Production Log 24/02/2014 - Focusing on Details

Over the past week, I have focused on improving the minor details of my magazine. This has included the positioning of certain elements, colour and size of text or objects and adding small details that are conventional of magazines.
This has included resizing the captions below/above each image and the size of the website name next to the page number of every page. Furthermore, I have also created small forward arrows to put at the bottom of each page of the article to indicate that the article continues overleaf.
I also decided to change the box out text announcing the album's release date into a sentence at the end of the article with a small square 'bullet point' beside it, as I have observed that release dates are often used to end an article and conventionally look this way.
I am hoping that making this minor improvements will make my magazine easier to read, more organized and more professional - closer to the standard of existing magazines.

Improved Article Draft

 

Today, I edited my article to make it longer. I did this for two reasons. Firstly, I thought the article would look more organized and be easier to read if the "Meet" headings were at the top of each page, so that there was a page dedicated to each band member. Also, I compared the size of the article's font to that of existing magazines and I found that mine was substantially bigger. It seems that most magazine articles use roughly a size 9 font. As I was changing the size of the text, and wanted each section of the article to fit a specific area, I needed to lengthen the article so that it fitted appropriately. 

Magazine - Penultimate Version

Feedback

In a feedback session, I presented my magazine (second draft) to a focus group and received feedback from them as to how it could be improved.

Box Out Text

When thinking of ways to improve my double page spreads and allow my reader to connect with the band, I decided to use minimal box out text to do so.

• The first double page spread contains the text "On Tour March 2014" in the corner of the page. This encourages my reader to buy tickets to see the band live. This also relates to the article content, as I mention a soundcheck at Camden Roundhouse.
• The last double page spread contains the text "Tigerilla's debut album 'The Jungle' is released February 23rd 2014" at the bottom of the page. This encourages my reader to buy the band's album.

Since including these, I have had several ideas of how I can improve my magazine, and this has affected the box out text I will use.

• I recently came up with the idea to create a QR code that links to a teaser for Tigerilla's music video for their debut single. This will have some text beside it, encouraging readers to use the QR code. I am currently considering the phrase "Scan the QR code for a teaser for Tigerilla's music video".
• I also thought it would improve the Instagram box to add a little description text. I am currently considering the text "Check out @Tigerilla for more like this. We think their snaps are pretty awesome. #filters"

I have also considered changing my original two sections of text.

• Firstly, I feel it would be more effective to make the text "On Tour March 2014" look slightly stamp like, possibly placing this over the image on DPS1.
• Secondly, I have decided to make the text "Tigerilla's debut album 'The Jungle' is released February 23rd 2014" part of the article, as I have noticed that many magazine articles end with a phrase similar to this.

Production Log 03/02/2014 - QR Code

Yesterday, I shot a teaser video for my band's music video. I then edited this in Premiere Pro, uploaded it to Youtube and made the QR code above. I will then put this into my magazine article, advertising the fact that readers can scan the QR code to see the teaser for Tigerilla's music video.

Below is the teaser that the QR links to.