Meeting the client brief (M4,D1,U3)

Learning Outcome 4 (U3): Be able to carry out post-production techniques and processes for an original media product to a client brief (M4,D1)

These files have been exported as a .png

How does the exported media product meet the client brief?

Both my double page spread and front cover as the two exported media products, match the client brief as they fit the exact criteria that the brief involves and called for. They represent the "North London music scene" as they feature the inclusion of North London based artists in both the front cover and double page spread. On the front cover, the cover lines list some UK talents, 2 artists of which are North London based artists. On the double page spread, the interview features a brief discussion of the life the artist lives in North London. As well as this the QR code, which discovers the featured playlist of the week, lists all UK London-based DJs. The brief also discusses the mention of a "new and vibrant music scene". I represent this well by including bright and retro colours to reflect this, also representing my genre of hip-hop influence. This was a main focal point in my magazine that I wanted to accurately convey by the use of style, colour, and even within my photos. In addition to this, the best way to make my magazine both "online and print based" is to incorporate the use of technology whether this is through the use of QR codes or the inclusion of social media. By including the artists socials this would portray a further interaction between the reader and artist, outside the magazine itself. The last way I met the briefs requirements was the most obvious point, which was through the inclusion of a "new and upcoming artist" as this is exactly what my magazine in both the front cover and double page spread is focused around. 

Through implicit points in the brief I was also able to meet some requirements as well. The brief asks you to "produce original content" therefore I interpreted this as taking your own photos. The photos I took were my best representation of the music scene I was trying my best to represent. I was critical of my photoshoots, making sure they included everything I want to interpret (accessories, fashion, equipment, poses). Another big implicit statement I took into consideration was the fact my magazine can develop "across all areas of London". From this I interpreted the information from the client brief that the magazine has expansive potential. This gave me more leeway in such a niche music scene as I was able to include London artists instead a very small group of North London ones. I did this through the mentioning of artists as a way to persuade my target audience into exploring the genre further, I also discussed this in my body copy in my main featured article on my double page spread.  

Finally, the brief includes the mention of a "developing music scene" which gives the implicit connotations for the magazine to be centred around a new, non-mainstream genre and artist. Hip-hop influenced DJs is not only a very niche genre and music style but also relatively new in terms of being established in the North London music scene and elsewhere in the UK. Having featured a developing artist in this genre, also matches the client brief checklist showing both 'new and up-coming' requirement. 

Post-Production Techniques and Processes

Magic wand tool

The magic wand tool came in handy for both the front cover and double page spread of the magazine. It meant I was quickly and efficiently able to remove white backgrounds in photos that didn't need to be there. 

This helped me create meaning in the magazine as it meant I could remove the white backgrounds as they didn't provide anything towards the 'vibrancy' aspect of my magazine and therefore fit more with the brief. There was no clear distinction of DJ or Hip-hop through the background of the photo, so by editing it out it meant I could add a related background in the next steps of post-production. This completely changes the aesthetic of the magazine, enticing people to look at my magazine with interest and also draw in my target audience. After doing this, I changed the background image to a colour or background of something more bright and eccentric. Bright colours connote the spotlights that DJ's often use in sets, perfectly reflective of the music scene. 

Colour picker tool 

Using different colours in my magazine created meaning as it meant the reader can be drawn to different parts of the magazine in different viewings. I used the RGB colour tools to perfectly identify the colour I wanted to use from the original colour scheme I had in mind (as seen left). 

An example of this is seen in the double page spread, where I deliberately change the colour of the masthead title, to a colour that matches my retro colour scheme drawing back to the brief requirements of "vibrancy". It stands out amongst the rest of the text doing the exact task of making my target audience drawn to individual viewings. It also helps the magazine gain a brand identity, especially if the title of the magazine is being constantly brought to the reader's attention. After having done this it provides the connotations of a retro and aesthetic magazine, demonstrating the modern day hip-hop element of DJs.

Another example of where I was able to use this tool was in my front cover for my main masthead. Here I displayed two of the colours I had chosen for my colour scheme, both representing neon aspects of the genre. This allows the masthead, one of the main focal points of the magazine, to be instantly attractive to consumers and my target audience rather than using no colour at all. The use of the neon colours provides connotations of the contemporary genre as well as the colours you would generally associate with a DJ in modern day influence. These are the kind of colours that would normally be attractive to listeners of the genre who would be attending live performances. 

Rectangle box tool

The rectangle box tool was essential to my magazine front cover and double spread creation, and certainly created meaning. I mainly used this tool to implement my colour scheme and the unique and creative designs I had in mind for my front cover and double page spread. It means the reader and target audience of my magazine can understand my creative expression throughout this magazine and see the artistic ideas I want to interpret. 

A clear example of where I used this technique was in my split-screen idea on my front cover. Both sides of the models face are two individual colours I wanted to incorporate in my magazine. They are reflective of the DJ vibrant-type lights that can be used when artists perform live. It is an expressive and abstract idea that should definitely be brought to attention by any person in my primary and secondary target audience. 

Another example of where I used this was in my double page spread. To make the background be visually effective I used the rectangle tools to highlight different parts of my magazine where I want the reader to specifically notice. Other ways I used this in my double page spread was through overlapping the colours to make a creative and effective look. After having done this, the creative aspects connote the visual effects often demonstrated in live gigs, where DJs would perform. I want my magazine to be as reflective of DJs as possible using visual effects as a substitute of actual audio.

Text box tool

Using this tool, I was perfectly 
able to incorporate my fonts for individual purposes of both my front cover and double page spread. Fonts such as "Lemon Milk" "Quantum" and "Caviar Dreams" help the target audience and consumers to connect to the magazine and understand the genre well. The different use of fonts allow the readers attention to divert to all the different purposes of them (e.g lemon milk for cover lines and caviar dreams for body copy). It tells the consumer what type of magazine this is, and what to expect from it, also showing the creative ideas the magazine shows. This is instead of showing no creative direction at all and using a general and boring font such as 'Helvetica' or 'Times new Roman'. I used the text box tool in both the front cover and double page spread. It meant I had easy access in moving text around on photoshop I was also able to move it behind and in-front of other layers on the Photoshop side bar. For an example, I used it for my front cover where I displayed the artists name in the middle of the page. This meant the readers main focus is directed to the artists name, where the reader can have more of a focus on the 'new and upcoming artist' demonstrating my chosen genre. 

Another example of where I used the text box tool is for my double page spread. Having written my main body copy and article I was able to use this tool to separate and place the texts in line with the page. This allows the reader to have a clear indication and easy guidance when reading the article, also making the reader enticed to read more in the magazine. After adapting these different fonts into my magazine means my magazine has connotations of the music scene in North London, where genres are constantly changing and being adapted to fit the modern listener/reader.

Drop shadow tool 

The drop shadow tool was another specific way I could incorporate my colour scheme and aesthetic in the subtlest of ways. For my front cover, it was used for the coverlines text as a way to make the text come out of the page instead of appearing flat. From these small additions, collectively the consumer or reader will be impressed the creative style the magazine uses in expression of the genre and also meeting the client brief. 

The use of vibrancy helps sell the music scene in North London and London expansively. The consumer is drawn to the creative elements of the magazine as well as the content within the text and what the magazine has to offer. Using a drop shadow is just another way to inspire this idea. The drop shadow affect provides the connotations of the vibrant music scene across London, using neon colours instead of dull and boring monotone colours. The neon colours perfectly illustrate a contemporary genre, likewise to the one I'm presenting here (Hip-hop influenced DJs).

In conclusion, my final media product match what the client brief requirements state accordingly. The magazine is in promotion of the new and up coming artists to the scene as well as shining the genre itself into a new, fun, exciting and positive light. Using the post-production techniques and processes (as shown above) allowed my magazine to look as professional and well-crafted as possible, whilst also providing a sense of creativity and experimentation.