Evaluation

This task consisted of me creating a front cover and contents page for a college magazine. I created the front cover using Photoshop and the contents page with InDesign.  Overall, I found Photoshop to be my preferred programme to use as I found that I was able to move things such as the masthead, cover lines and pull quote with more freedom and was able to place them exactly where I wanted them. It was also easier to resize and change the colour of the text.

By creating this magazine cover and contents page, I intended to inform the reader about what will be featured in this magazine. By using the main image to show a practical student in a school setting reflects the topic the magazine's articles revolve around. I believe that my cover star/image could have had a clearer facial expression, as pointed out by audience's feedback, as her facial expression is not clear enough for the reader to immediately understand how she is feeling. From my feedback, I could have also taken the photo on a more basic background so that the cover line colours did not clash with the objects and people in the background. One of my reviews has also stated to try and take pictures with the cover star looking towards the camera as to create direct address. The cover lines also further inform the reader specifically on what articles are featured inside. From my feedback, I have spaced them out well but one review has stated that there may be too many on the page, giving an overcrowded look to the cover. 

My contents page consists of more images linked to the idea of "school" and features the articles featured in the magazine such as interviews, study tips and term dates. I constructed the contents list by looking at my flat plan so that I could refer back to my plan if necessary. I believe I included a good number of pictures in my contents page, as to not make the page feel empty or too cramped. I also made sure that my text was a colour that stood out from the background, to create a contrast and make it easier to read. My feedback shows that I could have changed the layout of the text as it could have been more spread out to give it a more professional look. 

Overall, I believe that the weakest aspect of my front cover is the image and the weakest aspect of my contents page is the layout. To improve these, I have to take pictures with direct address and rearrange and resize text and images in order of priority and spacing.