Media Cover Epsilon

anyone name any improvements before the deadline?

Everyone's a critic

Criticism by Taz

·         Missing Images

·         Clarify texts

·         Use less fonts

Criticism by me :)

·         Only 2 Images are currently present

·         Some text is unclear

·         Basic layout needs improving

·         The contents page needs serious maintenance on it as its dragging down the appeal of the rest of the magazine

Criticism by Juliette
Price has not been shown

·          Barcode on the front 

·          The subtitle's font is so difficult to read  

·          I don’t actually know what it says. Simplify maybe?

·          What is this magazine actually about? It's not immediately obvious on the cover, therefore lessening the effectiveness, because it could be about anything to manga to music to gaming or hardware :S

Criticism by Lauren

·         Price?

·         less fonts

·         Great colours

·         More pictures and text

·         Really like the DPS & photo

Criticism by Mr Nicole

·         improve the front cover layout

·         incomplete/ basic layout for the contents page

·         include more images

·         poor layout in the DPS as text is lost/ hard to read

·         DPS picture is not used to best effect with text

·         Include title

·         Text at the top is too long

Criticism by Mr Smith

·         sort out the fonts styles, columns etc.

·         Improve ICT skills

·         Improve the article (less comical)

·         Include price/ branding

·         Include more images

·         Masthead needs improving

·         post evidence of me using drawing tablet

DPS Meta

Poniez: Dubstep days

These took forever on an increasingly bad laptop
I might invest in robbing a bank to buy a less annoying one.

Which one should I use?

as the blue one would compliment the colour scheme whilst the bright coloured one would be eye catching and relative to the neon rave lifestyle.

Magazine contents Meta

Juliette Grieves- critic

I asked a friend of a friend to criticise my front cover- this was the results
1) Price? 
2) The issue is the only thing one the cover in that font, which is slightly odd 
3) Why is the bar-code on the front? 
4) The subtitle's font is so difficult to read I don't actually know what it says...simplify maybe?
5) What is this magazine actually about? It's not immediately obvious on the cover, therefore lessening the effectiveness, because it could be about anything to manga to music to gaming or hardware :S
But the picture? The picture is awesome.

I got a compliment I'm counting that as a win :)

Media Cover Meta

Media Cover META

I began styling my magazine cover like Kerrang only with a more simplistic and neon layout, using a blue spectrum and white colour scheme. I have used the 'Pulse sans virgin' font with an altered glow and embossed effect whilst all other text for now is done in Base 2 font, the only other exception of this is the 'mock Skrillex' font for the bands typography. for now I have used a stock image from DeviantArt for the image but on the actual front cover I will illustrate it accordingly using my own designs.

GO! Animate

Iv'e decided that for the main band featured in my magazine will be created in a whole alternate angle. I will illustrate and design the members of DEADPON3 so the band will be entirely factual, similar to the band Gorillaz  or the band Girl Dead Monster from the anime Angel Beats.

Examples of my artwork can be found on my new DeviantArt account http://equestria-falls.deviantart.com/ and here are some examples of my Artwork.

I don't even know 1000 words

Draft Article:


Remember when you we're a kid they're was always a family that everyone knew not to cross? Well the Lancaster siblings from Leicester are no exception. Brother and Sister DJ's that have dominated across our Great country and have even began infecting they're beats across the pond into the states. Being dizygotic twins means the band was destined from birth it was only in the year 2011 when the Dubstep regime sprang to life and caught on like a wildfire that the two realised they're true talent in making as much noise as possible and became the iconic DEAD-PON3.


The tale began back in June 2011 before the world ended of course when DEAD-PON3 released they're debut track 'Never-ending strife' which was given the green light by Zane Lowes Hottest records and aired for the first time on radio 1 at 20:41 PM and history was made. Since then the twins have released 8 more epic tracks and will be featured together alongside several never heard before tracks on they're forthcoming album 'Alchemy' which is set to be released later this year. Since the bands creation the twins have acquired an additional two members which have appeared on most of they're latest tracks. We thought that for anyone that's never heard of the Quartet of musicians known as DEAD-PON-3 we could educate the masses by giving you the low down on the members and because we at Shutdown love you guys we managed to catch an interview with the band so they can answer the questions that's on everybody's mind right now.

Let's start from the Heads of the house, namely the Lancaster siblings; Rick Lancaster (dubbed Anon) and his sister Tina Lancaster (formally known as Luna). The two formed the band have held the group together from the outset, as the two are the main feature behind the bands style meaning that they feature in every one of they're tracks. Luna is the angelic tones that echo amongst the chaos emitting from Anon's synthesiser's, the two are a mix match pair but when performing together there's nothing that can prevent them from putting on one hell of a show, they both wear the DEAD-PON3 white and blue nightclub outfits. Luna acts as the permanent vocalist for the band using a Shure beta 58A microphone with her moon emblem across the handle and Anon uses a custom made set of deck's and Synthesiser's that he wired himself from old parts.
Shutdown- so pleasure to meet the infamous Lancaster twins, so how are you guys?
Anon- pretty good haven't slept since forever but I still feel pretty epic right now
Luna- ditto
SD- would it be Okay if you guys answered some questions for the fans?
Luna- sure fire away
SD- what got the two of you into Dubstep?
Anon- I think it's because we both love making a sh*t load of noise
SD- where did the name DEAD-PON3 come from?
Luna- someone already taken DEADMAU5
SD- why the nicknames?
Luna- to be perfectly honest we just thought it was a good idea at the time
SD- what's the whole experience been like to the two of you?
Luna- Surreal it's like living a dream
Anon- it's pretty badass
SD- what has been the best part of all of this?
Anon- seeing the amount of people that go freaking insane at our gigs
Luna- partying for a living

The next member is rarely seen amongst most public occasions but add's decorum to the grime, Octavia Dianne Rose (mocked as Hoity-Toity) she is the lesser and newest member of the band and is an ex-orchestra performer that has evolved with the music to keep up with the way of the world. Unlike the other members she dosent wear the standard blue and white uniform but instead wears a formal grey attire with a blue bow-tie and her emblem displayed on the back of her waistcoat. Like Anon and Axel she uses custom instruments, her favourite being a hand-crafted contrabass with upgrades which allows it to resonate with Anon's Synthesiser.
Shutdown- so a fine hello to the girl behind the beautiful Double bass used in 'lotus'
Hoity-Toity- oh good evening, would this take long?
SD- no, just wondering if you could answer some questions?
H-T- make it quick
SD- what got you into Dubstep?
H-T- I haven't got into anything
SD- ookay... what made you choose the nickname 'Hoity-Toity'?
H-T- what idiot requests to be called Hoity-Toity! Luna brought me to band practice and Axel blurted out "Hey who's the Hoity-Toity chick" and since then it's stuck like a disease
SD- what made you join the band then?
H-T- the orchestra regime is dying I just bailed before that ship had sunk completely
SD- What's this whole experience been like for you?
H-T- some-what amusing I guess
SD- what's been the best part of all of this?
H-T- travelling across our magnificent county has been a delight

Finally, no band would be complete without the magnificent chords of a guitar strummed by the band's Guitarist and occasional bassist Lee Warhol (Axel). Like Anon, Axel wears the bog-standard DEAD-PON3 attire only with his unique emblem instead, also like his amigo Axel only uses custom instruments and chooses an upgraded Rockburn which features a new colour changing neon lights and a Synthesised chord effect.
Shutdown- oh hey man, hows it going
Axel- sweet bro, how can I help man?
SD- reckon you can answer some questions for your fans?
Axel- Hell yeah
SD- What got you onto Dubstep?
Axel- I just wanted to be the first Rock artist in the genre
SD- but you do realise that Korn have already collaborated with Skrillex right?
Axel- he done what?
SD- never mind... so... what made you choose you'r nickname?
Axel- Dude.. my names awesome what wouldn't I man?
SD- what made you join the band?
Axel- Anon's a bro of mine and I owed him a favour
SD- What's this whole experience been like for you?
Axel- It blows my mind man, I can't express that enough
SD- what's been the best part of all of this?
Axel- the women bro 'nuff said

what's in store

Table of contents 

Contents page #1 Kerrang

• The contents page has a variety of different images of the various bands featured in the magazine, they are all very expressive and brighten up the page. They allow the reader to see what's story's and articles are in the magazine itself, they are accompanied by they're appropriate text explaining a summary of the bands article and a page number to indicate where the article is located. The images are all of a different style probably reflecting on the bands themselves I.e they're genre and mood. The text used alongside the images uses a simplistic black font with the names of the articles in bold, the page numbers on the other hand are of a bold yellow font inside of a black box making them more visually appealing as they stand out amongst the other text.
• The table of contents is thin and listed as if it were a gig schedule at a concert, they have done this to emulate the grungy musical style that matches the genre of Kerrang. Text here is similar to the extracts amongst the images only is this case the page numbers are merely bold instead of being yellow inside a caption box, the names of  the list header's on the other hand have adapted that formatting. A parallel and individual exception to the text is the subheading at the top of the page as this uses an opposite format, in this case instead of the text being yellow in a black box the colours have been reversed in opposite order.
• In the top left hand corner lies a small version of the magazines cover and alongside that is a brief incite into the magazines history and genre, probably addressing to any first time readers.
• The contents masthead is in plain sight and follows the same formatting as the other key text extracts on the page once again using a simplistic font, underneath the banner is a quote from someone featured in the band meaning that this person is renowned and worthy of having one small phrase to captivate the audience.

Contents page #2 Q magazine

• They're is only one image used on the page which could be common for Q magazine but the image featured is used amongst a black background creating a classic rock themed appearance similar to rock Gods like Hendrix and Gins and roses. The simplicity is effective here as the black background compliments the bizarre white outfit the singer is wearing and highlights an iconic vibe for the singer himself. 
• The contents masthead is in plain view and follows the red and white colour scheme used by Q, the font appears almost stencil like and is eroded slightly to make it seem classic and slightly worn out, The white font colour stands out amongst the red caption box and the black background and its size makes it visually eye-catching.
• The other text extracts on the page follow the colour scheme by having having a basic black font with the subheadings being bold and slightly larger, the background of the columns are white which contrasts well the black background of the image and with the page numbers in a more visible stencil like font in bold red formatting. The columns look simplistic but efficient similar to a timetable, a recurring average vibe that Q magazine goes for.
• As the colour scheme is so basic and mostly consists of monochrome colours this instantly makes any red extracts more visually appealing and highlights they're importance.

Contents page #3 Mix mag

• I have chosen this contents page from 'Mixmag' magazine which is a dance and clubbing magazine.
• It has a simplistic appearance and layout which compliments the chaotic and vibrant image. The page only has 2 images which are used sparingly; the main being the most eye-catching feature on the page itself as it is colourful and exciting, it conveys a party lifestyle or the mass excitement amongst the crowd at a rave. The model image is more mellow and smaller as it only features a women in a some-what assertive stance the images when together could display her cool attitude as a possible DJ against the mass excitement of the crowd.
• The images follow a more feminine colour scheme of the pink, light blue and yellow, however the colour scheme and layout could suggest that it perhaps appears more masculine as its more dark; the white font contrasts with the black background and touch of lime green. The darkness and neon colours could however just be used to project an environment similar to a nightclub which appeals to both males and females.
• The layout is simple and clear with only some features standing out in bold acting as subtitles to direct the reader to certain pages and the header which is in a white stencil-like typography. There is little. writing on the page making it straight to the point and clear to read, the extracts that do feature on the page are brief.