Product Evaluation
The images that I used within my final piece were used to imitate that of retro comic books. The meaning that I attempted to amplify by using these images was that not only to take a more humorous approach to my point but also that it I could use it as a format to produce my final piece in such a way that it radiated different meanings in that due to the comic book hero it is as if the audience needs to become a hero etc. so therefore by using this theme I attempted to make global warming more easier to absorb for my target audience. All of my images were taken within a controlled studio the location of which my camera did not change, partly because this was needed for me to create a realistic comic strip as I needed the depth perception to stay the same. For my other images I again never moved the camera but rather set the lens to different distances as to produce a better photograph in terms of fitting the whole subject in etc. The costume I used can be connotated as the theme I aimed for. The globe I used could be associated with global warming. The colours I used resemble a comic book, they represent the earth but also alarming due to its red aspects. I created my sell lines in the hope that with a mix of my colour palette already used they would stand out which in my opinion was successful, once again complying with the preferences of my audience. The one teaser that I used I positioned as a Skyline. I did these to catch the reader’s attention better and then get them more interested in the entirety of my work by making this teaser humorous to my target audience; I also used a high contrasting colour to make this stand out from the page more. In some cases I have used narrative voice, this reason for this is can be found in the theme that I used, as previously stated I wanted to replicate a comic book therefore using narrative voice would increase the realism of my work but also I think that it further adds to the humour that I have attempted to include within my work, for example the speech bubbles I have used in my comic strip gives my work a more quirky tone. In terms of layout my work is rather standard. I have again attempted to replicate a comic book as much as possible. I have kept my front cover with little free space although there is not much text therefore making it more interesting to my audience and therefore better comply with their requirements as an audience. The language have used is again comic themed, as to relate to the rest of my work. My article at first features language that contains slang of a high density, I have attempted to start off with heavy slang but then later in my article slowly start to place more formal language, this is like a pull the reader in method as to get them interested at first then get them to read on even though it has took a more serious tone. In the language I have tried to somewhat mimic comic language but also in some respects mock it by over exaggerating although I did this to add to the humour and for the reader not to take it as though it is a formal advertisement. The font that I used again like the rest of my work resembled font used in comic books, which just so happens to be aimed at a similar audience therefore it’s informal, distort etc. the colours that tried to use for the majority of my work are blue red and green. Blue and green because they are associated with the Earth/Global Warming then red as it creates a sharp contrast. These three are also close to be the three primary colours therefore can be considered rather basic and easier for my audience to interpret. In general I have used a large amount of images within my work, I have done this as I believe that my target audience will respond better to relevant images rather than large amounts of text, so really a case of keeping the reader interested, so I’ve attempted to write a small article then compensate with a large density images. I have used only one quote within my work, of which I used so that the reader can spot it before reading the article, therefore getting more interested into reading the rest of my article, I have extravagated this quote by colouring it red and putting a black stroke on so that it stands out more, catching the readers eye. On the majority of my images I have used a drop shadow, by doing so I have added depth to my work and brought it more out the page rather than it looking ‘flat’. The language I have used within my article begins very informal; using a large amount of slang etc. then as the article progresses I begin to use more formal language. By doing so it pulls the reader in to reading the first section of the article, getting the reader interested therefore giving them a desire to read on of which by this I then begin to use more serious language. I think that this is successful as it complies with my target audience in that it pulls them into a more formal article that they otherwise may not have read due to formal language that may have put them off.
I think that in general my work does look professional to a particular degree although does lack finesse in certain areas that could have possibly been improved. The main thing to consider is that it may look like a professional comic book although may requirement was for it too be a magazine, a professional may have added more magazine elements into the my final piece rather than be purely comic themed like my design is.
To some degree my work does have some emotional impact. Especially within the article as throughout my final piece it doesn’t give the impression of seriousness , then when further into the article it does become more serious, and portrays an sense that only it can be joked about this magazine does have an underlying point that is to be addressed. So my magazine has a hard hitting realization within my article.
My idea as previously stated many times was to have a comic based theme. I attempted to make my images look like comic characters as seen in my front cover, personally I think that the manipulation of these images could have been better and looked more like a comic but after many failed attempts I used my best output.
After consulting my target audience it would seem that the layout of my design it what most bothers them, an example of this is the positioning of my barcode the middle right of my work rather than the generic positioning being at the bottom of the page on the right. Some have claimed that I have implemented a generation trigger within design, due to my choice of theme.
The theme that I chose definitely caters to my audience due to its fun nature etc. and this is what I attempted to aim for. During my pre production stage I came to a realisation that humour is a key factor within my target audience in that it could be used to great advantage if implemented properly. To make my design more appealing to my audience is using a female character, although my theme generally features male characters, my target audience is multi gender therefore it would seem a good idea to use a female character as it would then become more personal and seem more tailored to my female audience.
If I could start my project again I think that I would maintain the theme that I used although done it to a high standard overall. Although I’m happy with all the text I used, I think that the images could have been improved in terms of costume, location but possibly most of all how I manipulated these images too looks like comics could be improved. My comic strip could have also featured a more in depth story that was shot on location opposed to a studio to make it more realistic and more personal to the reader.
