Masthead Draft - Adobe Illustrator Tutorial

Tutorial on Adobe Illustrator

1. We opened Adobe Illustrator CC 2015.3 and created a new document, opening the layers tab. Throughout the tutorial I had the layers tab open, because It helps organize everything in the document and allows you to modify or delete specific layers which don't work. 

2. I chose the font Orator Std, which I used for my college magazine. I have not yet decided on my magazine name, therefore I created the template: TITLE. 

3. I used the Direct Selection Tool to distort the text into a more sharp and triangular font. This made it unique and stand out from other fonts.

4. We then found an image on Google of a texture. I chose yellow and black snake scales. By selecting both the text and image, and making a clipping mask, the image appeared inside the text. This created a more professional look and added interest to the text.

5. To make the texture more visible I used the Direct Selection Tool to widen the letters, allowing more snake scales to be seen.

6. Here is the finished product:

College Magazine Evaluation and Audience Feedback

College Magazine - Contents Page

College Magazine - Cover Page

College Magazine Plan

College Magazine Test

Here I was trying Photoshop to get used the tools.

Audience and Institution - Vibe

Audience
I studied the Vibe Media Kit to help research the magazines target audience.

 

- Vibe had a primarily young adult audience, between the ages of 18 and 34 years. This shows that the magazine appealed to the the core audience of Hip Hop fans.

- With an almost equal ratio of male and female readers, it shows Vibe is aimed at both genders. This increased the audience and therefore made the brand more successful and popular. 

- The Media Kit also shows that 71.3% of the readers were African-Americans. This was accomplished by including their interests and culture in the magazine, such as a heavy emphasise on Hip Hip. 

Institutions

- The publisher for Vibe was producer Quincy Jones, in partnership with Time Inc, who launched the magazine in 1993. 

- Time Inc. own over 90 music magazines such as 'Time' and operates over 60 websites such as 'MyRecipes'.   

- Time Inc. has cross-media interests in magazines, which often have their own website.

Audience and Institution - XXL

Audience
I looked at the XXL Media Kit to help research the magazines target audience.

- The 'Demographics' page shows us who exactly reads a XXL. They has a predominently male audience, as they take up 78% of the readers, and appeal to men throughout each issue as articles focus on the success of male rappers. If women are featured, they are often sexualized to appeal the male audience, and entice them to read the magazine.
- 67% of the readers are African-American. This shows that even though rap has branched out, appealing a mainstream audience, XXL stick heavily to the roots of rap and where it started, umong African-Americans.
- The average age for an XXL reader is 29. This shows that fans of the earlier rap music, who were supporters from the beginning, enjoy reading the magazine. It also shows that an older more sophisticated audience read the magazine, presenting XXL as bringing a classy and mature tone to rap.
- 'The Reader' page tells us why readers in the rap community buy XXL. XXL respect its readers as much as they respect the magazine. This creates a tight community and connects the audience to the industry, to help them enjoy rap the best they can. Many readers are part of the rap industry. The magazine helps musicians and producers grow and create a following. 

Institutions
- XXL is published by Townsquare Media, who acquired the magazine in 2014 In October of 2014, they announced they would be releasing four issues a year, one for each season.
- Other publications by Townsquare Media include the country music news website 'Taste of Country', the MOG Music Network and the amusement park comapany 'North American Midway Entertainment'.
- Townsquare Media has cross-media interests in webites, streaming services and magazines.

                                                                                       
                                      

Case Studies - Vibe

Case Studies - XXL