Preliminary Task - Evaluation & Reflection

Good Morning Blog, 

After a long quarter completing Preliminary tasks, its time to reflect. 

Survey Results Analysis: 

Conducting my survey really helped me throughout the planning process for my magazine. I was able to gather opinions, suggestions, and guidance in regards to everything from color scheme, to content suggestions and more. After evaluating my results, I now have a better understanding on the type of content my audience would enjoy, and intend to carry out these suggestions to create the most appealing magazine. 

Preliminary Task : Cover Page

Now that I have created a draft for my cover page, I feel more comfortable with creating the final one. 

I enjoyed researching model cover pages, and determining the best color scheme for my particular magazine. However, I struggled to find the perfect picture for the main image and sort of settled for the best one I can find. Although my cover page came out nicely, this is definitely something that will be changing in my final draft. Additionally, my teacher notified me that my main image was not one that I took myself. For my final draft, I plan to have a photoshoot with my models and take the best, high quality pictures that would perfectly suit my cover page. 

Preliminary Task : Table of Contents 

I am very pleased with the outcome of my contents page. The aesthetics and color palette are bright and eye-catching, exactly hat I was going for. The layout and design is unique but still understandable so readers wont get lost in it. I can say that I have a better understanding on how to use the online platform, Canva, and cant wait to apply my skills to creating future graphics for my magazine. Lastly, one thing that I can change is page 7 that reads "Boujee Collectables feature story". This is the name of my own business, and after realizing that I cannot do a feature story about my business, I have decided to do it about a small black owned business called "Beautisembellishments". 

Preliminary - Table of Contents Design

Good Morning Blog, 

After Extensive research and Analysis of ideas for my contents page, here is my rough draft for a Table of contents page: 

Additional Suggestions Analysis

 Good Morning Blog, 

Yesterday I made a plan for my lifestyle content. However, this is not all that I want to include in my magazine. After reviewing my survey results, my audience have suggested a few other aspects that i should add to my magazine to make it the most interesting. 

My audience suggested to add content about influential African American celebrities, Appealing Graphics, Interviews, Historical content of African Americans, and an Interactive section such as a crossword puzzle, to keep my audiences attention. I actually really like these suggestions especially the influential African American celebrities,  Interviews, and interactive section. In fact, my last question was an open ended question giving readers a chance to write any additional suggestions. One persons suggested that I include a feature story of my small business, and I loved this idea the most. I am satisfied with my outline and can't wait to begin creating. 

Image source: 

https://www.canva.com/design/DAEQaI1Ip-U/uDjQDFQTGIuvLMq4L4MaUw/edit?layoutQuery=thoughts

Lifestyle Content Analysis

 Good Morning Blog, 

After reviewing my survey results, I think its time I come up with a plan for my content. 

So, my audience voted that to fulfill the lifestyle content, I should include Health & Wellness, Food & Drink, Money & Career, Culture & Traditions, and Travel. Here is a draft of possible topics I can discuss with each lifestyle category:

• Health & Wellness - Covid-19 Breakthroughs ( vaccine, how are Black people affected? rising cases, etc. )
• Food & Drink - Top Traditional Holiday Cuisines, recipes, famous baker Patti Labelle
• Money & Career - 10 ways to make money during a pandemic, Multiple streams of income, etc. 
• Culture & Traditions - Christmas, Kwanzaa, Holiday Traditions from 3 different black cultures. 
• Music/Entertainment - Marsai Martin wins Guinness World Record, Megan thee stallion is named Breakthrough artist of the year, Black success in the music business, etc. 
• Travel - Best destinations to travel to once the pandemic is over !   

I will take these suggestions into consideration and determine which to include and which to take out. I cant wait to see the outcome. 

Preliminary Task - Table of Contents Brainstorming

 Good Morning Blog,  

Today in class, I researched some Table of Contents templates for possible ideas that I can use in my magazine. Some that I liked include:  

https://www.canva.com/design/DAEQQrTTxOY/2ydJBlW3b8ZkOnJ-aVc0BQ/view?utm_content=DAEQQrTTxOY&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink

https://www.canva.com/design/DAEQQVNiDRM/WeyUcPIBlZF9u-KEDYM1tg/view?utm_content=DAEQQVNiDRM&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink

Table of Contents research

Good Morning Blog, 

    Today I will begin my preliminary task by researching the conventions of a traditional yet effective contents page. My findings include: 

Table of contents pages are created to allow the reader to easily find important sections in the magazine. The table contents page is often overlooked, which is why it is important that I create the most appealing contents page to keep my audiences attention. I will follow these conventions:

• They usually can be a one or two page spread depending on the information provided in the magazine. Mine will be one page. 
• They are usually organized in the order that the stories appear in the magazine. The table of contents is rarely ever in alphabetical order. Contents should be organized in sub sections and in page order. 
• The top of the contents page should always include: the magazine title, the issue date, and the word "Content" or the words "Table of Contents".
• A masthead sometimes is included in the Table of Contents page with the editor's contact information.
• Should include the photo on the cover 
• The contents page should also include the name of the article and sublines that give the reader an idea of what the article is about.
• Limited color scheme

Sources: 

https://www.canva.com/learn/table-of-contents-design/