Rough Sketches - Main Task

Synopsis of Media Text

With the creation of the front cover, contents page and double page spread of 'Space' magazine, I aim to design a simplistic, refined music magazine which is valued as a well written and highly respected source for the latest in cutting edge music.

The design shall be modern, reflecting the subject matter, with predominant colours used being black and white and bursts of brighter colours appearing throughout. The name 'Space' reflects the modern content of the magazine and an exploration into the unknown. The magazine will express many elements habitually found within fashion magazines whilst simultaneously focusing the majority of its attention on highly reverenced music journalism.

The two page spread will feature cover story, an article featuring singer-songwriter Fabienne. I chose to move away from the generic interview layout style of question and answer, and instead I am currently in the process of writing the article as a continuous piece of prose.

Target Audience

The target audience of 'Space' Magazine is individualistic, discerning and passionate, not only about music, but the discovery of ground-breaking artists and bands.

The age range of the audience at which the product is aimed is 16-25, with focus being held upon those of university age (18-22) in particular. I feel that the quality of writing should not be comprimised when aiming to appeal to a younger audience, and hope that the article shall be well written without being ostentatious.

The reader of 'Space' is devoted to style aswell as music, whilst remaining an individual who does not wish to comply with others' simply as it is the fashionable thing to do. The reader is interested in current events and is constantly seeking to enhance their knowledge on many subjects and cultures and appreciates art in various forms.

Those who read 'Space' lead active social lives, but are as happy to read the works of Kant as they are to go to an all night party; they also are open to the discovery of several different genres and sub-genres of music, viewing quality as the most important factor.

'Space' magazine is targeted equally at males and females, following the view that gender is not particularly important when it comes to music and creativity.

Equipment/Location Planning

I plan to travel to London to shoot my images at infamous Brick Lane, complimenting the indie, DIY yet sleek, minimal aesthetic of the magazine which I plan to create. With white washed walls, recording areas and rows upon rows of records, Rough Trade is an ideal location. Rough Trade is also a highly esteemed record label which has been functioning for over 50 years and is the home of some of the most well loved indie music, something which I feel accurately accompanies the aesthetics of the magazine.

In terms of equipment, I plan to take the images on a Nikon SLR Camera, later utilising photoshop to edit the images and InDesign to edit the magazine itself; this shall be done on a Mac PC.

Human Resource Planning

As model and musician, I will appoint Fabienne, who is an inhabitant of London just like the mystical character I plan to create. Fabienne is an ideal model as the image of her seen within my magazine is not a falsified image, but rather a representation of her own personal style, which I hope will bring a sense of genuineness to the media text. With pale skin, long, wavy hair with emerald tips, a slim build and dark, gothic make up, Fabienne is a reflection of the modern, cutting edge musician, and her character is one who is on the path to propell music into the twenty second century.

That the model is young enhances the fact that I wish to aim my magazine at youthful, intelligent individualists, the musician on the cover perhaps being something of a role model for these young people. In some respects, the magazine which I plan to create is a response to the diminishing quality of music magazines aimed at people within my own age demographic (16-25), which may at times undermine the intelligence of young people in order to generate greater sales.

The model's somewhat gothic style represents the darker, mysterious aspect of the musician, an aspect which is at the forefront of both the music and the fashion world, with musicians such as The XX and Lykke Li, and fashion designers such as Yohiji Yamamoto, Alexander Wang and Maison Martin Margiela all adopting mystical, sombre images.

Below: influences Swedish musician Lykke Li and Yohji Yamamoto a/w 2011