Final Revisions

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic I will not be able to show you my final revisions because I do not have access to Adobe InDesign, which I was only able to access through school resources. Instead of showing you my final revisions I am able to type them out instead. I would have stretched out our branding marker "Indulge In Excellence" on our cover to give a more desired effect. On the table of contents I would indent my lines to make it symmetrical to each other. I would also incorporate new page number for where my two page spread would be accurately located (e.g. pg29 or pg31). I also would have added new photos that i had taken from our original photo shoot just to diversify angles and lighting presented. And for my final revision I planned to add captions to all of the photos to give a more professional appeal.

Creative Critical Reflection

https://prezi.com/view/7kvJqAvf4f04Bdq38x19/

Creative Critical Reflection- Question #4

Technology was utilized throughout the creation of this issue of Rap Caviar. For our camera shoots we used the IPhone 11 camera at its highest settings for our photography. The results were surprisingly good and crisp quality for a phone. For our graphic design process I originally used Microsoft Publisher but then switched to the more professional Adobe InDesign. InDesign gave me access to features not present in Publisher such as the ability to craft margins that were precise. This precise ability to craft what I wanted allowed for a free creative range in which I was able to access for Rap caviar. Learning this software technology was invaluable for the production process. We also accessed technology through the use of social media marketing on sites such as Twitter and Instagram. Digital marketing is on the forefront of the industry so we decided to utilize it to the best of our ability. Technology was used on every front of the creation of the magazine and I am glad to have learned the value of utilizing it for magazine production.

Creative Critical Reflection- Question #3

When beginning production for Rap Caviar neither I nor my partner had any experience in producing a magazine before. It took lots of trial and error and research to get to where our final product is today. First of many things we lacked experience in was just collaborating and scheduling shoots. This part of the process was huge as we progressively learned to make better use of our time through scheduling and communicating with each other. At the beginning, the production process seemed burdensome and time consuming but as we researched and began the process we learned things such as how to craft a flat plan, design a cover, and even design a two page spread.This side of the production process started slow and simple but eventually developed as we added more into the process. Both of us had little experience when it came to shooting with a camera at first. But as time went by we became more comfortable with the style we were crafting and out came our creative work which models that of top end magazines. The biggest part of the production process was arguably crafting the actual magazine in software that we had no familiarity with. For crafting the magazine we used Adobe InDesign which seemed complex at first but after some quick tutorials on the basics we learned how to properly craft our magazine. Looking back to where we started to where we are now is a night and day difference when it comes to collaboration skills, photography and editing skills, and software knowledge and usage.

Creative Critical Reflection- Question #2

"How will your product engage with audiences?" Well to figure that out I conducted research on three magazines within the same social industry as Rap Caviar to figure out how they engaged audiences. through my research I found that most use digital platforms such as social media or YouTube to interact and engage with their audiences. An effective plan that I saw was to be a consistent content creator for all platforms; YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and even own their own digital platform. This constant creation of content keeps branding going and increases engagement between audience and brand. Due to my magazine audience and genre my marketing plan is mainly through social media. Rap Caviar's target audience is young and is heavily involved in the internet and staying connected through social media through sites like Instagram and Twitter. I plan to make posts informing about the magazine weather it be a photo from a photo shoot, tittle of an article, or a sneak peak at next issue's cover to help generate views and hype around the magazine.In order to market to my mass audience the rest of my marketing will also be online as well. I plan to create a banner ad promoting Rap Caviar on frequently visited sites that our readers would frequent such as Spotify, Footlocker, or even Dick's Sporting Goods web sites. These banner ads would be on sites that already attract a similar style audience in order to attract the most readers possible to the magazine.I also plan on creating a free newsletter along with a website that audiences can view and learn more about Rap Caviar's focus within the rap/hip-hop community. The newsletter would be free and give notifications to those who sign up on different aspects of Rap Caviar whether it be a new issue being released or just some general music industry news. The website would include exclusive articles, videos, and links exclusive to our online issue to bring more viewers to not only the print version but our online issue as well. On the other hand, my plan for distributing my magazine will merge traditional magazine distribution with digital magazine distribution. As set by precedent for many magazines I will follow the traditional method by signing with a distribution agency and marketing my magazine through retail stores and shops from Barnes and noble to even Starbucks. We will also have the option for a mail in subscription which is how magazines are traditionally distributed. On the digital distribution side of things I will create a website where it will be available for sale of single magazines and subscription options. This website will also feature bits of news exclusive to our online website and pieces from our issues to help market our product online. I also plan on creating a Rap Caviar app which will function as a place to find all the latest hip-hop and rap news. This app will also feature an option to purchase or subscribe to our magazine as another means of distribution.

Creative Critical Reflection- Question #1

This first question I will cover my use of conventions in my magazine. The first convention demonstrated was the photograph style. I was trying to imitate the gritty, underground vibe that I had witnessed in other rap/hip-hop magazines. I used photos with dim lighting and dark gritty areas to display that "grunge" vibe that I have witnessed in countless rap/hip-hop magazines that I have researched. Another convention demonstrated in my magazine was my cover design. My tittle "Rap Caviar" is unique and distinct which causes it to pop out to readers followed by the visceral photograph on the front made to entice readers. This style of a bold front cover font is used to emulate that of other hip-hop/rap magazines and is an ambiguous way of branding and showing how Rap Caviar is different from the rest. Another convention implemented in the Rap Caviar issue was the layout of the two-page spread. I made this two-page spread to look professional and I did that by following precedent that other magazines such as Source or Billboard had laid out for me. This two-page spread is meant to entice the readers into reading the article while keeping their short term attention on high end photographs and through the creation of margins making the reading look less burdensome to the reader.

3rd Quarter Magazine Submission

For my 3rd Quarter submission I closely revised my whole four page spread through feedback that I have received. For my cover I adjusted font size, font type and spacing to better emulate professional products. The same revisions were applied to my table of contents with both of the layouts remaining the same as I received praise for those aspects. For my two age spread I drastically changed from my original edit to better compliment the layout set by professional magazines by adding margins and nit having a full page photo for my article. I also revised the wording in my article and better introduced the research put into the article. I added an extra photo to add more diversity on the page and to minimize whit space on the page. all together these revisions crafted my final product which accomplishes my goals of looking professionally but also unique to stand out from other magazines in the industry.