Evaluation
I was asked to create a college magazine front page, I was told to include several key media features that are present in the most popular magazines, including the use of mastheads, title placements and image use. I was told that my photograph included in the front cover should be a mid shot.
I started my designs by creating a simple hand drawn ideas page, annotated with features, this helped me to visualise and realise my project. I then constructed two complex multi layered front cover drafts. My first draft was a success as it allowed me to express my ideas of editing and manipulation constructively. The strong parts of this front cover are the motion blur used for the background, making it look like time is moving faster behind the subject. Another strong point is the left side placement of my title, this is as magazines are classically stacked from left to right, showing the left hand side of the magazines cover. The use of the title that I have designed is strong as well because it is a clear and efficient way to not only display the name of the magazine but to display the institution that it represents. The weaker parts of the magazine cover are that the top of the magazine is not very densely populated. Also I think that there is a lack of definition between the subject and the edited background, I think that a harsher edge would look more effective.
My second front cover design contains several good and bad design points, some of the good points are; the clarity of the font. This makes the cover better as it is highly legible, meaning it can be seen at a glimpse on a magazine rack. Another is the wavy shape that I have created to fall behind the magazine title, I think that this solves the problem from the first draft that there was a sparsely populated top edge to the magazine. The biggest improvement is the outline of the subject which clearly divides the subject from the background. I think that the magazine also has some weak points too; I think that the size of the photograph used makes it look like a close up, which is the wrong use of image for my brief, therefore this will need correcting. Also I think that the purple wash emerging from the bottom of the cover is to vibrant and needs to be slightly more subtle.
My final front cover combines the best parts of both of the covers, and excludes the weaker points that I have found in my designs throughout the design process. The good points of my final product are the use of background editing on the photograph, the separation from the subject is impressive, this is because I have managed to separate the two parts of the image yet still allow them to work harmoniously. I also think that the use of combined washes/ waves is good, such as the wash coming from the bottom of the image (very subtle), and the use of the wavy lines behind the title, that stretches all the way across the page. I think that the size of the subject is more accurate now, and since it came from the same photograph, it looks big enough to stand out but small enough to still look as if it is in aspect with the photograph. The weaker points of my final cover is the use of many different font colours on the cover, although I have tried to keep the colours relevant by using the colleges colours. I also think that by removing the word library from the photograph and patching over it it is clearer to read, but my editing skills could have been to better use, and I could of patch healed the wall better. I think that I could improve the final front cover by using a clearer image of my model as I used the auto camera setting on my camera, when I could of used manual or custom settings, to allow a more manually adjusted and better image. I could of also made the issue number and season indicator a more vibrant colour, or make them a very contrasting colour, this would illuminate the bottom right of the page, making it look lighter. Overall I am very happy with the outcome of this media product and am happy with the quality of the work I have produced.
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