Fashion Design Practice

We have a new module this semester: Fashion Design Practice. So far it's turning out to be one of my favourite modules! It's everything I'm interested in - it kind of feels like all the best bits of Media Studies A Level... I haven't done Media Studies for about 4 years now, so this module feels great!

Yesterday we were de-constructing magazine covers from various different genres. Here's what I came up with:

Title: (Japanese) Elle
Genre: Women's Lifestyle and Fashion
Issue: November 2007
What do you like about the cover?: The pink and white text really stands out on the more neutral background. Obviously everything's in Japanese, but the content of the magazine seems clear from the cover. ヶイト・モス　is Kate Moss in Katakana (Japanese script), while the main image is of Kate Moss herself.
What don't you like about the cover?: I'm not keen on the way Kate's forehead and neck are a pinky purple colour. It makes her face seem odd. I'm also not a fan of Kate Moss, so I would not be interested in buying the magazine based on the picture, I would go on other content.
Who is the target audience?: Mainly young professionahttp://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=4198411342439223071&postID=153703728239197424l, fashion conscious women in their 20s to mid-30s.
What font has been used?: While the main title 'Elle' retains a traditional, sophisticated feel by using an elongated serif font, the rest of the text appears to be a san-serif font. Perhaps a UK equivalent would be Arial. Plain, neat and modern.
Comment on the typography: The text is mainly left justified, with the more important bylines in the centre or on the right. Although the text frames the picture, the title in particular seems a lot more prominent than the actual image itself.
Comment on the general composition: The main focus here is the title of the magazine, and the main story at the foot of the cover. The image - a portrait of Kate Moss - implies that the magazine is not only about fashion, but also about celebrity.


Title: Games TM
Genre: Video Games Entertainment
Issue: January/February 2010
What do you like about the cover?: The image is not just a photograph, but is artwork created especially for the magazine, inspired by the featured game of that month.
What don't you like about the cover?: The barcode is placed oddly!
Who is the target audience?: Primarily male gamers, probably of a wide age range - late teens to mid-30s.
What font has been used?: The majority of the text is sans-serif giving it a modern, clean feel. While the title is in lower case, highlighting the 'TM', the bylines use capitals, as do the descriptions. This again makes everything seem clean and clear.
Comment on the typography: There is a mixture of both left and right justified text, that utilises the 'empty' parts of the image. The white stands out, while the yellow ties in with the image.
Comment on the general composition: Unlike 'Elle' The main focus here is the image, and the title sits behind the prominent parts of the artwork. The "God Of War" feature inside the magazine is given just as much importance as the main title of the magazine, suggesting this is the selling point.