Edda Toscano
Candidate Number: 0741
Center Number: US154
This blog will contain a link to the flip book I made on heyzine for my first compulsory question and a transcript just in case you cannot see my flip book for any reason.
Link: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/79512439fa.html
Transcript:
CREATIVE CRITICAL REFLECTION
COMPULSORY QUESTION 1: “ How does your product use or challenge conventions and how does it represent social groups or issues?”
My overall answer to this question:
In an effort to make my magazine seem more like an actual magazine, I made sure to add the most basic conventions such as a masthead, issue number, issue date, and tagline. Some ways I challenge these basic magazine conventions is through the quote at the foot of my cover, the cover picture overlapping the masthead, the simplistic barcode rather than one that lists its price, and the multiple titles that surround my table of contents page.
My inspiration for my fashion magazine is Vogue, a well known fashion magazine for people who are interested in unique fashion. It also has very unique magazine conventions, some of which I used for my magazine. Here are some of the examples I used as inspiration for my magazine.
Some of the social issues or groups this fashion magazine represents is how old fashion is being brought back and marketed as new. My magazine focuses on the philosophical aspect on this topic from the point of view of my main subject, Luciana.
*I will continue to show my answer visually throughout my flip book.
Starting off with my cover page, the conventions I will show and describe are the following:
- masthead
- cover line
- subject name
- tagline
- main image
- barcode
Starting off with the masthead, The masthead typically gives technical information, such as hinting at the theme of the magazine, possibly the brand, when it was distributed and how many times it’s been released. Readers usually pay attention to the title, it is in big lettering and stands out. My masthead, ETERNA, is written in size 90 with LONDON font. This font type came from the results in my survey. It means ‘timeless’ in Portuguese. It’s referring to the fact that fashion is timeless. For example, fashion trends that were popular is the 90s, are now popular and relabeled as Y2K fashion. This is something I go deeper into with my subject, Luciana, in my feature story. Overall, the title is in white so it could compliment the font type, it makes it look simple and classy.
Continuing with the cover line, The cover line focuses on what is inside the magazine. It is usually the place to pursuade people to look inside the magazine, however, I am relying more on the cover picture and subject name to do that for me. For my magazine, I am using the cover line to simply mention what will be inside, more to inform than to attract. Here, you can read what you will see more clearly in the table of contents. The font size is 25.6 with a font type named Arapey.
Following with the subject name, Adding the subject name to my cover page is one of the ways my magazine challenges conventions. This is part of the Vogue format that inspired my magazine. I figured that since this is a fashion magazine and my feature story is based on one person, I should put her name across the middle in a large and different font type to bring attention to the quote or tagline. The font size is 96 and the font type is COPPERPLATE GOTHIC 3. If you look at my magazine inspirations in the ‘Answer’ page, you will see where I got my inspiration for this convention.
Now the tagline, The tagline in a magazine is used to relay the brand of the magazine. In this case, my tagline is a direct quote from my subject on the topic of her philosophy on fashion over time. This quote gives the readers a sense of what the feature story will be about and who because it is placed under the subjects name. This is another way my magazine challenges magazine conventions. It was also inspired by the Vogue format because many Vogue magazines contain a quote from their subject. The quote is in the font size 16 And the font type is Times New Roman.
Finally the main image, The main image, in this case, is very important because this is a fashion magazine. Pictures that display the clothes of the subject the most are very helpful with attracting the correct audience for a fashion magazine. This can be considered another way my magazine challenges conventions because the subject, Luciana, overlays the masthead. This is seen in the format for Vogue magazines a lot. It’s actually a big part of their brand. The way I did this was I duplicated the picture and then I edited the first photo by using the background remover provided by Canva. I then aligned both photos, one on top of the masthead, and I ended up with this result. Each member of my team chose a different angle for their main image. Mine is full body, Sandra’s is a close-up, Ashely’s is an aerial shot, and Yianelis’s is a mid-shot.
And the barcode, The barcode is confined to the basic magazine conventions. This is most seen on the back of magazines, especially fashion magazines but since this project is only a 4-page magazine with no back, that isn’t possible . In order to maintain the professionalism and simplicity of my magazine, I chose a very simple barcode. The barcode is necessary to be on magazines for its price, but since fashion magazines are more exclusive, they are bought online. Nevertheless, since the barcode is one of the most basic conventions for a magazine, I decided to add it without having it compromise the look of the magazine.
Now the Table of contents, I will go over the following conventions:
- title
- masthead
- article
- heading and description
- images
- background
Staring with the titles, The titles for my magazine challenge magazine conventions. This is because first, there are three titles that surround my table of contents. Secondly, the titles don’t say ‘table of contents’, it says ‘ INSIDE LUCIANA’S MIND’, which is a different way of presenting it. My table of contents is different, title-wise, because my magazine is based off of one person, while my team members magazines are based on several people. I decided to use the color wine-red for the title “LUCIANA’S” to go with Vogue’s format. Their brand includes a distinguishing factor to separate their feature story so the reader can identify which one it is. For the title ‘INSIDE’, I used font size 70 and font type COPPERPLATE GOTHIC 3. For the title ‘MIND’, I used font size 70 and font type COPPERPLATE GOTHIC 3. For the title ‘LUCIANA’S’, I used font size 60 and font type COPPERPLATE GOTHIC 3.
Now the masthead, This is the masthead, it will be displayed all throughout my magazine. It is basically the brand of my magazine. The brand of a magazine is import because it will give a name for readers to remember. So, when a reader sees the masthead “ETERNA”, they will instantly be able to recognize what magazine brand they are going to read. This also helps the reader identify what genre magazine they are about to read. Since ‘ETERNA’ is known as a fashion magazine, readers will see the brand name and know they will be reading about fashion. The masthead is size 14.7 and font type London.
Continuing with the article number, The article number is the first signifier of the main article/feature story. This because it is colored wine-red and in a font size a lot larger than the headings and descriptions. The numbers help with organization of content. This will help readers know exactly where the articles are located, all throughout the magazine. The article number is size 54 and font type ITC Benguiat.
Following with the headings and descriptions, The headings and descriptions in the table of contents are important. They tell the reader what they will see in the following pages of the magazine. It’s also the best way to grasp the readers attention to continue reading. The heading has to be attractive and the description has to be able to give short but attractive content, enough to make the reader want more. This specific heading and description are colored wine-red, the same color I used for the title “LUCIANA’S”, signifying the feature story about my subject, Luciana. The rest of the headings and descriptions are in the color black. The heading is size 28 and in font type Chloe. The description is size 22 and font type COPPERPLATE GOTHIC 29 BC.
Lastly the images, The images I used for my table of contents consist of my subject, Luciana. One is a close-up of Luciana crouching while leaning and looking to the side, this photo allows the reader to view Luciana in a different pose which promotes variety. As well as persuades the reader to look into the next page sub-consciously because she is looking towards the next page. The second photo is a close-up of Luciana behind a bouquet of flowers. This photo is mainly to compliment the heading “ Flowering”. It also adds a pop of color to the whole page. Both pictures were edited to have a filter named “Fresco” on Canva.
And finally the background, This background is silk, it contributes to the classy and professional theme of a fashion magazine. It also helps my table of contents not look so dull, instead, it makes it look attractive. My team members and I have picked different backgrounds in the same genre. For example, my background is white silk, while Sandra’s background is white pearl. We all used different textures with white backgrounds.
Last but not least, I will be going over the double-page spread with these following conventions:
- masthead
- headline
- pull quote
- body text
- page number
- background
- main image with subject
Starting off with the masthead, Like I said, for the table of contents, Eterna is the brand of my magazine, so it will be pasted all throughout.
Following with the headline, The headline is what attracts the readers focus to the article. That is why it is in large lettering and a different color. I used the headline to include the wine-red color which signifies that this article is my main feature story. The headline is ‘LUCIANA TOSCANO’, the name of my main subject. In order to fill empty space, I stacked the titles. It also gives it a New York feeling, which gives the readers a sense of allusion because when you think of New York, you think of New York Fashion Week. The headline contains two titles of different sizes and fonts. The title ‘LUCIANA’ has a font size of 42 with a font type of London. The title ‘TOSCANO’ has a font size of 88 with a font type of Times New Roman.
Continuing with the pull quote, I decided to give my quote, which hints at the main idea of my article, the spotlight, by putting it under my headline, and in italics, as well as colored wine – red. Coloring the quote in wine-red shows the reader that it is the main quote of the article, so will the placement. This allows me to organize the format of my double page spread in a way that readers will find looking at it; as well as reading it, appeasing. The pull quote has a font size of 16 with a font type of Times New Roman.
And the body text, I decided to use a column structure to organize my body text. This format looks more organized and a lot easier for the reader to read. It will not bore the reader like a block text would, it has separated, short paragraphs that are easy to distinguish. The font size is 12 and the font type is Times New Roman.
Lastly with the page number, The page number is apart of the basic conventions needed in a magazine. This helps get readers quickly to the article they want to read. The page numbers corresponding with their articles are found in the table of contents, which has the page number ‘2’ in the bottom left.The double-page spread has the number ‘3’ on the bottom left side of the main photo and the number ‘4’ on the bottom right of the main feature story. The page numbers are the font size 20.9 with the font type Times New Roman. This certain page number is colored wine-red , this is to go with the theme of this page containing the main article of my magazine.
And the background, This silk background was mentioned in my table of contents. This will replace an otherwise boring and plain background and give it some texture and interest.
Ending with the main image with subject, This is the main photo for my double page spread. It showcases my main subject, it also attracts the reader to read the feature story. This photo will lead the reader to sub-consciously look into the article because my subject is looking into the next page. It is edited to have the filter “Fresco” on Canva.
* Graphics created on Canva
* Flipbook created on Heyzine
That is all for today
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