Creation of Double Page

Spread

First of all I created my photoshop document by doubling the width of my normal documents and using rulers so I can see where each page ends. I also put the tickertape along the bottom for the page number and logo to reinforce the brand identity and house style and because it’s a convention of magazines.

I then edited three potential images and put them on the page to see which image worked best.

Editing images

First image I edited

Second image I edited

Third image I edited

I choose to use the first image as I felt that the upside down image epitomizes Indie because the upside down image connotes how Indie doesn’t fit conventions. It’s also an unusual image and therefore engaging. Also the first image has the microphone from the front cover image which again creates a sense of unity and professionalism.

The styling of this image contrasts with the first though to create a different visual style within the magazine and connote the various faces of Indie.

I then created my masthead for the DPS. Whilst deciding on which Dafont font I should use I looked at DPS’s from Q and NME and especially liked this from NME. I liked the way the font was disjointed and unusual. I therefore looked at fonts that had the same effect on Dafont and found this one. The disjointed font enhances the concept behind the headline of change and turmoil. I then edited part of the font to be the bright green that I have used throughout the magazine to reinforce brand identity and create a cohesive text.

The disjointed font also creates a cohesive text as by choosing to have a sleeker styled person on the page and a white background creates a cleaner less chaotic page than my previous pages as I wanted to connote how this publication challenges it’s own conventions and changes for the artists like many successful publications do such as NME and Q. However the use of the font shows that the magazine still stays true to it’s revolutionary concept whilst allowing for change to connote the individual artists which again connotes how the magazine is purely interested in the artists.

NME’s font My font

I then created my introduction for the article on the left hand side of the DPS.

I have again downloaded a font off Dafont and again chosen a slightly disorganised and chaotic font for the same reasons as before. I have used large font on the left hand side of the page with an eye-catching font as this is the introduction to the article and therefore needs to grab the readers attention. I have also fitted the text around the figure which connotes how the font is about the person and how the magazine is focused on the artists. I have also highlighted certain words in a different colour, for example the name of the artist is red as this links the name to the person who has red hair. I have also used the house colour of acid green and the idiot font for the name of the magazine as this is the font and colour used in the masthead so reinforces brand identity. I have also tried to create enigma within the introduction of the article by writing things like “not done with us yet” and “questions we know you’re all dying to ask” which increases the atmosphere of exclusivity and engages the reader. Also the ellipse at the end of the introduction encourages the reader to continue reading on to the next page.

I then wrote my main article and positioned it on the right hand page. I also adjusted my headline so that the “Turning” wasn’t being cut in half by the page.

To open my article I wrote a brief introduction which describes where the interview takes place and the artist themselves as this is a convention of interviews in magazines. I then went straight into the interview and wrote it in a question and answer style with the questions from ‘Revolution’ in green to again reinforce the brand identity. I also wrote the name of the magazine in the intro in the same font as the front cover and colour for the same reason as above. The answers I wrote in red to connote the artist and make it easier to see which is the answer and which the question. I tried to create a conversational tone within the article whilst still including the type of information that fans would be interested in such as who they’ve been supporting, what it’s felt like reaching success and what is next in store for the artist. All of the questions are aimed at the artist and their music which also connotes how Indie is preoccupied with the actual music not celebrity culture. In essence I have tried to write an easily accessible article that includes exclusive information so the reader feels they have gained something form reading it.

I then put the magazine’s logo of the R with the fist in it at the bottom of each page in the left corner as this is a convention of my magazine and again reinforces brand identity. For the same reason I also put the logo by the side of

each question that ‘Revolution’ asked.

I also experimented with the log by the questions and got rid of the black from the logo to see which looked better but decided that the black background made it stand out more which engages the reader more and is therefore more effective. It also connotes the brand more so is more successful.

I then included a quote on the left hand side of the page. I initially wrote it in a handwritten font but felt this didn’t look right and was too difficult to read so tried a different font. I tried a old typewriter font and liked the aesthetic look of this and thought it worked well within the whole aesthetic of the DPS. I wrote it in red to again link it to the artist and have used this quote to provide a lure for the whole article.

This is my final version of my DPS. To finish it I elongated the quote to make it stand out more, added a comedic caption for the picture in the bottom left corner to provide a more light hearted tone and put the logos in line with the text as it makes the page look more professional.

Layout• With my DPS I have created a much ‘cleaner ‘ looking page with a white background

which contrasts to my other pages. This connotes how the magazine is unafraid of change and actively adapts its house style for the artist which implies to the reader that the most important thing for the magazine is the artist and music itself not public image.

• The ‘cleaner’ looking page also references Q as when creating my DPS I really liked the simplistic visual style of Q’s DPS’ and therefore wanted to experiment with it. By changing the visual style slightly it also connotes the many faces of Indie and the vast array of music it encompasses. It is also more accessible to a female audience as it does not appear as aggressive or masculine which connotes how I want this publication to have both a male and female readership.

• However I have maintained my house style and organised chaos through the use of disorganised font which ensures that the magazine works cohesively as a complete

text. Pages like this one influenced the

design of my DPS.

Colour Codes• On my DPS I have used a variety of colours such as white, black, red

and green. I have used them to connote various meanings. For example the white in the background connotes the purity of the publication/artist and how they are both focused on the music.

• The black connotes the darkness of Indie and how it is so different from mainstream music and links to goth and punk music so references Indie music’s past. It is also one of the colour codes used on every other page of the magazine so reinforces brand identity.

• The green is used for a similar reason as the black as it is one of the prominent colours of the magazine and again helps to reinforce the brand identity. It also connotes how natural Indie music and this artist is whislt also being an acid green so connotes unusualness.

• The red connotes the artist as she has red hair and has been used in the page with everything associated with her, for example the quote. This connotes how the artist is the most important thing and also how she is a danger to the mainstream music industry as she is successful whist still remaining true to her music which is what Indie is all about.