Initial Inspiration/Deconstructions for Ancillary Website

Initial Inspiration for Ancillary Website from sienamatkin

From my own experience using this website I have found that multimedia interactive features such as scrolling imagery/slideshows make it more interesting, so I would aim to include this in my own magazine. It is also very important to continue with the magazines logos, colour scheme and house style etc. to remain recognisable to the audience and be easier to find.
Living North's website in particular helped to develop my ideas as I saw how the website can be used as a platform to further interact with readers/users by providing social media links. That is something I would like to replicate within my own website as my audience are young and active users of social media etc. I also think it could be used to connect the audience with the cover star, for example by linking their social media profiles into the article and encouraging readers to follow and interact with them.

Initial Inspiration/Deconstructions for Ancillary Billboard

Initial Inspiration for Ancillary Billboard from sienamatkin

From these billboards I have found that text is used very sparingly and only provides necessary information, such as the logo and address or website address. I will follow this on my own billboard, so that logo and image are what attracts the audience most. I also think it will be useful to use my slogan on the billboard, to keep within my regional theme and create a sense of identity/recognition with the audience.

From this I have a clearer idea of how my billboard will be: an image as the main attraction, with only necessary information used around it, for example website address.

Initial Inspiration/Deconstructions for Regional Magazines

Initial Inspiration for Regional Magazines from sienamatkin

From this I have found each magazine has a specific house style to attract their target audience. I will follow this in the sense of using a colour scheme and the same fonts throughout my magazine. It also appears quite conventional to have a double page spread with a photo on one side and text on the other. This is a layout I am going to follow because I think it looks attractive and allows for enough text to be interesting, but not too much so that it becomes boring.
Deconstructing these magazines has helped me to develop my own ideas. Before starting this coursework I had little knowledge of any existing regional magazines so I know feel more prepared to create my own. I have noticed that regional lifestyle magazines tend to be more directed at females, although Luxe is completely gender neutral. I like the layouts of Living North and ETC North East, although I would need to change them to fit in with my specific audience - my target audience is probably younger than that of Living North. I have found this useful in terms of looking at these magazine's conventions, for example content included generally focuses on regional events, culture, fashion, music etc.

Chosen Brief

I have chosen to make a lifestyle magazine based in the North East, similar to existing product Living North. I have chosen this genre because I think it will be easier to make it more regionally orientated in order to appeal to the target audience. For my ancillary tasks I will create a billboard and a website.

Region Moodboard - North East

This is a moodboard I have created to give me inspiration for my magazine. The region of focus for my magazine will be the North East and these images create a sense of the lifestyle of the communities in the North East's main cities - Sunderland, Newcastle, Durham and Gateshead.

AS Reflection

I think making my magazine went quite well, as I was satisfied with the work I produced and gained new skills from the process. It was difficult at times, because using Photoshop and other forms of software was new for me. I had to learn various processes while I was actually making the magazine so for this reason I think I was not able to execute some of my ideas as well as I hoped. However I think that my final magazine pages look quite professional and it was a learning experience, as I can use the skills gained when producing my A2 coursework. 

If I could improve my work I would provide more content within the contents page to increase its credibility as a real magazine. I would also slightly change the positioning on the front cover so that the masthead 'INFLUENCE' is more obvious and clear to read. I will make sure to improve this in future.

Welcome

My name is Siena Matkin and I am an A2 Media student at Bede College. The purpose of my blog is to chart my progress on my work throughout the year. I am going to create a regional magazine (the genre of which I will decide after doing research), with two ancillary tasks, a billboard and website. I am going to research and analyse existing magazines and look at their features, conventions etc. From this I will gather ideas as to how I am going to create the first four pages of the magazine, and the ancillary tasks. I will be uploading evidence of my work through posts on this blog, which may be text, pictures, videos and presentations etc. Once all research and construction work is completed I will evaluate and consider what i could have improved on.