30/10/17

Aims:

• WIX practice 

Reflection: 

Today, as I am on track with my work, I decided to explore on WIX. I worked to create some sample websites. I mostly looked at what type of apps were available to me and worked with those. This is the site I made:

This is not appropriate for my product but it let me see what apps and features were available and this gives me ideas for how I can continue to manipulate the site in the future when creating my product. 

Flatplan: Contents Page

To work out what I wanted to do with the layout of my contents page, I first looked at several other contents pages and worked out which of those I thought was the best.



After careful deliberation, I decided that the best option was:

I felt this way due to the fact that the page was filled but it wasn't overpowering. Using this layout as inspiration, I created this plan: 

I replaced the additional info with an editors note as I observed this in my regional magazine research that many had. It adds a personal touch which I like. I think that my images with feature one of my model and two of props or perhaps one of clothing or accessories. I will experiment with the layout of my contents list and the sizing of my images and my editors note until I am satisfied with the product. 

27/10/17

Aims:

• Contents Page Flat plan

Reflection:

This is the end of the October Half Term Holiday so my regular time management posts and work load will resume. Today, I worked on my contents page flat-plan. Once again, I firstly looked at similar products and chose one that I felt best suited my wants and needs. Then, I made the changes that I had decided upon from my research and planning and created a flat-plan that suited my product. 

Photoshoot Planning: Location Scout

In this Powtoon I looked at where I could have my photoshoot. I had several ideas of places nearby that I could look at and I evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of each one. The ideas that I'd had were as follows:

• Seaham Beach
• Houghton Rugby Club 
• Houghton Park
• Newbottle Church 
• Sunderland University Studio
• Sunderland College Studio 

Of these, I am favouring the fields and the church so that I can make my photos look like they came from a real wedding. 

26/10/17

Aims

• Location Scouting

Reflection:

I had considered this previously but this was my first real research into my location. I created a PowToon to look at some of my ideas and assess the positives and the negatives of shooting in each location. This was successful in my opinion as I have thought my locations through and have solid ideas about where I would like to shoot. 

Deconstruction: 14

The masthead is at the top of the page. It's large and it demands attention. Hyperbole is used in the tag line as they brag that they are the UK's no.1. Beneath this, the first article that I looked at was part of a slideshow carousel. There's a diverse selection of dresses and this shows that the magazine will appeal to more than one type of bride. This is further reinforced in the other articles. There is a wide variety in a rang of topics. The colour scheme appeals to women. It has pink as it's primary colour which is stereotypically the feminine colour. This shows engagement with the target audience. The footer is also noteworthy as, once again, it shows a social media presence.

What can I take away from this?

Once more, I need to include social media links to show that I would have a social media presence. I also need to make sure that my articles are varied so that I too can appeal to  wide variety of people. Finally, I could use a tag line with hyperbole too to make my magazine seem better and more established.

24/10/17

Aims:

• Finish deconstruction 14

Reflection:

I feel that I should have started with work earlier so that I could get more done but I did manage to get this done in one day. I did half of the work on the morning and the other half on the evening so that my work was spaced out and I feel that the work I produced was of a good quality. 

23/10/17

Aims:

• -

Reflection:

This is the beginning of the October Half Term holiday. I have marked this as it means that my work schedule will no longer be Monday, Tuesday, Thursday. I will space out my work in a way that I feel works best for me. 

Flatplan: Front Cover

To determine the layout of my product, I looked at similar magazines and chose ones that stood out layout-wise. I then complied them into this slideshow to evaluate which had the strongest layout. 

What I decided was that this image had the strongest layout:

I felt this way due to the amount of sell lines and the placement of them. I have decided to keep this in mind when creating the flatplan for my magazine and planning how I want the layout to look. What I came up with is this: 

This keeps the basic outline of the first however I put the publisher above the masthead and replaced the lure with a tag line. I felt that this would look better for my product. The strong points of a layout like this is that everything has it's own space and the page is filled without being overpowering. The placement of the model brings her forward and makes her the focus of the page but the masthead is still given enough space that it is still receiving plenty of attention. I believe that this is a strong layout but I would be willing to change it if it received negative audience feedback or, when editing began, I did not find it satisfactory. 

20/10/17

Aims:

• Create front cover flat-plan

Reflection: 

I created the flat-plan for my front cover by firstly looking at other covers of similar products. I then chose one to base my own layout off. After this, I made the changes that I felt were appropriate and produced a flat-plan that reflected my own wants. 

19/10/17

Aims:

• Finish thirteenth deconstruction

Reflection:

I have posted this and I feel that I have made a good start to my website deconstructions. I am awaiting feedback from my lecturer for any issues that I may need to change. 

Deconstruction: 13

The masthead of this website is at the top of the page however it is not centre of attention and it overpowered by an advertisement. It pushes for reader subscription. This website was online during a Christmas time one year and therefore it is seasonally relevant with the snowflakes and the red and green colour scheme. The first article I observed surrounded makeup and cosmetic products which shows engagement with the target audience as makeup is stereotypically feminine. It also shows that the website offers articles on a range of wedding aspects. The article text is written in a sans serif font so that it is easy to read. Headings are written in a serif font in order to maintain a formal tone. The images for the articles are all high quality and professional. They make use of establishing shots of locations for honeymoons or venues that they are trying to advertise and use images where brides use eye contact to draw in attention. The footer is at the bottom of the page and it uses bright pink to engage with the audience. Finally, social media links are present to push people to subscribe/follow them online. This is necessary for success due to the technological world we live in today.

What can I take away from this?

The articles vary and focus on small details of the wedding. This attracts brides as it means that they will receive planning support on every single aspect. I need to ensure that I offer articles on a wide range of subjects with high quality and professional images. I also need to ensure that I have my social media links available as this is necessary for modern magazines survival.

18/10/17

Aims:

• Work on thirteenth deconstruction

Reflection:
I have made good progress on my blog today and I will be able to post the thirteenth deconstruction tomorrow.  I will also be showing my blog to my lecturer shortly to ensure that my progress is up to standard and so that she can check for mistakes.

Deconstruction: 12

The masthead is written in a straight serif font which gives it a semi-formal tone. It is also heavily spaced so that the board looks fuller. It is placed on a red background which makes the white text stand out more heavily. This red background also contrasts with the cold blue tones of the image which attracts the eye and creates visual interest. In the image, a woman is laying across a couch. She is styled and posed to look attractive. The image has been edited so that it is monochromatic and this makes it more formal and serious. Finally, the layout of the page has been done in a way that makes it very powerful and interesting. The uneven divide between the two sections obeys the rule of thirds and the text placement is evenly spaced and fills the board nicely.

What can I take away from this?

Spacing out fonts can be used to fill a page more effectively and this makes the board seem fuller. Additionally, using the rule of thirds and having an aspect of the board be off centre will create visual interest and encourage visual exploration. Finally, I could consider using contrasting colours in my products to attract attention however I don't know if this is suited to my genre as it tends to be more aesthetically pleasing.

17/10/17

Aims:

• Finish twelfth deconstruction 

Reflection:
I finished and posted my twelfth deconstruction today. I did not get to start work on my thirteenth. I will do this tomorrow instead.  I feel that I am making good progress and am ready to start deconstructing websites. my knowledge on billboards has been enhanced by these deconstructions.

16/10/17

Aims:

• Begin work on twelfth deconstruction 

Reflection:
I started work for my final billboard deconstruction. I have made good progress, I should be able to get the post up early tomorrow and maybe begin work on my first website on the same day.

12/10/17

Aims:

• Finish eleventh deconstruction

Reflection:

I finished this work in today's lesson. I felt that this was enough time if I really worked hard and focused on what I was doing. The extra time I was giving myself was wasted and I prefer the method of working that I'm currently doing. If my workload increases or I fall behind, I will resume working on Wednesday's and Friday's but for now I am happy with how much work I am doing. 

Deconstruction: 11

This is a much more mature billboard style than the last but it still commands attention. The first image is of a model siting down. She is very relaxed and almost arrogant in how confident she is. The second is more personal as it is closer up. Her facial expression almost looks as if she were caught off guard and this makes the image even more personal. The difference in costume in the two images also portrays Prada as a diverse brand. The masthead is easily recognisable and simplistic. It has been placed in the centre to show that it is the most important thing there.

What can I take away from this?

A simplistic layout works well. The filtered images look pleasing. The placement of the masthead showcases that it is the most important thing. I need to ensure that my masthead draws in attention as well as my image.

10/10/17

Aims:

• Finish tenth deconstruction
• Begin eleventh deconstruction 

Reflection:

I have finished the tenth deconstruction today and I have also began my eleventh. Already, I have made good progress on this deconstruction. I am moving fast through these and I am ahead of the point I expected to be at. Due to this, I will only be doing work in lessons now instead of doing the work on Wednesdays and Friday's when I do not have lessons as well. 

Deconstruction: 10

The title is written in an embossed script font. This is both aesthetically pleasing and feminine. The focus of this page is making women feel like a princess and this is done to help them live out their childhood dreams. The image of the bride resembles snow white and her signature pose with a bird on her finger. Using images that conjure nostalgia from childhood appeals to a brides inner child. The background is of a clear sky and this has been used to be calming. Also, it has the bride floating on a cloud in the sky. The main purpose of a billboard is to attract and maintain attention and this will do that as it is weird and therefore people will look at it and remember it. The masthead and additional information has been put in a sans serif font as it is easier to read and how been placed in a corner so that everything on the page is evenly spaced.

What can I take away from this?

I like the layout and the way that the additional information and the masthead are spaced out. I feel that this fills the page well and looks appealing. This billboard also highlights one way that you can draw in an audiences attention - by having something bright and odd. I will likely use bright colours on my billboard but I do not think it suits my audience (who are supposedly quite mature people) to have something weird and childish like this.

09/10/17

Aims:

• Work on tenth deconstruction

Reflection:

I have almost completed this deconstruction and I will just add the last touches tomorrow. I have also taken some time today to select the next billboard I will deconstruct. 

06/10/17

Aims:

• Begin work on tenth deconstruction 

Reflection:
I chose a billboard and I have begin deconstructing it by looking at layout and font. I have written down my initial ideas and will spend Monday expanding upon them to ensure that I have the best response possible.

05/10/17

Aims:

• Finish the ninth deconstruction

Reflection:

I posted the ninth deconstruction today after spending some time working on it. I have stopped the work on my main products now and will be looking at my ancillary products - billboards and websites. I wanted to start looking at billboards today but did not have a chance. I have looked at potential billboards I could deconstruct but I did not have time to begin.

Deconstruction: 9

The title was written in a stencil font, which is not something that I have observed before. Wordplay has been used in the title to create interest in the article and it has been kept purposefully vague to entice a reader. The main image shows the couple in a field in a romantic pose and they are both styled perfectly once again, displaying super-smiler expressions to show how happy they area. The sub images show many features of a real wedding and have personality to them. Once again, most of the images centre around the bride as brides are the target audience. Additionally, they also appeal to the target audience by having the images be very feminine through the use of colour and the use of flowers.Though this article is longer than some that I have looked at, once more, the text is secondary the focus is on visuals. This article is written about the venues - I have learnt that most of the brides budget goes on venues. This article advertises the venue and gives clear details around it.

What can I take away from this?

This reinforces that the article is secondary to the visuals and makes it clear that this is something that can be observed across bridal articles. I also particularly like the use of wordplay in the title and could consider using this in my article or in other articles on the contents page or on the website homepage.

04/10/17

Aims:

• Work on ninth deconstruction 
• Check back over blog

As I am ahead, I did not focus all of my work into my deconstruction and took some time to look back over previous posts and check that there was nothing to add or change. This ensures that my blog is at the best quality it can be. I am also almost ready to post my deconstruction and will do this tomorrow.

03/10/17

Aims:

• Post eighth deconstruction 
• Start work on ninth

Reflection:
I finished the eighth very quickly and began the ninth. I have made significant progress and should be done shortly. I feel that I am ahead and working at a quick pace.

Deconstruction: 8

The title is written in a mix of script and sans serif fonts. This combination combines aesthetics with readability and reflect personality within the couple. Furthermore, the title links to gardens - flowers and gardening are stereotypically female interests which shows engagement with the target audience. The non-uniform layout of the images also adds a personal touch and the images show a range of different aspects of the wedding. They have been photographed to ensure that everything is aesthetically pleasing and looks attractive. They have also gone for a very rustic and natural feel with their use of colour and this has a calming effect. The main image is of the couple in a romantic pose which shows that they love each other. They have been styled to perfection to emulate a fairy-tale wedding. Finally, the article is short and the visuals are seen as more important than the text. The language is positive and romantic.

What can I take away from this?

So far, I have observed that magazines tend to place visuals over text and that the articles are quite short. I will consider that many magazines do this when I plot my layouts. I can choose to either obey or disobey conventions with this. When taking my images, I should also focus on making sure that my images are equally as aesthetically pleasing and make sure that I have some dramatic images.

2/10/17

Aims:

• Work on eighth deconstruction 

Reflection:

I made good progress and should finish this early tomorrow. This will still mean that I am ahead and I will be able to begin work on the ninth deconstruction tomorrow after posting the deconstruction.