her outfits with a hat from her collection. Her favourite shirt is a Victorian blouse.
UK Tribe: Indie Scenester.
Image: http://thedesignfiles.net/2013/10/new-kids-on-the-blog-brooke-holm/
Audience Research
UK Tribes Prediction Of My Target Audience
'Indie Scensters'
"Spending hours trawling through records, Indie Scenesters have their fingers on the pulse on the current artists du jour…
Indie Scenesters are dedicated to finding the newest music, exploring all avenues to get there – online, print, record shops, club nights and word of mouth. Staying ahead of the curve is a must, but it’s borne out of a genuine love for music – and this is what separates them from those more fickle dabblers and dilettantes, the Hipsters. For Indie Scenesters, there’s nothing better than discovering new artists and spreading the love.
Guitar music has seen its cool usurped by the rise in electronic-synth based music in recent years, and Indie Scenesters have broadened their musical tastes as a result. It’s no longer just about indie rock bands like Vampire Weekend – Indie Scenesters have embraced experimental, genre-blending artists like Four Tet. Yet, the Indie Scenester approach remains the same – it’s about championing independent artists rather than a specific genre, especially before the masses get in on the act.
Potentially having their own music blogs and club nights (or at least dreaming of it), Indie Scenesters are more concerned with building up their vinyl collections than conspicuous consumerism. The sounds of the moment are ever changing, but currently include Youth Lagoon, Beach House, Animal Collective, Kendrick Lamar and John Talabot, as well as old favourites like Caribou and Thom Yorke.
Boys and girls are rocking similar looks – skinny jeans, vintage and Converse/Vans. Their high street staples focus around the functional and unisex – Uniqlo, Cheap Mondays and American Apparel".
Taken from UK Tribes- http://www.uktribes.com/tribes/indie-scenesters
Brands
Media
Spotting Indie Scenesters
Influenced by using ‘music as a fashion accessory’ this Tribe are motivated by being ahead of the curve (and their rival Leading Edge Tribes) on all the latest trends. This makes Indie Scenesters unpredictable, as fashion in every sense of the word becomes recyclable in this Tribe. True Indie Scenesters aren’t obsessed with brands in the conventional sense–well maybe a few (including Converse, Rough Trade and Vans) but they’re fashion leaders rather than followers, wearing anything from plain dark jeans and a V-neck one day to bright neons the next.
And in authentic Indie Scenester spirit they have a tendency to follow only a handful of bands at once. This is not to say the Tribe would abandon their Indie Scenester influences if a band made it to the big time, but they continually reinvent the Tribe by embracing new music and sacrificing appearance for small, sweaty, intimate venues where the best music originates.
They enjoy mainstream festivals, but opt for smaller gigs (mud baths) rather than those offering VIP tickets and hair straightening facilities. You will most likely find them rocking to new sounds at the intimate Shambala Festival in Northamptonshire, Symmetry Festival in Peterborough or Field Day at Victoria Park in London. This Tribe are dedicated to their musical roots and unmoved by the rise to success; even if they treat music magazine NME like the Holy Grail.
Inspired by fresh, unsigned acts, this Tribes presence is felt everywhere. Online communities such as drownedinsound.com pave the way for discussion and discovery outside the conventional top 40 and Indie Scenesters are not afraid to be heard. Many write opinionated blogs representing contemporary elements of a temporary scene. They stand united and they stand out. Read at your peril.
From UK Tribes: Spotting Indie Scenesters- https://www.uktribes.com/articles/spotting-indie-scenesters
To conclude... (Note: This is a generalisation)
My target audience will be aged between 17 and 25 years. Their hobbies will most likely include going to music festivals, keeping a blog, finding new music from unsigned artists, drinking, and spending a considerable amount of time immersing themselves in music. They will maybe see themselves as a creative individual, with something about them that makes them distinguished from other people; a special snowflake. My magazine will be for both a male and female audience so I must ensure it will appeal to both genders. They are young adults who relish anything out of the ordinary, so they will want to read a refreshing magazine, dissimilar to others currently on the market and that is capable of offering them something new.
In terms of music taste, they will listen to a range of artists, from Vampire Weekend to Kendrick Lamar. They will search anywhere and everywhere to discover the latest artists, then will report their findings to other alternative music lovers. As their musical tastes are broadening all the time, experimental, genre blending and synth based music is becoming increasingly popular with my target audience. As 'Indie Scenesters', my audience's passion for music makes them an ideal target group for a music magazine- they will be more likely to buy music magazines than some other target audiences.
My audience will tend to have part-time jobs, probably in the public sector, though they dream of a music-related career. Being employed means they will presumably have enough disposable income to buy magazines with. This audience's preferred music magazines at the moment will be The Wire, Loud and Quiet, Wax Poetics.
When it comes to fashion, my audience will wear items from independent clothing companies or pieces that you will not see anybody else wearing. While indie is quite a niche genre, some of the audience will wear clothes that are stereotypical indie clothes, popular among many people who wish to stand out from the crowd, yet blend in because so many people are wearing these 'so indie it is no longer indie' clothes.
Vintage items will surely make an appearance in an indie scenester's wardrobe, along with waistcoats, band t-shirts, ties, often checked shirts with knitted jumpers, but clothing that could be considered 'wacky' may also feature. There will be a pair of Converse shoes in there somewhere. The fashion is very versatile; from smart outfits (an unusual shirt and skinny jeans that look somewhat formal), to clothing that could get you mistaken for a homeless person.
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