Fashion Magazine Research Survey Results

As part of my primary research I chose to create a questionnaire, here is a link to my introductory blog post on the survey.

Now I have collected all the results and put together an infographic on Piktochart. This is to present the data in a more interesting way and to be easily interpreted by the audience.

I have made a chart or graph for each question of my survey, to clearly demonstrate the demographics and to have a visually pleasing representation of the data. I also added small icons and images to correspond with each question theme. For example, the money related answers I used cash symbols and picture icons as well as phone and laptop icons for the platform question.

I tried to keep the text on this infographic fairly minimal, as I wanted it to be interesting to the eye and not too busy with typography. This would come across quite cluttered and over whelming to the audience and therefore would defeat the purpose of an infographic. I kept the background very simple and dark so the light font and bright colours stand out. This method is very eye catching and could draw people in to read more.

Finally, this method of primary research worked well because I got a large quantity of results (78) in a short amount of time. Also, because I collected the information first hand, it means that the results are accurate from my point of view. On the other hand, this could mean that the results are not that reliable, as I don't know how much effort people put in to fill out the survey and therefore some feedback might not be exact.

Another disadvantage of this method of primary research is the fact that most of the questions are multiple choice and therefore not a lot of detail is put into the answers. In this case, the research is more quantity rather than quality, although it did give me an idea of the target audience and demographics of certain magazines. So is still useful in the pre production process of my final major project.

Here is the final image of my infographic:

Fashion Magazine Research Survey

Today I put together a survey on Google Forms about fashion magazines. It is a quick survey to help me gain an understanding of the demographics and target audience of certain magazines. I am using this as a method of primary research for my final major project.

I posted the link on my Facebook page and am awaiting responses. After the information has been collected I am going to put together some pie charts, representing the results and for a different way of interpreting the data.

Here is the link to my fashion magazine survey.

Click here to see the results blog post!

Inspiration Mood Board

Today I put together a fashion photography mood board for inspiration, I did this on Adobe Photoshop and got the images off Google. Here is the finished project:

I incorporated images that interest me for example the more creative, art-inspired fashion photography I think is very unique and interesting. Also a lot of the pictures used in high fashion magazines are quite abstract and different, to stand out from conventional, plain background studio settings.

I like the different effects used to edit the images, for example the mirrored effect and the pattern/colour overlay to exaggerate some of the photographs.

The typography in magazines such as; Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, Dazed and confused, etc are often very simple and clear to read. The typeface also tends to be serif, as this is considered more classic and sophisticated. This is very conventional and here are some examples in the magazines I listed above:

The font also starts much larger at the beginning, so that the title stands out and catches the audiences attention. The images however, range from a studio setting to a full spread image including landscape, used as the background of a whole page.

Brief Schedule for FMP

Pre production- 

Complete all research and gain an understanding of the competitors in the high fashion magazine market, as well as collecting the demographics and target audiences of them. Also make simple layout wireframes, so I have an idea of where each element of my magazine is going. Write article ideas and finalise a story/s to put in the magazine. Research and create ads that can be used within the magazine and on the back cover.

Production-

Take photographs of the model for the cover and the double page spread if needed. Use Adobe Photoshop to edit images and to start designing the magazine pages. Add all the elements to the layout including; masthead, selling line, main image, cover lines, date line, article and barcode. Create adverts and articles making sure to keep within a theme, so the magazine looks professional and high end, as this corresponds with the target audience.

Post Production-

Evaluate production, analyse final project and make any improvements/address them. Identify what went well and what could still be tweaked. Also explain what I am happy with and what I could have done differently if I were to do the same project again.

I have also put together a schedule on Google Docs, showing the dates at which I want different elements of the production process to be completed.

Workflow for FMP

Initial idea- brainstorming

Document basic topics that interest me, thoughts on what I can create.

Primary and secondary research

This will allow me to understand my target audience and help me expand on initial ideas.

Location research

This is an opportunity to actually visit somewhere to collect useful data.

Interpret collected information

Decide on research that is useful and clarify the data I have gathered.

Explain reasoning behind research

How this is going to benefit my production and how it my effect my final decision.

Create presentation

This is to showcase my idea and to explain what it is I am going to create, based on my research.

Pitch Idea

Allow others to understand/interpret my plans for my FMP.

Feedback on presentation 

This will allow me to get the lecturers comments and their thoughts and opinions on my idea.

Proposal of final idea

Explanation of my finalised idea for my FMP.

Pre production

This includes documents such as, budget targets, call sheets, etc.

Production

The start of the creating process of my final production.

Evaluate

What went well, what could be improved, am I happy?

Requirements of the Brief

The brief contains five main sections, the first of which is analysing the requirements of the brief and the early stages of creating an idea and topic research. It also includes workflows and schedules, so the time I have to complete my FMP is organised and well planned out. This will also assist in making sure work is finalised by deadlines and up to date.

The second section is the more detailed research including primary and secondary. It involves the actual collection of information and also includes going to location or event to aid further research. For this I am going to visit Bristol Fashion Week to get an idea of what styles and trends are in fashion and to gain an understanding of what fashion I should include within my related FMP.

I would put together a survey on Google Forms and post it on Facebook to give me an idea of the demographics and target audience of my chosen topic. For my secondary research I can look through books, magazine, articles and websites on the internet to see what others have wrote about the topic and to make sure to reference them in the process. Also writing blogposts reflecting on the research I have accumulated and how I can reference my research using the Harvard format.

Whereas the third section is about the interpretation of the research and how this is going to help me with deciding my final topic for my FMP. I have to create a presentation clearly representing my aims for this project and showcase what I am going to create. This includes the delivery of my pitch and also the reflection on how it went and what could be improved so far within the pre production process.

The fourth section covers a production schedule, which includes detailed targets and goals. It also involves a budget for my project, for example the cost of materials, publishing/print cost, etc. Make sure to have permission forms for the use of locations and suitable models selected. As well as producing vlogs on my production decisions and to continue to blog, documenting my progress and updated reflections.

The final segment is very much the evaluating element of the project, it also comprises of an explanation of how my finish product reflects where I started at the beginning of the process and if my ideas have changed. I have to then create a blog post with combined evaluating questions, for example; what went well, what I found challenging, what would I do differently and finally if I am happy with the final result.

Type Manipulation Experimentation for FMP

Today I looked at type and how typefaces can be manipulated, I put together a photoshop document demonstrating the differences between the before and afters. Here is the finished product:

Below is an image when the composition above was in the making. Here it clearly shows the contrast between the typefaces and how I have manipulated them.

I created these on Adobe Photoshop and used tools such as; burn, smudge, sponge, blur, sharpen, eraser, pattern stamp, as well as paint, brush and pencil tools.

Final Website Images

Today I completed my perfume website project and updated everything on my current publishing brief. I have also uploaded my website pages on InVision, which is a preview/prototyping website. This allows people to see what their project looks like and it enables them to experience the website as if they were a user. Here are my links to Invision; Website- Desktop and Website- Mobile.

To do this I created a prototype folder that contained all 7 screens. I then uploaded the png files for each of the pages, as well as whole new files for the hover states.

The image below demonstrates the separate screens I uploaded, so I could link from page to page and insert the hover states over certain screens. This is so I can go to the homepage and then navigate around the site as if I was the user, this helped me gain an understanding of the user experience my website offered.

 

Here are the final images of the desktop version of my website homepage and product page.

Below is the final images for the mobile version of my website of both the homepage and product page.

FMP Subject- Fashion Magazine

For my final major project I have decided to design my own magazine cover and double page spread. It is most likely going to be on the subject of fashion and beauty, however I might include other topics within the double page spread. The target audience would be females aged between 20-35, as the fashion included will be on trend and very fashionable. Stereotypically, these are the people who are going to be the most interested in this topic. Also I have not incorporated teenagers in the target audience, as the magazine is going to advertise quite high-end, luxury fashion and therefore for people who have a full time career.

The topics I am going to research include:

• Cover layouts and designs of high fashion magazines
• Demographics of magazines such as Vogue and Harpers Bazaar
• The types of articles often published 
• Advertisements used and how they are placed
• Photography used 
• Colour schemes
• Brands included within other high fashion magazines
• Search starting up magazines/new to the market

What I will need:

• Camera for photography
• Lights, backdrop (setup)
• Model
• Outfits-fashionable clothing
• Makeup/hair for cover- (most likely do this myself)
• Adobe Photoshop for editing purposes

Theme Ideas FMP

In today's lesson I brainstormed ideas for my final major project. The given themes were; hunger, boundaries, paradox and grotesque. I chose hunger and paradox and then chose my own theme, which was dreams. I chose this because I am interested in the art created within that theme, this could include nightmares, fantasy and magic.

Here is the mind map that I drew:

I had my three themes in the centre and wrote all associated words and interesting sub themes and ideas that I could think of. Also I did this all on one page so that I could see the connections between them and the overlap in ideas.

Perfume Website Product Page

Today I continued with creating the product pages for my website. Here is an image of my product page for the desktop version of my website:

I included all the necessary elements for a conventional product page, for example; price, add to bag button, product description, images of item, quantity button and small amount of information on delivery options.

For the product description, I made up a explanation, describing the scent of the perfume and the products target audience. I also made sure to use simple, clear image so the website user can easily see what is on offer and the appearance details of the product. 

I kept within the theme of my website, as I used the same colours, font styles, similar images and kept the header and footer the same. This is so it is recognisable to the user and so that the website looks tidy and professional.

My product page is quite unconventional, as I have made it look a little bit more like a homepage but with further detailed information on the product,  the option to enter quantity and the button which adds the item to the bag, ready for on the checkout page.

I have started on my mobile version of the product page. So far I have just inserted the image and the add to bag symbol, however a lot of the elements used in the desktop version, needs to be placed in vertically. This is because the mobile is a lot longer in length design wise, and therefore needs some adjusting so I can offer the best possible user experience.

Here is a screenshot of how far I have got:

I will insert an actual image here when I have finished the mobile version. I will also update the image above if I make any more changes to my final website pages.

Here is an updated image of my final product page for mobile:

Here I have added the same image that I used on the desktop version and also added the edits on top to create the fan effect. Although, I cannot actually add the text on top of the image as well, because this would be too small and could not be interpreted for the target audience, therefore representing a bad user experience.

Piano Instagram Promo Evaluation

My two Instagram piano tutoring promotions are now completed and are on my Youtube channel, here are the videos:

Out of both of my promo's, I prefer the first one as I think it runs the most smoothly and flows more professionally, rather than the second one which I think is quite amateurish. This is because I left the visual on a few clips on a bit too long and therefore could cause the target audience to lose interest in the promotion. I also think the audio on the second promo cuts off too fast at the finish and the video has a sudden, unexpected end.

I like the first clip because the volume levels on the audios fluctuate according to what is needed to be heard. For example when the voice over ends, the piano backing music gets louder, whereas when the talking is going on the music continues but at a lower volume. Here is a link to another one of my blog posts, which explains this further with screenshots included: Piano Promo Update.

For example, here is a screenshot of the technique that I used to create this effect:

I decided to use my phone for the audio recordings, however I did use headphones with the built in microphone and this worked really well for my voice over. I also think that this gives a clearer audio quality for vocals, rather than just the mobile itself without any connecting device. I also did the visual filming on my Iphone 6s because the camera on this is really good quality and looks very sharp and precise with the correct lighting.

Here is an image that I found off Google, which shows the quality of Iphone cameras. I used an Iphone 6s for my video footage:

In my opinion my choice of soundtrack was really effective because I actually played the music myself, on my piano at home as the background music. This makes it clear to the audience of what this promo is about and is also confirmed with the voice over throughout the clip. As the music played is a classical piano piece, it perfectly fits in with the theme of the promo and therefore ties the whole thing together flawlessly.

Although I really like the soundtrack, the visual quality on some of the clips within the promo is slightly dark and this effects the overall viewing experience for the audience. An improvement that I would make would be the lighting when recording, so that the clips would be much sharper and clearer.

End of the World Scene Ideas

Summer and I had to come up with a final scene of the world ending. The main storyline we came up with is a group of characters trying to stay alive by escaping earth, before the world comes to an end.

The actual ending scene would be the group inside a launching rocket, where one member has to sacrifice themselves to enable the others take off. This is an emotional moment within the scene, as the rest of the group look back on their friend knowing his/her's fate that is yet to come. However, the others are excited and hopeful for the future for life on a different planet.

The scene would be set inside a rocket, just like the image below:

Whereas one character has doubts and the audience can see the look of regret from his/her's expression. This character is nervously waiting for an outcome to occur, whereas the others are all holding hands and discussing the good times they have had together.

Toy Project Reflection

I think this toy project has gone well because I have enjoyed working in pairs when coming up with unique toy ideas. I have also enjoyed the design element of creating the corresponding poster to our toy idea, here is a link to my poster blog post. Although at the very early stages of the brain storming process, was quite difficult when coming up for a completely different construction toy idea that has not been thought of before.

As far as the toy research, I went to Hawkins Bazaar to see what the toy phase is at the moment and if there is anything on the market that is similar to our 'Watch Craft' toy idea. I also looked online to see if I could find a build a watch kit and nothing came up that was aimed for a younger audience and was instead a very expensive and complicated kit for adult watches. This confirmed that the idea we came up with was to go ahead.

When it came to the animation element of this project, I found the task quite difficult as it is very challenging to make a sequence look smooth and professional. Here is a link to my animation so far blog post.

Something I would do differently if I was given this task again, is to organise before a few starting layout designs for my animation. This would ensure that I have an idea already of how to get started, without wasting time producing other designs on Flash over again and then deleting them. I would also make sure to keep up to date with blog posts every week, so that I am keeping a record of how far I have got on certain stages of the project. It is also helps publishing updates, so that it demonstrates my progress throughout the tasks and how I can improve next time.