Front cover evaluation

For my college magazine front cover I decided I would chose my theme colours to be black, white and red. I chose these colours as the red connotes a passion for learning and it also is an eye catching colour. I chose the black and white as it matched the colour of most of the lockers, along with this black and white can connote class and intelligence. So combing this with the passion for learning it shows the college to be a good place for learning to take place. For my mid shot of my model, I chose to use the image of her in a relaxed stance and to stare at the camera as the eye contact would engage the audience. I chose to place the black banner down the side to enable the text to be easier to read as due to the lines and handles on the locker it made it harder to read the sell lines. But even with the block of black I chose to lower the opacity so that you could still faintly see the lockers and it gave the page more depth. The sell lines I created were chosen so that it would appeal to students. ‘All nighter horror stories’ could be quite a comical article which would be appealing, along with this I chose to include an article which would enable the reader to vote as it would include the audiences decision in the magazine. I also included a competition which has prices appealing to a student, I also chose to use the Xbox symbol instead of just typing it as it’s a well-known symbol and the green contrasts again the red making it a more noticeable. For the quote I used in my main cover-line I chose to use freedom in it as it could hint at independence as a student to the reader, I also mentioned Wyke as I chose not to mention it anywhere else as it is subtle advertisement for the college. The mast head is layered to give the page more depth and to give it a 3D effect which makes the cover more interesting.

Magazine front cover

Contents page mock up

Magazine Drafts

Brief Analysis and examples of college magazines

Types of camera framings

Original images

Mood Board

Cover analysis

LIIAR Analysis 

The cover of this magazine uses language to interest the reader by using terms such as ‘secret life’. Secrets are meant to be private so by telling it to the audience it is sharing information with them which could sub consciously make the reader feel privileged and want to read more about this secret. Along with this it features stories about sex and alcohol which although may show the college in a negative view, it draws the reader in which can make for a more popular magazine even if it shows the college negatively.

The story ‘Avoid sleeping to the top’ challenges the views of popularity in students who may have the view that popular teenagers have to sleep around to reach that status. This could be appealing to the student audience as it could be agreeing with a certain section of the student’s views whilst disagreeing with another part, which could interest the reader more as they would want to gain their own opinion on the matter.

The SMU College doesn't have a large headline stating what college this college magazine belongs too, instead they use a more subtle way of advertisement for the campus. One way they use is the t-shirt the model is wearing which states ‘I love SMU’ this could be showing how good the college is itself due to the fact they wouldn't make ‘ I love SMU’ shirts if they weren't popular items. Along with this, the SMU campus is mentioned in one of the featured stories in the left third of the cover. ‘Natasha Liukin on SMU’s campus’ this shows a person on the campus students could relate to in the magazine which could make the reader curious what another person’s view of the campus could be.

The audience for this magazine would be students who already go to the college or perhaps young adults looking at going to this college. By using a young woman as the model on the front cover it engages the reader as it is someone they can relate to due to a similar age and circumstance of going to college.

The cover uses red not only in its masthead it uses it on the models shirt; red often connotes passion and excitement. The masthead could be used as an example of the reader should be excited to go to this particular college. Whilst the red on the shirt combined with the smiling model could be used to show a passion for learning. Along with this, the main image on the cover has a background of a large green open space which could be used to show freedom and independence on the college campus which is what a lot of young adults strive for. The stance of the model and the jean shorts could be showing the relaxed nature of the college making it pleasant and enjoyable to be there. The image also has the background out of focus so the main point of focus is the model to show that the college focuses on its students which shows SMU in a positive light.