Research on the importance of typeface

TYPEFACE:

The typeface I choose is one of the most important decisions I will make about my magazine. I need to make sure that the reader can understand the messages I am denoting. Typography (Typography is the art and technique of arranging type and the space around it) is important because it is used to connote/ convey a specific mood or feeling e.g. a cursive font can be light-hearted but a stronger, bolder font is used to show readers that you should be taken seriously. The font will convey to the reader if I am professional, Modern, Traditional etc. the layout of the typeface and imagery can change the reader’s mind, belief and interest.

I need to think about the typography:
Layout

• A standard layout has one or two columns, but if I want to stand out and keep the reader interested, I may want to try three to five. 
• I need to use a variety of sizes to keep the layout engaging.
• Layout should be clutter free, clean and reader-friendly.
• Another important factor is type alignment. For example, everything left justified is an industry standard and traditional in ads. Remember to stay consistent when aligning your text.

Spacing & Margins

• Use correct spacing and make sure all my type is legible. I need to look at ‘leading’ (space between baselines of text) and ‘kerning’ (space between letters). Too much white space in between letters may be distracting, while too little space will feel crowded.

Colours

Colours must go well together. I must look at contrast between the type and the background to make sure that the text is legible.

Font
Is the font saying I am traditional or serious (eg serif fonts) or more modern and unconventional (a san-serif font). Font such as Comic Sans can be seen as fun and can appear  “cheap”.

 

Colour Research

1. Cool Colors

• Cool colors are said to make you feel relaxed, calm, tranquil and rejuvenated. That's why cool colors are used for spas, hair salons, vacation websites and commercials for companies that want their products to calm you. The color green is said to make you feel fresh and healthy. Lighter, airy shades of green--such as cucumber, light lime and mint--are said to have a calming effect. Deeper, richer greens symbolize wealth and prestige.

The color blue is not only supposed to make you feel comfortable and calm, but also trusting and secure about the company using that color. Typically, banks and financial institutions use greens and blues in their advertising to make you feel that your money is in good hands. Purple is used less often in advertising. Violet makes a product feel sophisticated and royal.

2. Warm Colors
• Warm colors are said to make you feel more energetic, happy, alive and vibrant. Pink is one of the most recognizable colors for femininity, playfulness and excitement. Almost all girls' products and advertising include the color pink. The color red is said to increase your heart and respiration rates. Because of this, red is often used as a color for passion or danger--or sometimes both.

Yellow is eye-catching, which is one reason it's used in advertising and in-store marketing. Yellow makes you feel sunny, warm and happy, whereas orange makes you feel young and healthy. When advertising luxurious or expensive items, many companies will use the color gold--the color of wealth, prosperity and affluence. The simple color brown symbolizes durability, stability and hard work.

Black and White

• Many people think of black as the color of death and white as the color of innocence. But in marketing and advertising they take on different meanings. Black is the color of sophistication, power and class. Black is often used promote a bold and luxurious product. In advertisements and commercials for luxury cars, almost all the featured cars are black.

In the advertising world, white is the color of cleanliness, crispness and simplicity. In a hotel room the bedsheets, towels, robes and even some comforters are always a crisp white. Many hotels use white linens because they evoke feelings of cleanliness.

Information from ehow: ‘Important Colors in Advertising a Product’ by Andrea Griffith    

Font Styles

Font Styles Research for My Magazine

Considerations for my front cover

Considerations for my front cover

Target audience:
Female and male, 15-35.Majority would be students

Rhythmix readers wear skinny jeans, logo/band t-shirts, checked shirts, plimsolls, Converse, Vans, Doctor Martens

Shop at stores like Topshop, Urban Outfitters, H&M, Asos, H&M, Monki, Rokit, HMV and charity shops• Likely to play an instrument like the guitar, drums, bass

House style- to give my magazine a specific look so the reader can tell that it is my magazine.

Rhythmix magazine - masthead on the top left position.

The artist/band-positioned centrally and in a large form.

 The main cover lines-the boldest font on the page.

 Cover lines are the second boldest text on the page, whilst the (occasionally used) brief outlines of the articles are in smaller font

Main image, the mis-en-scene (especially costume) is significant because it’s part of what conveys the overall vibe and genre of the entire magazine.

o   Casual clothing- often jeans, Hoodie or a T-shirt with messy hair. Clothes are frequently of a dark colour.

o   Expression- artists can appear removed and often have little facial expression

o   Props- often this is a musical instrument and frequently a guitar

o   Shot types-close up

o   Location and setting- mostly in the town rather than in the country- could be anything from a park bench to a street scene to a courtroom

o   Lighting- mostly a natural or a dark light- again depends on the mood of the song

o   Positioning- lead singer is placed centrally and to the front to engage with the audience and for increased recognisability

o   Editing- often uses straight cuts which can suit particularly indie rock music

The main image always follows the colour scheme.
The top 1/3 of the magazine is the only part seen on newsstands, therefore for this reason mastheads are always put on the top 1/3 and also this is the purpose of skylines.
Pugs increase the visual quality of the magazine and encourage the reader to buy the issue.
Barcodes, datelines and price lines act as extra general information for the reader.

 Use the personal mode of address such as “you” towards the readers.
 

The graphics tend to be limited to three colours in order to make the page easy to read, attractive and still conforming to the genre and style of the magazine

  My title is: ‘Rhythmix’.

 

My slogan is: ‘Rhythmix- feel the vibe’

 

Use a sans serif font called Verdana. Verdana is designed to be readable at small sizes.

 

Hand drawn draft- Double page spread

This is a hand drawn draft of what my double page spread may look like.

Hand drawn draft- Contents page

This is a hand drawn draft of what my contents page may look like.

Hand drawn draft- front cover page

This is a hand drawn draft of what my front cover may look like.

Front cover planning

Photography and how it is used

Photography and How It is Used

Contents page mock up

This is a digital mock up of a contents page. I think i will do something similar however i will not be using those colours. I have used them on my mock up because i wanted to be able to see the differences between the sections.

Photography inspiration

Photography Inspiration

Test Shots

Test Shots

LIIAR analysis- 3 music magazine double page spreads

Liiar Analysis Dps

LIIAR analysis- 3 music magazine contents pages

LIIAR Analysis Contents

LIIAR analysis- 3 music magazine front covers

Music Magazine LIIAR Analysisfinal

Music magazine research- Colours

Music Magazine- Colour Research

Music Magazine research- Whats in a name

Whats in a name

Front cover analysis- music magazine- we love pop

Music Magazine Front Cover Analysis- we love pop

Research on feature titles and sell lines

Research on Feature Titles and Sell Lines

MOJO double page spread analysis- research

Double page spread conventions are clearly shown in this Mojo article in the March 2013 issue:

•Page Title, ‘Love and bullets’ at the top left of the page, indicating what the page contains i.e. a feature on Ulster Punk by Stuart Bailie.

•Name of the artist in large, clear italic font. Green background with black text to the information column for a big impact amongst other articles

•A continuous colour scheme used over the two pages- a black and white photo taken from 1978. All text is black other than the small insert which describes the artists in the main photo which is white.

•Introduction to the article is powerful with language highlighting the ‘conflict’ and ‘terror’ experienced by many in Northern Ireland in the 1970s.

•The article itself is written in columns- clear fonts. Drop key used at the start of the article.

•Highlighted quotes from the article such as ‘Walking around Belfast was scary as fuck’

•Some text highlighted with large, bold, colourful green background

•Main pictures of the band included over the pages, secondary image is a photo of 2 teenage children playing in a street with a burning skip. This connotes the chaos at the time of the riots in Northern Ireland. From the article title it is clear that love is shown in the images through friendship of the young boys or with the men in the Undertones band. The title suggests that through riots and shootings (the mention of bullets) that love can continue.

• The photographer’s details are found as extra information at 90 degrees to the text in the column.

•Some text drags over the page- the reader is highlighted to this by a single arrow head.

Kerrang double page spread analysis- research

Music Magazine DPS Kerrang and Black S

NME contents page analysis- research

• The NME Contents Page for 9^th March 2013 is located on page 2 of the magazine. The mast head has large main text which reads ‘Inside this week’. The elements of the contents page are quite ordered in 3 column type shapes. There are approximately 4 fonts used. The background is predominantly white with black writing. Additional colour is red with a little splash of yellow. This mirrors the colour scheme used on the issues front cover for consistency.
• Layout- the largest image catches the readers eye as it is of the iconic Noel Gallagher. Shock factor is used to attract the readers attention and to fit in with the singers bad boy reputation with ‘What releasing new music proves is that reunions are fucking shite and worthless’. This is also probably the main story within this addition. The image breaks up the text to allow for easy reading / grazing by the reader. The short bursts of texts in columns reduce the effort of reading. Additional features also have shock factor to engage with the reader for example there is mention of drugs on page 8 and of an ‘orgasmic bunny’ on page 46. Sex, controversy and drugs do sell magazines.  Page numbers are listed for all main features- this allows the target audience to easily locate the pages they are interested in. Additional features are listed in a smaller font with no further explanation or image under the section entitled ‘Plus’
• Images- there are 7 images on the cover page- 4 have men, 1 woman and 1 crowd. The last image is of NME front cover pages. All images are different to the main front cover image and the additional 12 smaller images in order to suggest to the reader a variety of content. The images for single performers primarily use a low angle close up shot.
• Colour Scheme- As mentioned above the colour scheme is the same house style as the front cover (black, white and red). This particular colour scheme is part of the brand identity for NME. Brand identity is important as the magazine will be easily recognisable on the news stand and will allow for familiarity. The use of the red or other brighter colours is often used for important points or buttons (as on the front cover of this edition) and sell lines.
• The subscription to NME is important as this is how the magazine obtains its income. Readers like bargains and the 38% saving will be a good incentive to subscribe via the telephone or the website. The inclusion of the website is good for digital natives.

 

Kerrang contents page analysis- research

The Kerrang contents page follows many music magazine conventions-

•Page title at the top of the page with the date of the issue- this is clear to the reader as it has a bold yellow banner with black text in the house style with Kerrang logo.

•Quotes from various articles are listed under the features e.g. ‘The punkiest thing to come from Essex’.

•'Features' section- 5 main features are listed in this issue number (1456), one of which is the main feature advertised on the front cover about Black Sabbath- a highly known and iconic band to interest the reader.

•Images are minimal in this magazine- there are 4 in this copy- a picture of an amp and a guitar which can be won are the main images, a smaller image of the deputy editor accompanied by a brief note and an image of magazines advertising subscriptions.

•Continuous colour scheme throughout- black, yellow, red and white. All these colours are found throughout the magazine

•Page number giving reference to location of articles, with the name of the articles

•Large, clear font clearly identifies all categories listed in the right hand column- categories include: feedback, news, live reviews, posters, features, albums, gig guide, the ultimate rock star test. This content provides the reader with a sense of belonging, exclusivity, engagement, escapism and the chance to win as well as having additional lures and freebies.

•Few external advertisements from other institutions on the contents page- only ‘Peavey- innovation amplified’ and a ‘Learn to play day’

 

 

How will i promote my music magazine - planning

Indie mood board - planning

Indie Mood Board

SWOT analysis - print and online

Top of the pops web home page and front cover analysis- genre research

TOTP Mag and Home Page Analysis Genre Research

NME web homepage and front cover similarities - genre research

NME Homepage and Frontcover Similarities and Differences Genre Research

Planning- important vocab and rough notes on what makes a successful magazine

Media Music Magazine Background Research for As

Indie genre research

Indie Genre Research

Research- How can we tell the genre?

Magazine Research- Magazine institutions- How will my magazine make money?

This is relevant to my magazine because I need to make sure that the images on the adverts meet the legal requirements of the ASA have been met. Therefore this will be useful to me so that I meet the required rules and regulations.

 

There are 3 different but very similar ways that magazines make money.

 

Circulation and Subscriptions

• When you go to the newsstand and buy your favourite magazine, the profit from that sale makes money for the magazine. However, there is very little profit in this type of sale, called single copy sale, once you factor in the price it costs to make the magazine, the cost to transport it to the newsstand and the commission the magazine company must pay the newsstand company for providing space to sell its magazine. Magazines make far more money from subscriptions since they cut out at least one of the intermediaries and get their product directly to the consumer. Magazine companies also have your address so they can make a pitch to renew your magazine subscription when it comes due, as well as pitch any other magazines they may produce that they think could be of interest to you.

 

Classified Advertising

• When you open any magazine and flip to the back pages, you will see a classified section with want ads. Magazines sell want ads by the word or the line, and the ads can be quite expensive in popular magazines with a large circulation. Even moderate magazines with smaller circulations command large prices for their want ads if they target a specific area or group of people. For example, a magazine on life in Chicago would fetch a good price for want ads that target most of Chicago since the advertiser would know that the people likely to take advantage of his product would read his ad
  
  

Other Advertising

• The single best way that a magazine makes money is by allowing advertisers to use its unused space throughout the magazine, including the covers and inside front and back cover. It is normal for a full-page back cover ad to run several thousand dollars or more in popular magazines with national coverage. Not only does the magazine make money with this form of advertising, it also fills up the pages by placing ads in space on pages around the story lines. The magazine looks better and its revenue increases.

Source:

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4897422_magazines-make-money.html

Kerrang web home page and front cover analysis

On the magazine front cover there are no adverts for anything other than the stories inside. On the homepage there are adverts for things that could appeal to the target audience eg converse footwear or O2. This is a technique called cookies. Some adverts may be of a pop up style.

Both the magazine and the website have a clear sectional layout and directions to other places in the magazine and on the web. The website uses a clear uncluttered navigation bar and the magazine a content page. Some sections may be similar in theme or content. Images may also be similar between versions.

Both print and web page versions add a feel of audience exclusivity eg ‘World exclusive’ or ‘Access to all areas’.

The website uses sound by offering podcasts of musicians interviews eg Fall Out Boy, which is a level of interactivity for music fans that print magazines cannot offer- this is why the future of print versions of music magazines are  possibly under threat from easily available internet options. The podcast has a greater impact than the 2 page spread on page 36 and 37.

'SWAG’ is a play on words used on the website as the area for winning prizes- located centrally on the homepage. On the magazine the reader has the opportunity to win a £700 guitar- this is in the right hand pug position.

The online version has direct links to single downloads and music videos for fans.

Colours are of a consistent house style in the magazine and website- mostly white on black with splashes of yellow and red. Font style is also consistent as are Logo/ masthead.
Both refer to each other print version lists the web page address eg www.kerrang.com. The website has a front cover image of the latest magazine version.

The online version doesn’t repeat the same text. Multimedia features can be quickly updated on line. Viewers can have all the latest news and music gossip.

On line versions can offer a higher level of interactivity for the reader for example direct links to blogs, social networking sites or online shops for merchandise or tickets.  Viewers are encouraged to vote on the website for the Kerrang awards.

Image led links and hyperlinks on the online version of the magazine allow easy access to linked sites eg Kerrang radio is referred to several times on the home page.

Front cover analysis - Mojo

This Magazine is called Mojo. The target audience that it is aimed at is the middle-upper class as it is a specialist magazine, therefore it focus is the music and not the star appeal. It is for mainly men aged from 30 and over, however some females may be interested in this too. I think that is the right target audience due to the images and font used on the front cover. The contents on the front cover are almost all about different bands which fit perfectly with the music genre (rock).

Mojo’s masthead title has a consistent 3D effect with a masculine font and size and at the top of the page. The colour used in this issue is a black. The colour scheme is basic and appealing using red, black, yellow and white. The bold use of the red and yellow colours contrast well with the black colours and the main image. The date and price of the magazine are discretely at the bottom right of the page with the barcode- this does not draw the reader’s attention to the expensive cost of £4.60 and therefore doesn’t detract the reader’s attention from the main image.

Superimposition is used when the main centralised image of a Bob Dylan icon overlaps the title of the magazine; the title is well-known and remains clear to read. Bob’s clothes are conventional to the genre and era of his music and connote a rock star look, for example he is wearing a whit shirt and black trousers with a black waistcoat. Bob adds star appeal to the target audience as he has real celebrity appeal-he is a singer-songwriter and is he is well known across the globe. Bob uses the direct mode of address to appeal to the reader as he poses with a subtle and ‘model-like’ look on his face; this gives him and the cover a high star appeal. Bob also poses with his arms in a confident position. The publishers add graphic detail to the main image, giving the reader an impression that he is holding it. The image is in low key lighting to suggest a rock star mood to the reader. The long shot is used for the appeal to the target audience and allows the reader to capture the detail from the surroundings. The low angle shot is used to inspire the reader, which makes the reader look up to Bob Dylan as a true rock star.

This cover is busy and bold and includes a range of graphic details. An example of this is in the top left hand pug position, where the publisher has placed the writing ‘Free sound track CD!’ ideally placed in a red circle effect. Some sections of text stand out more than others as well, even though the publisher has not used any colour blocking to add effect the bold red, yellows and whites stand out which suggests it would be interesting to draw the reader in. The cover appears to be following the genre type and is expensive looking much like the aspiring middle class reader.

‘David Bowie. New album. The verdict.’ is in the sky line position and this is found at the top of the front cover. Bowie, Dylan and Otis are singers from previous eras when the target audience were young eg the 1970’s.

 ‘100 greatest music films ever!’ is the anchorage text as it tells the reader what they can expect to find in the magazine.

The sell line ‘Lights. Camera. Dylan.’ Is on the left hand side so it is easily visible when the magazine is racked on a stand. The wording establishes a link with the reality of the reader e.g. ‘Dylan’ being Bob Dylan’s last name. The sell line gives a short, sharp description of the title's marketing point-every reader would want to know more about the celebrity. The text ‘Dylan’ is in a bold red colour to highlight the stars name. The sell line uses the social integration theory- the audience wants to know about Bob’s life so that they feel closer to him. It also corresponds to the main image of him.

Readership Profile - Q

How does Q magazine meet the needs of its readership?

Readership Profile - MOJO

Name of magazine: MOJO

Circulation

79,345 (Jan-Jun '13)

Readership
220,000 (Jul-Dec '12)

Gender ratio: female-26.9%  male-73.1%
;59.5% of ABC1 profile

MOJO4music information:

• 209,000 unique users
• 460,000 page impressions
• 18,000 email subscribers
• 49,600 Twitter followers
• 32,000 Facebook fans

Monthly readership respecting ‘world class journalism and iconic photography’

Readership wanting ‘high brand values and integrity. A carefully crafted musical archive covering the very best of music across genres. From classic and modern rock, folk, soul, country to reggae, electronic and experimental. It prefers to celebrate quality over popularity – music that will stand the test of time.’

Readership want a magazine that is packed with insight, passion, and revelatory encounters with the greatest musicians of all-time, be they established or emerging musicians. The magazine is loved by its readers and artists alike because it engages them on the subject they love the most: music itself.

Readership wants a  definitive cover feature on an iconic act; a bespoke CD (especially compiled by the editorial team or a major musician in MOJO’s world);  the famous reviews section, the Filter, which brings you 30 pages-plus of the best of that month’s music, both classic and contemporary.

The readership wants information and input from guest editors e.g. David Bowie, Noel Gallagher. They want information a magazine that can provide breadth and iconic status among musicians e.g. The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Laura Marling or from Fleetwood Mac to Flying Lotus.

Readership enjoy brand extensions eg Cambridge festival; Greenman; MOJO honours list

Readership wants daily downloads from www.mojo4music.com for a daily updates and gossip.

Magazine publishers do a great deal of research to ensure they deliver a product that meet the needs and requirements of their target audience. This information will influence all aspects of the production through typography to photography to features and freebies.

Differences in dress between Pop and Indie singers

Ben howard- Indie

Justin Timberlake- Pop

Ellie Goulding- Indie

 

 

Rihanna- Pop

 

There is a clear difference in the way Pop artists dress compared to Indie artists in the music industry.