1. Design Brief
The preliminary design brief for our course work was to produce a
school magazine which included a front cover and a contents page. To
create the school magazine the use of Photoshop was needed to
manipulate images and detail to a school magazine.
1. The first objective was to research into existing school magazines
to identify different conventions that can be transferred to my
own.
2. The second objective was to produce a plan for my own school
magazine including detailed notes and sketches.
3. The next stage was to produce the school magazine on Photoshop.
4. Finally feedback and analysis of the school magazine.
This preliminary task is good as a starting task towards the bigger
music magazine task as I am able to understand the process and the
mechanics behind a project but on a smaller scale.
2. Use of the
“Real Text” Research
Preston manor The use of
logo so that colours follow
students and the conventions
teachers and the of the school as
public can easily the colours
recognise the include purple on
school and will the writing
promote
the company.
The appearance of
the diary dates The use of the
gives key colour aqua makes
information for the newsletter
the students so seem welcoming as
they know when to the colour aqua
return and enrol. is conventionally
used for greeting
people and making
people feel calm.
The use of the
image promoting
the Olympics Does not give a
links in with the lot of
summer Olympics information and
as well as the detail about the
values of the school thus the
Olympics which consumer will not
the school was Artistic shot and layering of the school understand the
promoting. to make it look appealing to students as leaflet fully.
well it being the main building thus
making it recognisable.
3. The use of the The simple use of
logo makes you “Real Text” Research colours and
identify with banners that
this chosen follow with the
school and logo colours and
promotes the theme and
school. In many generally the
logo’s it either colours of the
promotes a theme school as
that can be a apparent in the
focus of the school tie.
school.
Clear headings
that separate the
The large amount large amount of
of text gives a text.
detailed account
of what has Section showing
happened at the the clear
school and achievements of
information for the school
the students as promoting their
well as the excellence over
parents. However other schools.
for some there
might be too much The images of
text. happy students
that promotes the
school that it is
a good school as
well as it
concedes with the
Link to website making the school seem text topic of
technological and up to date also the “top marks in
website can give you even more information exams”.
about the school.
4. Target audience: • Focus on GCSE students- importance of GCSE work
(age range, interests) • Discussion on the outstanding results of GCSE and A-level
Although it is a school newsletter you results
still have to think about your audience
and how to appeal to them.
Possible title ideas: • Manor Press
(masthead / title block)
What is your magazine going to be
called?
Main image: • Include photographs of a GCSE students in a medium close
What will be the focal point of your up shot
front page, remember, your work • Focus on the happiness of the student, good results
“must include a photograph of a
emphasised
student in a medium close-up”
•
School
Main cover line: 100% pass rate on GCSE’s- Out standing results
What will be the main story?
Additional key images: • Prefects of either A-levels or GCSE
What other images will be on your
front cover?
Remember, it is a school magazine.
• Head teacher on the contents so people recognise the head
teacher. Magazine
• A promotion of a special project going on at school
Additional cover lines:
Other features, stories or selling points
•
•
Interview with prefects/head girl and head boy
Interview with head teacher
Front Page
which will be inside the magazine, •
Proposal Form
Pass rate of students around the school
these need to be audience
• Academy VS comprehensive high school
appropriate.
Typography: • Up to date and modern typography
(style, size, colour of copy) • Use gradient banner
Think about the writing and the style • Silver, grey and black colours
of the writing on your front page.
• Aspects of blue and purple (Schools colour scheme)
• Small banners that interest the readers on the front covers
Background colour/image: • Silver and grey colours, plain backgrounds so that the
What will be in the background, images are more focused on such as the happiness of the
remember you don’t want to take the students
focus away from the main image.
• Add soft effects on the secondary images so that they are
less focused on then the main images
• Contemporary colours and integrate the school colour
scheme
Technical considerations: • The main picture will be well light and have no special
(equipment, setting, props, costume, effects as it needs to focus on the happiness of the student.
lighting)
Be realistic and creative, think about
what you have access to and how you
could use it.
7. Manipulated image
Original image
I choose to use this picture as it followed with my main story in my front cover which
was that GCSE students rebelled against uniform. As well has having a GCSE student link
in with another story of having excellent grades in GCSE. The changes from the original
to the modified is that the person was cropped out of the green background with the use
of the magic wand, magnetic lasso tool and the rubber tool. Once the image was cropped
from the green background I removed some sections of her hair so that it looked neater
portraying the school as a professional school. Then a faint blur was added to the
edges of the image so that the edges look softer and more appealing. The one problem
with this image was that their was a green glow on parts of her body so it was
difficult to remove from her face and body.
8. What have I learned?
This preliminary task helped me with producing a simple
prototype magazine cover. As the objectives in creating
this magazine was simple I was able to understand the
software used to manipulate and create a magazine cover
and content page. Furthermore, the task was helpful to
understand a layout of a school magazine and what to do
in each: stage, research, planning, production and
review. Once the production of the music magazine
starts, it will be an easier process as I am already
quite experienced with the tools and the processes. As
this is a preliminary task, the music magazine will now
look more professional as I am more confident and the
work will improve dramatically.