Early Stages of Double Page Spread Designing

I have been given a new deadline; to design and create a double page spread feature for my music magazine in the next fortnight. Based on this, I have begun the basic designing by opening a double page spread (2 A4 pages) in InDesign. Using the skills from my front cover, I used a similar top rectangle section with slanted edges to create a banner for the top of the page. This will house the main headline and tag line to go alongside it.

Using the image I edited earlier on in the project, I have been able to centre the theme of the article around Bon Jovi, a band I am a fan of and know a lot about, and also a band that have been in the music media spot light recently. I have created a fictitious story for the article, as it will take the form of an exclusive interview with the band members and new details about their supposed up-and-coming tour. I have drafted the article and will add it shortly to the page spread.

Front Cover Progressions

After looking more closely at the fine details of my magazine front cover, I decided to edit it further, using a new technique I have recently been taught and learnt. I used the original header rectangle in order to create a more edgy and visually effective banner for the top of the page, to hold the main cover-line and magazine name and issue date.

I also filled up some negative space on the page by splitting up the central cover line into two smaller cover-lines. I used text drop shadowing to draw attention to it and make it look more visually effective. As I was pleased with the outcome of this effect, I also used it on the central cover line. I think that the cover is now close to being finished, however there are still some minor things to edit to create the most visually dynamic cover that I can. 

Contents Page Progression

 I started by editing the layout and text mostly, I then asked for feedback on it, to give me some things to edit and work on further.

After receiving feedback on a printed draft copy of my contents page, I was able to take on board the ideas given to me and dramatically improve the aesthetics and layout of the page as a whole. 

First of all, I paid attention to the negative space on the page, and decided to fill it with images with a red background to make them stand out and relate to the front cover image. I used the strict 3-colour scheme as a continuation of the image, creating an identity for the magazine and it's name.

Alignment of the text with their corresponding page numbers was an issue raised, and due to this, I was able to use the 'character' side bar on InDesign to adjust the height and positioning of the typography, in order to make the lines parallel, creating a more dynamic visual effect. I also added a few more coverlines and page descriptions to create a more complete contents page. 

Double Page Spread Inspiration

Here I have collected some existing examples of double page spread articles and layouts from various new music magazines such as NME, Kerrang and Mojo. By looking at the content and layout of these articles, I can gain inspiration for my own double page spread, which I will start work on shortly. I have been able to draw up a rough flat plan sketch of a double page spread layout as it stands, which then enables me to draft write the article.
Here are the images of the existing page spreads:
Kerrang Magazine - I really like the layout, use of typography and the use of images on this page spread. I think it looks visually dynamic and I think this will provide the most inspiration for my own double page spread.

NME Magazine - This double page spread is very vibrant visually, which suits the nature of the target audience and also holds their reading attention. I like the use of bold font types through out the spread and I also like the way that the text columns are used to fit around the images and appear not too much writing, so that the target audience will be more likely to read a shorter article which holds their interest. Also, I think the side banner section on the right is effective, as it has different content to the main article, keeping up interest and content of the page.

NME Magazine - This example is also taken from NME magazine, and I really like the use of oversized typography to create the article title and main focus of the page. The use of an orange colour scheme also works well as it is vibrant, eye-catching and stands out from the rest of the content in particular. There is a lengthy amount of text on this spread, which I would avoid. The use of one full page image is also effective, however I may not use this element, as I would like the content to be a bit more inventive.

Contents Page Work

Following the previous basic work on the layout and content of the Contents Page, I have been able to progress the work further and create an almost finished copy of it.
The layout I have used mirrors the image of the front cover, which is an effective tool I have found from research and it is popular with modern existing music magazines, so I have decided to utilize this in my work. I have incorporated the colour scheme into the contents page also, using a gradient scale black and white filter to create a background.

I have also used tag lines and cover lines at an angle to create a more visually interesting contents page. As the page is progressing, I am also adding some images that I have edited from previous stages in the creation process. There is still some more work to be done on the contents page, however here are some screen shots of the page as it stands:

1 -Working on the layout

2 - Adding more cover and tag lines

3 - Adding Images

4 - Adding more coverlines and changing layout

Front Cover Progressions

Using the image I have now just edited, I have used the existing image and layout I had planned and mapped out for the front cover and re-worked it around the focus of the new image, using the same features, just in different positions and at different angles. Using the same typeface for the most part of the front cover looks visually effective as it creates corporate image and continuity. I discovered this particular font in the Preliminary task and as I found it to be visually effective and suit the music genre, I decided to use it in this piece of work also. Using the angles in the picture, for example the angle at which Connie is holding the guitar, to create angles and paths/lines for the cover line text to follow. For example, for the central cover line, I used the angle of the fret board on the guitar to create an interesting visual dynamic.



This cover isn't finished as of yet, there is still more work to be done, but here are some current progressive screen shots of the work in progress: 

Photoshop Progressions

After choosing the most appropriate and visually effective photo out of all the ones I had taken of Connie posing, I decided to develop and edit the photo, to make it suit the existing image of my front cover layout and design. First of all, I used the 'sharpen' tool to create a more crisp-looking image. I then used the auto-brightness tool to adjust the light exposure and make it look more modern. After looking at the arrangement of the text I wanted for my front cover, I then used the 'flip horizontal' adjustment to turn the picture around, so that Connie was facing the other way, to fit better with the layout. I hadn't used this tool before and found it to be really useful.

In order to blank out the background parts, like the plug socket on the wall, the door and the skirting boards, I used a technique I was shown, which was to use the colour-dropper tool to pick out the main overall grey-ish scale background colour. It was then added to the palette, so I could used a wide brush tool to edit out the background parts I didn't want to be seen. I found this effect really successful, and I am pleased with the results.
Using the crop tool afterwards, I managed to cut out parts of the photo that were just acting as negative space that wasn't needed. The final adjustment I made was using the 'Render' tool, to add a 'lens flare' to the picture, creating a modern, photographic effect.

Here are some screen shots of the editing process of the chosen final photo:

Before and after the horizontal flip of the image.

The Final Progression