Overall Final Package - Music Promo Video, CD Digipak & Magazine Advertisement

Now that we have completed all the research and planning, and made all the suggested changes to each draft, we have finished the final draft for our overall package. Displayed below is the final draft to each aspect of our overall package. 

Music Promo Video Final Draft

CD Digipak Final Draft

CD Digipak Final Draft (Outside)

CD Digipak Final Draft (Inside)

Magazine Advertisement Final Draft

Magazine Advertisement Final Draft

Overall we are extremely pleased with our completed package. We feel the each aspect of the package, compliments each other very well, and the theme of 'chaotic, reckless teenage/young adult behaviour' is reflected and consistent throughout the music promo video, the CD digipak and  the magazine advertisement. This allows the package to look professional, but more importantly to be effective, as it would be easy to identify the CD digipak with both the music promo video and the magazine advertisement, to ensure the CD is purchased.  

Peer Feedback - (Printed Tasks) CD Digipak & Magazine Advertisement Final Drafts

To ensure the final draft of our printed tasks, the CD digipak and the magazine advertisement, are completed to the most professional standard possible, and also appealed to our target audience, we thought it would be most suitable to gain feedback from our peers, who are among the age group of our target audience. To gain this feedback, we printed out both our printed tasks and glued them onto large pieces of paper, allowing our peers to annotate there thoughts and opinions around the printed tasks on the paper. To display how we conducted the feedback, we recorded this onto a video, which can be displayed below. 

However, although the video displays how we conducted the feedback, it is difficult to see what our peers annotated upon the pieces of paper. Therefore to display the specific feedback our peers wrote around the printed tasks, we also took photographs of each piece of paper, which are displayed below.  

Magazine Advertisement Feedback

CD Digipak Front Cover Feedback

CD Digipak Inside Sleeve Feedback

CD Digipak Back Cover Feedback

From viewing the feedback which was gained from our class peers, we are very pleased with the outcome of our final print products. For both our products, the majority of the feedback provided was very positive. For our magazine advertisement, our peers felt we had a good layout, we had a nice and relevant use of colour and they particularly liked the use of the music reviews which was placed at the top on the playing card. They also liked how the things placed around the image, such as iPods ect, are relevant to both the style and genre. For the CD digipak, we also received very positive feedback. They felt the colours we had used, fit very well with the image and the overall product and the images used were of a good quality, meaning the overall product looked professional. They also felt the photos and fonts used were very well done and professional and the cluttered layout, has a nice effect on the product and suits the theme very well. We are very pleased overall that we have been able to appeal to our target audience effectively and that they liked our finished products and felt they were similar to those of a professional standard. 

Magazine Advertisement Fourth & Final Draft

Magazine Advertisement Fourth & Final Draft

This is the fourth draft we have created, for our magazine advertisement. As a group, we were extremely pleased with the third draft we had created and had intended to use the third draft as the final and finished draft for our magazine advertisement. However after receiving feedback, from both our lecturer and peers, we felt it would be beneficial for the overall package to redesign and remake the front cover of our CD digipak. Therefore once we had completed the second draft for the front cover of our CD digipak, we then needed to replace the original front cover which was featured on the CD case and iPod with the new design. This simply allows the product to look professional and consist with the CD digipak, whilst also our audience to identify and associate the magazine advertisement with the CD digipak, which would allow them to successfully find and purchase the item. Therefore as we are very pleased with the final alterations and changes, this will be featured as the final draft of our magazine advertisement. 

Magazine Advertisement Third Draft

Magazine Advertisement Third Draft

This is the third draft for our magazine advertisement. Although we were very pleased with the second draft of our magazine advertisement, after receiving feedback from our lecturer, there were a few minimal changes she suggested which we felt would benefit our magazine advertisement, allowing it to appear realistic and professional. We have added a quotation to the Kerrang magazine review, which is featured at the top of the page. This allows to relate greatly to our target audience, who enjoy indie, electronic and the rock genre of music and of whom most are likely to purchase or read Kerrang magazine. Observing a favourable review from a magazine they regularly enjoy or trust to provide a good choice a music, may encourage them to be interested in listening to or even purchasing the CD. We have also placed endorsement logos, in the bottom left hand corner, which appeared to be a conventional aspect of magazine advertisements. These consist of the logos for both Pepsi and Blackberry, which we have particularly chosen as these brands are very popular and commonly present within the the lives of our target audience. Furthermore, we have also placed a faint image of the CD digipack front cover onto the iPod. This simply allows the iPod to appear more realistic, whilst also further promoting the front cover to the audience, encouraging them to identify the CD within stores. 

Feedback - CD Digipak Front Cover First Draft & Magazine Advertisement Second Draft

After producing the first draft for our CD digipak front cover and the second draft for our magazine advertisement, we felt it would be useful to gain feedback, in order to see if we had created successful products or whether there were any improvements we could make. We gained this, by asking our lecturer to assess the work we had produced, using specific feedback forms. 

For both of the printed tasks, we received a grade B, which is our target grade. Therefore we seem to be making sufficient progress with our project and producing high level work. However, If were are to make the appropriate improvements, it could be possible for our group to achieve an A grade for our project.

Below are the feedback forms, which display which aspects of the tasks we have successfully completed, the strengths of the work we have produced and the areas in which we could improve the work we have produced.

CD Digipak Front Cover First Draft Feedback

After observing the feedback we gained on our CD digipak front cover first draft, our lecturer felt the attitude, body language and the staging we had used within our photographs was very good, specifically as it suggested we have a good knowledge of our target audience. As we have tried to reflect typical 'youth' behaviour within the image, such as having an 'care free' or 'not bothered' attitude and engaging in behaviour such as drinking or smoking, which will help to relate to our target audience age group of 16-25. She felt the text and image were well integrated with one another.  However, she felt although the font was good, it could 'lift' off the page a little more. Therefore, we could add a border or a darker shadow, allowing the text to stand off from the background more. She also felt that although we had an appropriate image, it could be slightly more punchy or controversial too suit the name of the band. Therefore,  we could possibly add some controversial graffiti, using photo shop brushes,  onto the fence featured in the background and maybe a larger use of props that are consistent with the theme, such as empty alcohol bottles or cans on the grass in the foreground of the image. To improve the overall grade of our CD digipack, we  should also complete the full digipack, including the back cover and the inside sleeve. 

Magazine Advertisement Second Draft Feedback

After observing the feedback we gained on our magazine advertisement second draft, our lecturer felt overall we had produced a very good magazine advertisement, that was very quirky, youthful and full of energy, particularly in the use of colours and images. She also felt we displayed a good understanding of the conventions for both our genre and magazine advertisements and endorsements, such as advertising where the CD could be purchased or CD reviews from various music magazines. These both overall, displayed that we had a good awareness of our target audience and how to relate and cater our product to their needs. However, she also felt we could add more endorsements, to allow the magazine advertisement to look professional and realistic. Too create a more realistic magazine advertisement, she also felt it could be beneficial too add a quotation from a music magazine, reviewing the album, which would reassure the readers that the CD would be a great purchase, specifically if it were to be reviewed by a very popular music magazine. Lastly she felt that we could also place a faint image of the CD digipak front cover onto the iPod, to allow the iPod to tie in with the overall advertisement and ensure the image looks realistic. 

Magazine Advertisement Second Draft

Magazine Advertisement Second Draft 

This is the second draft of our magazine advertisement. We have made no additional changes to the original first draft of our magazine advertisement which we created, as we felt it looked good and professional and turned out better then we had hoped. However now that we have completed our photo shoot and the first draft of our CD digipak front cover, we were able to replace the white blank CD, with our front cover image. This was the most important aspect to complete, as this is what the magazine advertisement will be advertising to audiences, allowing them to identify the CD and purchase it. 

Magazine Advertisement First Draft

Magazine Advertisement First Draft

This is the first draft for our magazine advertisement, which we produced using the software Photoshop. This is quite similar to the original drawing we had designed for our initial flat plan, however we whilst creating the magazine advertisement, we made a few changes and alterations. Firstly, rather then having the entire background consist of colourful paint splats, we placed the paint splats onto a wooden background, whilst also making them slightly transparent. This was purely to benefit the advertisement, as when creating the background entirely with paint splats, we felt it appeared to colourful, busy and confusing on the eye, when combined with the colours of all the other objects on the page. Therefore, we have still kept the paint splats, to keep it consistent with the overall package, but allowed them to be much more subtle. Rather then just featuring an plain iPod on the page, we also thought this would be a good placement to advertise that the CD could be purchased on iTunes. This also provided us with the idea to advertise the stores in which the CD would be sold, which we did not feature on the initial flat plan. We felt featuring where you could purchase the CD, gave a more realistic and professional appearance. Also using two of the most popular places to purchase music, iTunes and HMV, could project that the CD is good and is worth being purchased, if it is willing to be sold here. This draft was intended to feature a basic layout and rough draft, which we would then change drastically later, to allow it to reach the professional standards, of a realistic magazine advertisement. However we were very pleased with how the first draft has turned out, therefore we would like to make as minimal changes as possible to it. However as evident, the CD is blank, therefore the major alteration we will need to make, will be the addition of the CD digipak front cover, which is specifically important as this is what the advertisement is advertising and will allow the audience to identify the CD in stores. 

Magazine Advertisement Flat Plan

Before we create the design for our magazine advertisement, on Photoshop, we have first drawn an initial rough draft as an idea of how we wish the magazine advertisement to appear, which will provide us with a guideline for our creation. This initial rough draft can be displayed below.

Magazine Advertisement Flat Plan Initial Design

Rationale Questions

Colour
On our magazine advertisement, we will be using a large variety of bright colours. We have chose this particularly, as it will allow the advertisement to catch the readers eye, whilst they are looking through the a magazine. We also feel it is important to use a large variety of bright colours as we will also be using them on front cover of the CD digipak, and therefore this will allow the printed tasks to be consistent with one another and allow the audience to identify the CD digipak with the magazine advertisement for it. The use of bright colours, will also help the advertisement to be consistent and reflect the party and chaotic nature of the theme.

Image

The images which will be displayed on the magazine advertisement, will mainly be animated/photo shopped or computer generated imagery. As our theme is based highly on our target audience, we want to create an advert which is highly relatable to our audience, whilst also ensuring the image is very in keeping with the overall theme. Therefore we will be including items and props on the advertisement, such as iPods, earphones, playing cards, party streamer ect, which display items that reflect the party theme of the overall project and the lifestyles of the teenager/young adult target audience. We will also be placing information onto these props,  which by incorporating all the information onto the props which tie in with the theme, will help to keep the design of the advertisement and the entire package, consistent. For the background of the magazine advertisement, we will be using a wooden textured background with a large variety of bright coloured paint splats, placed on top. This will help to reflect the messy and chaotic nature of all the aspects of the project, ensuring it looks consistent and professional. We will also be placing the image of our CD front cover, onto a CD case which will be slightly tilted to the side. This again will help to tie in the reckless and party theme of the music promo video. In contrast to being neat and orderly, the layout and image is seems somewhat messy.

Text

The first item of text which we will add too the magazine advertisement, will feature the words 'Out Now'. Although magazine advertisements for CD, conventionally feature a release date in the near future, we feel it would be more benefitial to add 'Out Now' as it will add more of a sense of excitement and urgency, somewhat saying you 'must buy it now' to the reader.  We will also be featuring a review rating from a well known music magazine, on the playing card which is located at the top of the page. We feel this would be very suitable as it displays the reader a critics opinion on whether the CD would be a good purchase or not, which can be very influential on the reader. For example, if a magazine which is very popular with our chosen target audience, such as NME, which is trusted to provide good reviews by its readers, were to give a good review of the CD, this may encourage our target audience to listen to and purchase the CD. As it is an advertisement for a CD, will also be featuring 'available on iTunes' and 'available in stores at HMV'. We feel this would be very appropriate as not only are these two of the most popular methods for purchasing music, therefore they will be easily accessible to the reader, but are also very common within the lives of our target audience who often purchase items on iTunes and in HMV stores and therefore allow our magazine advertisement to relate to our target audience.

Font
For the text featured on our magazine advertisement we will be using a font called Nova Solid, we have chose this font simply as it is a solid, bold font, which will allow the text to be seen clearly and read easily by the reader. We will also be using the same font for the band name on our CD cover. Therefore we have also chose this font as it is quite unusual, therefore if viewers were to be reading through a magazine, they could notice the font used and easily recognise that it is to promote our CD. We will also be placing the text, in a white coloured font. This ensures the text will contrast with the busy bright colours which are featured on all the areas of the magazine advertisement, allowing the text to stand out and be easily read by the reader. If the text were to be in colour, it may blend in with the background and be too confusing on the page, to be seen or read.

Layout

As the magazine advertisement is indeed advertising the CD digipak we have created, we feel it would be necessary to place the image of the CD front cover in the centre focal point of the advert, to ensure this is what the the readers notice first. This will allow the readers to memorise the image of the CD digipak front cover and identify the magazine advertisement with the CD digipak in stores. We will be placing the words 'Out Now' around the outside of CD digipack, away from any other items, which we feel would be appropriate to ensure the text could be seen and read clearly, which is important to inform the reader of when they can obtain the CD digipak. All the other items which will be located on the page, will be located around the outer edge, to ensure they can be seen yet they are not inflicting with the CD front cover and the text, which could cause the magazine advertisement to seem busy and uneasy on the eye and difficult to read.  

Chosen Genre & Genre Conventions

The genre we have chosen to use for our music promo video and the band featured in the music promo video, the album digipack and the magazine advertisement is electronic/grime/indie rock, which has become very popular in recent years, particularly with the age group 16-25, our target audience. We have produced research into the typical conventions used within electronic/grime/indie rock music videos, CD album covers and magazine advertisements, which we could use in order to make our music video, CD digipak and magazine advertisement seem more professional and be consistent with the genre.

Below are examples of music promo videos, following our chosen theme of electronic/grime/indie rock:

As we can see, it is evident that a theme seems to be present in both music promo videos and is very conventional for music promo videos of our chosen genre. This theme seems to consist of a 'party type' or  'festival/gig type' scenario, which includes loud music and reckless behaviour and dancing. This is largely due to the target audience, belonging to the age group 16-25, who enjoy attending festivals and parties, therefore this will allow the bands to appeal and relate to there target audience. 

Below are examples of CD digipaks, following our chosen theme of electronic/grime/indie rock:

From the albums that are associated with electronic, grime and indie rock, that are displayed above, it is evident there are a number of conventions which are typically used. A major convention is the large use of bright and colourful text and images. This is often used, as the target audience is usually between the ages of 16-25, therefore are more attracted to the bright colours, which in turn will attract them to the albums whilst in a store. There is also a common theme of party, destruction or reckless behaviour, which is often portrayed through the use of splattered paint, graffiti or party photos. This use of imagery and themes are used to help relate effectively to the target age group, who enjoy attending parties or clubbing regularly.  On the other hand this could also apply to all those who enjoy the electronic, grime and the indie rock genres of music, who often participate in reckless behaviour at music gigs and concerts associated with these genres of music. 

Below are examples of magazine advertisements, following our chosen theme of electronic/grime/indie rock:

Much like the album covers we found, it is evident that the magazine advertisements which are associated with this genre are typically very extravagant. This often consists of conventions such as, the use of very unique fonts, bright lighting and bold and over the top colours. Again this is used to attract the attention of  the target audience, of whom are between the ages of 16-25. 

Inspirations For Magazine Advertisement

Stone Roses Album Magazine Advert

This was my favourite album magazine advert, particularly the background, which is has a paint splatter effect. This I feel would be again in keeping with the theme of the music promo video, however I feel the colour theme used here to be rather dull and faded. The colour theme we would like to use instead, would consist of bright neon colours, which furthermore would allow the vintage, pale and faded album cover to stand out more and catch the readers eye on the magazine page. The stone roses logo, I would replace with and image of our CD cover, as placed in the centre of the page, the image will gain more attention.

Santigold Lights Out Album Magazine Advert

I chose this magazine advertisement particularly for the use of font and images. I liked how the images and text appear the be cut out of paper and taped together rather carelessly. This would be very suitable for our magazine advertisement, as the tatty and torn appearance would fit very well with my party theme of both my album cover and music video, to allow for consistency. I also like how the background is patterned and very busy, something I would be keen on using on our advertisement. In addition to being combined with plain coloured text, this would allow our text to stand out firmly on the page and catch the readers eye whilst in a magazine.

Crystal Castles Album Magazine Advert

I have chosen this magazine advert as one of my inspirational texts mainly for its use of imagery and layout. I like how they have numerous images associated with the theme of the band and have overlapped them to create a type of collage, which is very unique and effective. I also like the layout with the image taking centre focal point within the advertisement, as this is the area which is most likely to attract the readers eye this will create more emphasis on the effect of the imagery. 

A2 Media Coursework Brief

The brief I have selected for my A2 media coursework, which I will be producing with the members within my group is: 'A promotion package for the release of an album, to include a music promo video, together with two of the following three options:  a website homepage for the band, a cover for its release as part of a digipak or a magazine advertisement for a digipak.' The three products we have chosen to produce are, the music promo video along with the an album digipak and a magazine advertisement to promote the album.