Preliminary task

The task was to create a front cover and contents page for a school magazine for Haydon. 

This is what I have come up with as sample test. For the front cover of my magazine I have used an image of four pupils who appear to be standing on a small post waving their hands up in the air. I have used this pose for my front cover because I think that this symbolises friendship, reunion and the vibe that I want to send to Haydon students. The setting of this photo is outside the reception, which is on school grounds to show that this is part of Haydon. The masthead is at the top of the page all in capitals ton show boldness and importance, the colour I have chosen is yellow, because that is one of the schools colours. I have then used a similar typography for the main headline across the centre spread of the page, in a slightly bolder to show importance. The following stories are placed along the right hand side of the page, varying in different typography's yet similar to the theme of the magazine. They each tell a story that relates to the school and students would find interesting. At the bottom of the magazine I have commonly used the rectangular strip with smaller stories of what is inside the magazine, to make it look original and catch the reader’s eye.

The things that when well was the colour theme that I had stuck to, they resemble Haydon as a school and follow the codes and conventions of a normal magazine. The headings of each article are also very catchy and are reverent to the topic of the school, and appropriate for its readers. However I would improve the main picture. It should have been at the top rather than the bottom like the codes and conventions show. I would also make sure you could clearly see everyone and maybe just use one model next time to send a clearer message. I would also improve on the edit and cut out of the crown. Because this was my first attempt I did not have much time for this or know how to do this well.

The contents page has a more basic and simple because I wanted it to be easier to read and understand. The background image is of one of the students I have chosen. This is because she looks friendly and welcoming towards anyone who would read this. I have stuck to the colour theme of blue as they represent Haydon, and used this for the masthead and contents pages. The fonts are both similar, both very curvy and soft, to suggest friendliness. The pages are all placed down the left side of the page which follows the codes and conventions of a normal magazine. I have left it as that because I did not want to over complicate things.

If I were to improve this then I would not have a background image, instead use a colour or pattern which follows my colour theme, with smaller images at the bottom of the page relating it to the topics being discussed in this magazine. I would also maybe use a different colour for the page listings and numbers because one colour is a bit boring and dark. I would also lay the page out differently and include maybe a short comment board or something new that students would find interesting.