Student Magazine Photos

When designing my student magazine, I had to ensure that I had a variety of good photos. I decided that the picture on the front cover had to be a medium close up with the main object/person situated to the right taking into consideration the rule of thirds. This is because, I wished for my student magazine to look as professional as possible. As well as that, so that I could easily design around the photo without it getting in the way.

This picture was considered to be on the front cover of my student magazine however, the angle the photo was taken wasn't relevant for a front cover photo. As well as this, the food included in the photo didn't look too appealing and distracted the audience of students to picking up and reading the magazine.

This picture was appropriate for student life but it was irrelevant for a front cover; it was posed and the people in the photo were looking down at a book. Research from other magazines suggests that if the person in the photo is looking out (bringing the effect of the person in the photo looking at you) it would influence the audience to pick it up and read as it has a form of persuasion and engagement.

This photo was good for the front cover of my student magazine as it was a medium close up with other students in the background socialising. This brought a light hearted effect and may of encouraged students to read the magazine. The reason I didn't use the photo for my front page was; it was awkward to position the left thirds as the focal point was on the left.

As a challenge, I could of gone against the 'traditional magazine layout' rules and place my left thirds on the right but I didn't wish to take the risk. As I am new to this topic, I'd rather develop my skills of creating a magazine for my music magazine. 

Student Magazine: Contents Page

When designing my student magazine contents page, it began to look more like a double page spread. Even though this did look like a double page spread, I remained to keep it as it was with slightly altered text so that it remained a contents page. Because of this, I remained observant on ensuring that it didn't go too off subject. 

Student Magazine Contents Page Drafting & Progress

The above screen shot shows the progress of my student magazine contents page. I have designed my contents page to have a professional outlook and impact the audience of South Downs college students. Further to this, I have decided to have a modern outlook as I felt that it would be more appealing for students. 

I have used a bold headline which ties into the colours of South Downs college so that it is recognisable and is remembered throughout future issues. 

The programme I am using to create my magazine is Adobe InDesign. When creating my magazine, I have lines and borders that help me to where I wish to position certain objects such as photos and text.

When creating something on Adobe InDesign, I use a sidebar which allows me to navigate around the software to construct my magazine. The sidebar gives me the option to add colour, shades, pages and text to what I am selecting.


This sidebar is also similar to the one to the right. However, it allows me to do more effects and create additional things that are appropriate to be in my student magazine. This sidebar allows me to make shapes, add text, move objects around the page, flip between pages and preview what I have already done. As well as a multiple of other things, this bar is highly important in the work I create.

Student Magazine Front Cover

I have taken into account the use of left thirds on my magazine front cover. As well as this I ensured that my cover picture was a medium close up of a student as this was the most appropriate way. 

To improve the front cover of my student magazine, I feel that I could add a logo to support the recognition of the magazine and to make it more appealing. Also, I would ensure that the person in the picture would be more posed, with facial expressions a little more vibrant. I feel that the font colour used in my left thirds is good as it is a similar colour to the magazine title.

Student Magazine: Photography

Photographs are a vital part in ensuring my chosen audience are drawn into reading the magazine. When someone is taking a photo, they need to ensure that they have a good angle, light and framing.

The needs of having a good looking photo on the front cover is important as it is a key focal point in making an audience pick up the magazine. The front photo also gives the audience some impression on who the magazine is aimed at and what it may possibly consist of. The first impression when someone looks at a photograph is the compositional balance: the way things have been placed in the image.

 As a photographer (when coming to put my magazine together) I need to take into account the Mise-en-scene, the background and where the person is or object situated.

 The rule of thirds is used when a photo is taken for the front page of a magazine. The rule of thirds is based on the fact that the human eye is naturally drawn to a point about two thirds up a page. My photo becomes more pleasing to the eye if the main subjects or focal points are in one of the intersection point.

Rule of thirds.

Perliminary Task: Brief Part 2

Who are you aiming your magazine at specifically?

My magazine will be aimed at students at college. The ages of the students will vary from 16-19 years of age. Because of this, I need to ensure that the content is appropriate for the audience. My magazine will also be for males and females. Although, to make the content more appealing, I could specify a female and male section.

What will my magazine be about?

Because my magazine is a student magazine, it will evolve around student life. However, it wont be purely based around student life for example pages of exams, subjects, what the must have stationary is.

It will have a more light hearted approach towards activities students do. The magazine will also have a Facebook and Twitter section where students who may have thoughts on particular subjects can share their opinions and get it in the magazine. The magazine may also have a section about music, fashion and entertainment. The suggestion of it being a student magazine shows that there may be some academics consisted in it. Therefore, I feel it would be appropriate to dedicate a section of the magazine to the academic area (keeping it in with the light hearted approach).

What are your ideas for cover lines? 

The cover line I wish to use for my student magazine is "everything a student needs in one magazine". The reason for this is because I wish for it to be easy to understand as well as draw my chosen audience in to reading the magazine.

What title have you decided on and why?

I have decided to call my student magazine "The Lowdowns" the reason for this is because the meaning of the word 'lowdowns' means the secret, inside information and I wish for the magazine to have this in relation to college life. An example would be inside information on how a teacher feels about a particular subject or even maybe an event the college have planned.

What fonts do you want to use?

Throughout my student magazine I have decided to use sans serif. I feel that sans serif has a modern outlook and is easier to read due to there being no tails in the text. I have done some research online to help me with my font types:

 Source: http://www.slideshare.net/donaldquixotec/using-serifs-and-sans-serifs-in-graphic-art-design

When in the year will it be published?

As my student magazine is new, I feel that publishing it at the beginning of a new academic year is appropriate. This is because it is more probable that new students would read it than current students.

What are the dimensions of the student magazine?

My student magazine would be available digitally using a PDF format that they could download. As well as this, I would have it printed on an A4 so that students who wish to have it on hardback can have so.

What colours and pictures will you have on your contents page? 

I will have a variety of pictures on my contents page relating to what is consisted in the student magazine. I have chosen to have numerous photos introducing topics in my student magazine on the contents page as it is vibrant and encourages the students to continue reading. A use of bright colours will be used however, I will ensure that I have stuck to the colour scheme as it will have a professional and modern outlook.

Preliminary task: Brief



This is a brainstorm contributing to the ideas of my student magazine. At this current time, I am unaware on what I should call my student magazine however, I will consider tying it in with the subjects consisted in the magazine. The target audience of my magazine are college students although, I wish to vary what is consisted with in it as it can reach to a wider student audience. For example: I don't wish to make my magazine purely aimed at science students and consist of scientific topics. It would be appropriate to have a contrast of stories so that is suitable for all students with different interests.

This is the flat plan for my student magazine. I have designed it on a Microsoft programme as well as annotated it by hand. I have taken a picture of my flat plan and uploaded it onto Bloggers as it shows a further step of creativity and is more appealing to an audience. When designing the flat plan, I took into consideration the target audience and what they would like to see. 



Task 5: Skills Audit

From the results shown in the above chart, I can see that I am unsure on how to scan images into a mac and Bluetooth files to the desktop. 

Due not understanding on how to bluetooth items onto a mac, I found this video on You Tube showing me step by step on how to do it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaiMp2bSs9Q&feature=related 

This is a reliable source as it guides me through the process of transferring files using Bluetooth onto an apple Mac PC. As well as this, examples are given by the creator of the video to support me in what I'd be doing.

Task 4: IPC Case Study

Part 1: Answering the following questions on what I have learnt

What types of magazine and target audiences has IPC been associated with over the years?

IPC Media have been associated with many different target audiences and of all ages. The UK's leading magazine and online consumer also have published magazines aimed at people with a variety of needs. From the research I have gathered, I can see that IPC have published more magazines in "sport and leisure" and the "woman's weeklies" area. Even though IPC Media have a variety of audiences, these categories suggest that a high percentage of them are woman and people interested in sports.

Recently, in January 2010, IPC Media made the vital decision to restructure around three key audience groups: men, up-market woman and mass-market woman. From this, we can again see that a high percentage of IPC's audience are woman. The company as well as the industry always reconsider on who their prime audiences should be as the changes are dependable.

Why might IPC be an appropriate publisher for a new music magazine?

In 1963 three well known magazine puplishers: George Newnes, Odhams Press and Fleetway Publications came together with the Mirror Group to form the International Publishing Corporation (IPC) striving to be a success as it is today. IPC would be an appropriate publisher for a new music magazine as the organisation are well known and continue to expand. Even though, IPC has a female majority for their audience, they are always keen in looking for new magazines as well as transforming their target audience. IPC would be an appropriate publisher for a new music magazine; the audience are so wide in range of age and interests.


What sort of genres of music/types of magazine might they be likely to publish?

It is difficult to specify what genre of music magazine IPC would publish as they have only published limited genres of magazine. Although, the reconstruction of who IPC's prime audience would be: men, up-market woman, mass-market woman, suggests that the corporation would be flexible in what genres that would accept.

Why might alternative publishers like Bauer be appropriate? 

A discussion of who a new music magazine should be published with is important. This is appropriate as other publishers may have a slightly different target audience or a different level of formality. Dependent on the audience of the music magazine, it is a high probability it would be aimed at a more informal/casual audience. This is due to the subject.

Task 3: Essay

To what extent should magazines be held responsible for the social ramifications of representations they offer?

Magazines aimed at teenage girls are often held responsible for the influences they have on society. This essay will take into account the positives and negatives magazine front covers have with regards to the socialisation of young teenage girls. The five magazines I have gathered my research from are Cosmo Girl, Bliss, More, Shout and Go Girl. 

When analysing various front covers of girl magazines, I found that the magazines have a substantial influence towards the fashion of teenage girls. Take for example Go Girl (shown in reference 1). This front cover uses plugs in relation to fashion to  encourage a young audience of girls to read the magazine and gain that ‘important advice’ on what to wear. Moreover, the picture plastered of Emma Watson also hocks a young audience of readers into following a similar fashion to her as she was highly popular at the time the magazine was printed due to the Harry Potter films.

Shout, another magazine also influences young teenage girls in relation to fashion and what they should look like through again plugs. However, this front cover has recommendations on what accessories you should have and what an ‘ideal’ girl would look like. Taking into account the ideal girl is the media's opinion.

Reference 2

A positive aspect on these teenage girl magazines are the colours used. Even though each of the five magazines have a unique colour co-ordination, the colours are seen to persuade young girls in thinking more positively  The social ramifications of these magazines are frequently negative, but the colour brings forth a more positive effect as it benefits a young teenagers thoughts and opinions although, only to a certain extent. For example: Shout has a wide contrast of bright colours. This results into the magazine appealing to the audience of teenage girls because it influences more positivity. Furthermore, this is only to a certain extent as we witness that the colours are usually used to contribute towards something negative.  

Even though, these magazines are aimed at young teenage girls, teenage boys are also represented but only in a limited way. When collating my research from the five front covers, the teenage boys represented are based purely on the ideal look and personality. This also is sexualising teenage girls as the  social ramifications are in relation to who to be with and like.  Take more for example, even though this magazine isn't necessary aimed at young teenage girls, men are still represented in a sexualising manor. This shows that a high percentage of female magazines are all in relation to similar areas. 

Cosmopolitan - another female magazine doesn't have an audience of teenage girls although, the magazine is a key aspect in proving some of the consequences female magazines do have through their representations. As stated, Cosmopolitan is more for an older audience of females likewise, it still relates to young teenage girl magazines as it is something that has always been represented in the media. Anything from men to make up, fashion to gossip, it is all consisted in a majority of female magazines. This shows that the media has represented glossy, gossipy, men loving females to be the norms of society.


Cosmo girl is a typical suggestion for a teenage magazine that ties in to the aims and objectives of other female magazines (even aimed at an older audience) with pull quotes, left thirds talking about men, the next good thing to have, a fancy feminine colour scheme, plugs and much more of the endless list.

To summarise  teenage magazines should be held responsible for the social ramifications they give. This is because from analysing numerous amount of front covers, I have discovered that most magazines are influential in a form of sexualising or fashion. Further to this, it is almost impossible for someone to come across a traditional looking female magazine as the media have encouraged the bright ambitious colours to become the norms of how girls attract. Fundamentally,  when taking into consideration some positives of the front covers on a female magazine, I was bombarded with negative analytical comments. This argues that teenage girl magazines are and continue to be of disadvantage to teenage socialisation.