Deconstruction of Double Page Spread

I used a simple line at the top and bottom of the page as a border since this is neat and keeps the focus on the images and text and does not overcrowd the page. The border makes the page look more neat, professional and complete. It also creates a style for the magazine and looks like a template, suggesting that this is the standard layout for the magazine. I got the idea for this from the Lily Allen spread in Q. The simplicity of it makes the page look simple and not too fussy, implying the artists state of mind as being simple and together after the last few months of chaos! I did not make this the same colour as the line beneath the title because this made the page look washed out and tacky. The black makes it look bold and helps it to stand out without being too attention grabbing. It also coordinated with the black and white of the images, making it look tidy and sophisticated.

I added this picture within the text simply as another feature and to liven the page up. I also did this so that people will be able to see the connection between the article and the picture of the artist on the cover. I put a short description beneath so that the image did not look completely random and also to show people the link. I felt this gave the spread a more professional look and it also helped any readers who may not be completely familiar with the artist (new readers of course!) and to refresh peoples memories. I used colloquial words in the description to appeal to my audience and keep the text as short and neat as possible, (e.g. referring to '2009' as '09'). The image is black and white to keep this theme going and to not make it stand out too much, to help it coordinate and not look out of place.

I separated each question and answer so as to make my page neat and tidy. I also did this to make it more simple to read and to improve the layout. I made the questions bold to help them stand out against the answer, again making the page easier to digest. I used a very plain and simple font so as not to overcrowd the page and also to keep the focus on what is being said as opposed to any visual stimulator's.

To open my article I described the scene so as to allow readers to create an image of the interview in their head since there are no visual stimulants to help them along the way.

I did this in the same font as the title and description so as to show that it is not part of the interview it is simply to do with the opening and the words are purely the writers.

I put a short description beneath the title since I noticed when deconstructing other music magazine double page spreads that this is often done. I made the artists name bold simply to make it stand out and highlight both her importance and separate the name slightly from the rest of the text. This also looks good since it is right in the centre! I centred the text so as to make it look like a title in its own right and also simply to make it look more neat and tidy (a layout requested by my target audience).

I added a line beneath this just to separate it from the rest of the text and to coordinate with the border. I also did this to give a professional look and to add another feature that I could use to add a subtle hint of colour to my page. I coordinated the colour of it with the speech marks in the title to make my page look coordinated and neat.

For the title, similarly to the headline on the front cover, I used a quote from the article itself. I did this because I felt that it would create a simple and effective title, whilst avoiding anything cheesy! I also did this so that readers get an impression of the nature of the interview, even if this may not be an entirely accurate impression. The quote I pulled out of context suggests that the interviewee is being perhaps either self righteous and a bit rude, or is being strong and confident. This encourages my audience to read on due to intrigue and the want for gossip.

I enlarged certain words of the quote for the same reason as I did for my front cover. To highlight the important words that give away the message of the quote, as well as creating an interesting and attractive feature on the page, making it look more styled. I did the entire quote in lower case to show it's been pulled out of context mid sentence and again to make the page look styled and attractive, creating a casual and informal look - appealing to my target audience and adding to the image of the artist I was trying to create.

I changed the font of the speech marks to make them look more robotic and modern in comparison to the rest of the text to make them look more modern and stand out. This highlights that the title is a quote as well as creating a modern and youthful feature. I also only wanted subtle bursts of colour, so as not to make my page look like a tacky combination of colour and black and white. Pastel colours can also look particularly tacky amongst black and white, whilst bright colours look too techno and neither were looks I wanted to create. I chose this colour because the combination of yellow (connotations of happiness and warmth) and pink (connotations of youth and femininity) suggest happiness and youth! Two of the main ideas about the artist that I wanted to get across to my reader.

I chose this simple and sophisticated font since sophistication and togetherness were also amongst the ideas of the artist I wished to convey.

As most magazines do, I wrote on my page the writer of the article and the photographer of the images. I noticed whilst deconstructing my double page spreads that instead of just putting 'written by:' or 'photographer:' they often use words that would appeal and fit in with their readers, for example 'portraits:' as opposed to photos. I decided to do a similar thing, using a mixturee of colloquialism and slang - both of which are used by my target audience and therefore fitting in with the rest of my magazine. I wrote 'words' and 'snaps' in writing coordinating with the rest of the page and in bold to help them stand out and wrote my name in the same font but in italics simply to detach and separate it from the rest of the text. Another reason for the use of bold is so that I would not have to use a colon, making my page look messier. This way even the smallest of detail is kept tidy and styled - fitting in with my readers attention to detail!

I created a sort of logo using the B from Blast and the font from my masthead, helping my readers familiarise themselves with the font and hence forth associate my magazine with it. I also did this to brand my spread and put my mark on it, I also did this using the date, should there be any future reference to the spread. This also give the spread a more professional look, similar to the double page spreads of Q Magazine. I wrote this beneath the border to as to give the appearance of a template, again creating a more professional look and giving the impression that double page spreads a regular feature of my magazine.

I laid out my photos in a photo booth format. This makes it seem as though they have been taken one after the other (which they had!), creating a natural and casual look for the model.

Since my main story was based around some moody pictures taken of the model on the 'red carpet', photos that she wasn't aware were being taken, I thought it would make a nice contrast to have a similar scenario in which my model was unaware the photos were being taken, only this time she looks happy and relaxed! This shows the change in her from when the red carpet photos were taken and the present!

I dressed my model in casual and fashionable clothes, although they are not in full view, you can see the top of her denim shirt and stripey top. These are both fashionable items of clothing as well as being informal and seemingly not particularly though through, creating a look relaxation and creating a contrast against her formal lace dress in the front cover photo.

Whilst ordinarily an urban music artist may be more likely to look, unsurprisingly more urban and street than the look of my model, here I am challenging this stereotype and showing that sometimes these artists are not just about the 'look' and the lifestyle, but sometimes about the music. My models dressed down look and casual and perhaps more typically indie hairstyle.

I wanted to recreate the more casual and natural yet classy look of other urban music artists such as Beyonce: