Planning My Front Cover

After taking different camera shots of my model, I now need to structure and include these in my magazine. After researching the different types of magazines, all of them used direct address and I knew I would like to adapt this to my own magazine. This plan of the front cover shows what I am aiming to achieve when creating my magazine. Using a structured plan will make the production piece more easier to create because I will have something to look back at.

My Intentions

My intentions are to create a music magazine within the pop genre. Throughout my research I have looked at double page spreads, contents pages and front covers. The colours which were shown on top of the pops and smash hits stood out as being quite childish, and this seemed to be the typical convention. When I looked at the magazine itself It looked like it was made to be aimed at children. The colours which all 3 magazines shown are similar. They are bright and bold and all aimed at a female audience, which already makes these magazines only specific for one gender.

Through my target audience research I have found out from the questionnaire what people would like to see in the magazine, I will take this into account when designing my front cover, double page spread and contents page, and I shall try and keep with the similar features.

Planning Photo Shoot

I am aiming for my model for my magazine to wear something which appeals to girls from the ages of 9-12. I have decided to fit in with the colour pink and either wearing a skirt or dress. I have decided to go for this style because I am aiming for a similar theme like ‘High School Musical’. I am specifically going to focus on what Vanessa Hudgens wear while acting. They usually aim for a girly look, with dress and a bow in their hair.

For my front cover I would like my model to be using direct address, allowing this will mean that my audience will be more drawn into the magazine. I will ask my model to vary in different type shots, and have two different types of clothes to cover the magazine. This picture shows what I am hoping to achieve with similar colours. The blue bow on the dress, makes it look more like a pop star dress.

Researching about 2 different Institutions

I am basing my magazine on the genre 'Pop'. There are many magazine companies which create this type of genre but the main two I am going to focus on are called 'BBC-British Broadcasting Co-operation' and EMAP unlimited. These two companies publish the Pop genre.


BBC: This company published 'Top Of The Pops'. This is aimed at a female audience between the ages of 9-12. The material which they produce is aimed at children. The material which I would like to produce is also aimed at children and plan to follow a similar theme which will show a typical children magazine.

EMAP- This is stands for EMAP unlimited. This magazine company published the magazine 'Smash Hits'. I plan to design and create a magazine which shows similar features, but aimed at slightly lower audience of a younger age. I plan to create a more female based magazine however I would think they would publish my magazine because it is different from Smash Hits which is out at the moment, as I will be challenging an age group.

The Questionnaire

Here are my results from my questionnaire which I have created. I decided to create questions which would help me create my own magazine and what my target audience was looking for.

Analysing Double Page Spreads

Analysing double page spread

Analysing Content Pages

analysing content pages

Creating a Questionnaire

Creating a questionnaire allowed me to ask other people what they would like to see in a magazine. I asked these different questions because I wanted to see what my target audience were really looking for. I asked questions which will allow me to co-operate this into my design. The questionnaire has concluded that the price of my magazine will be in the region of £1.00-£2.00. The colour scheme will be bright colours as this was the most popular option. On the front cover of my magazine, my audience have specified that they would like a large picture, with little text. I then asked what they would like on the double page spread. In this case they said they would prefer equal amount of both texts and pictures. The main question which I was considering was If they would like a band or individual on the front page. They said overall that they would prefer an individual.

Anaylsing different titles

Mast Heads1

This powerpoint shows different titles of my magazines. I decided to do some research on this because this allows me too see achieve something similar. Each title shares the same features. They are bold, very bright colours and have a unique font. Therefore when I create my banner I will make it so it looks affective on the front page, as this is what draws the most attention while buying a magazine.
(To read the information- Zoom In)

Analyising Pop Music Magazines

Analysing front cover Pages

Three Magazine Analysis

Top of the pops is a children’s music magazine which consists of gossip and news on young music stars which are in the children’s market. Music artists such as zac efron and Justin Beiber as well as the Jonas Brothers are featured in this magazine. The mass heading which are shown throughout the magazine allow for a clear, simple effect which tells the audience what the magazine is about. The use of direct address allows the audience to be drawn into the magazine. The buzz words are used to attract the viewers attention. For example a positive word ‘Exclusive’ is used, as this shows that this can only be viewed in this magazine. The colours of the magazine mostly consist of pinks, purples and blues, colours usually aimed at a female audience. This matches the characters which are shown in the magazine. The anchorage text ‘You’re a star’ instantly attracts to children as they want to follow the footballs of their idols.

Smash hits is a pop/music magazine aimed at a female teenage audience from the ages of 11-16. The content of this magazine is mostly dark pink and light pink themed. This means that this is aimed at a female teenage audience. The colours reflect on the attitude and gossip in the magazine, girly. The picture on the front cover is using direct address. This pulls them into the magazine and instantly attracts the audience.

The last magazine is called ‘Mizz’. Mizz is a gossip magazine, but also stars artists such as Pixie Lott. This means that it’s music related. The front cover of the magazine is brightly coloured- using colours such as orange and yellow. The orange and yellow are usually associated with fire, this shows that there is a lot of hot gossip in this magazine which females will show a great interest in. Buzzwords such as ‘PLUS’ are used on the front cover of the magazine. 


The two contents pages- NME and Q are not pop magazines, however use the same conventions as a pop magazine. They both have a simple contents page, with exclusive deals, which will attract my audience.

The Time Plan

Creating a time plan at the beginning of the project allows me to see how much time I have to do each area within the project. This will hopefully keep me on task through out the project, so I will be able to reach each deadline successfully.