Reflection On My Inspiration Research

Looking back on my inspirations and my research that I have revolved around it, I have found that it has helped me hugely on designing all of my products. It has inspired me and reminded me to keep to a certain criteria and allowed me to always keep in mind the genre I have chose and who I am aiming it towards. It has also been hugely beneficial as to the way it has showed me what professional examples are out there, and what I should focus my creations on and what would be expected by a consumer. Overall, all my research on current inspirations has helped and will go on helping as I finalize my products

Wix Template Research

When thinking about the layout for my website I had to look at existing examples and also what Wix had to offer. Wix is an online website creator and the best supplier for what I needed from my website. Before creating my website I have decide to research into the site and get an idea of what I have to work with. This picture shows how the site asked me what kind of website I would be creating so that it would automatically filter my options so that I could find an appropriate layout for my genre. Beyond this, the website gave me a few layouts to choose from,so that I could pick the vision and style I wanted for my website. This was vital as it gave me a full scheme, and I would be placing my content around this setting. Overall, I believe that the templates were hugely helpful, as without it, I would be starting my layout from scratch 

Facial Expression Research

 This Prezi will show my research and thoughts on theories of facial expressions and how it can help me with my content.

Billboards That Inspire Me

Prada is a worldwide fashion brand that has been hugely popular since the beginning of its franchise. We can see from the billboard that is has used minimal content, proving that even to any audience that it only needs simple advertisement to make an impact. While doing this, it also shows a fresh and clean representation, and presents the fashion industry by showing models wearing high fashion and creating a dramatic and fierce approach by the sue of body language and facial expression, which is also a popular aspect that fashion culture entails. I am inspired by this product as it presents traditional and original fashion, by the use of content it has used and the atmosphere and approach it gets across. Hopefully I can take on some of these aspects in my own work. 

Forever 21 is a fairly new brand, and takes on a quirky and fun effect in this billboard. It is simple but makes an impact, similar to Prada. Once again, the minimal content speaks louder than words and successful gets the fashion brand across by using a model, and also conventionally using light shades and pink colours to try and get across that the billboard is aimed for the female audience. I will take on Forever 21's ideas by mesmerizing the layout of the board, and how the use of colour helps the advertisement, 

Websites that Inspire Me

Vogue website takes on a simple but original look while still looking professional. It adds a range of features other than just fashion, which allows the reader to get more from the product. This page doesn't show a lot of content, however, the layout and choice of this keeps it looking clean and effective. I will take inspiration from this website by trying to keep a similar scheme, I will also try and create content that Vogue shows in their website, so that I can connect with my target audience.

The website for ELLE is carries similar conventions to Vogue, but does have slight differences. It contains a few more features in this particular page, however, the colour scheme are nearly the same. This new and fresh layout is hugely inspiring and almost the current look of fashion in the media. I hope to take on this approach with my own work. 

Magazines That Inspire Me

Vogue is am iconic print that has been on shelves nearly 100 years. I have took inspiration from this magazine, as it has a huge fashion realm, and has always been a popular pick for women especially over the years of its career.  It differs from other prints as it does carry traditional values, and has more of focal point of fashion than other prints. I will definitely take pointers from this magazine, especially the layout and the content it provides, as this will help me design and also decide on articles that I will feature. Finally, it will allow me portray the traditional effect that Vogue provides.

ELLE magazine is another influential piece that I will definitely take notes from. This isn't as old as vogue, but it gives off a fresh look, and adds a few different genres other than fashion. I will take inspiration from the designs of a front cover especially, as it shows originality but is effective in how the image fits the written content on the page. Also, the colour scheme is especially influential and I shall also take this on. 

Prop Inspirations

I also have to think about prop inspiration so that my shoot is fully planned. The main props I will need significantly will be clothes, make-up and hair products, as I will be featuring these individually so that I can talk about them separately in my magazine and website. Other than this, I will not need a huge amount of props for the images that will feature my models, as i have found in my research that professional and popular fashion shoots use the minimal amount of props, unless relating to fashion, to keep it significantly about the nature of fashion itself and to not steer away any attention. Finally, I will initially need items that will help me carry out my shoots, like a high quality camera so that I can take the best images possible, as well as high quality lighting and a backdrop so that my images are clear and effective. 

Make-up Inspirations

Make-up is another one of many important aspects when creating a fashion magazine. With it being a vital part of the genre,it is important to think about when taking shoots and when thinking about the content I will be providing in my products. In the mood-board above I have featured current makeup trends for this year, and also provided seasonal makeup, so that it applies to the current issue of my magazine. The dark colours along with nude and bronzed looks are huge lately, and this would be significant to present within my products. By doing this, my readers will recognise these trends, and agree that my products and reliable and professional, as I have found my research before hand and will show current trends within my content. 

Costume and Fashion Inspirations

By creating a fashion magazine, it is extremely important to show evidence of fashion to ensure the professionalism and effect of the magazine and the ancillary products. In this mood-board I have included examples of what has been popular in 2015 fashion, and also forms of seasonal fashion, in this case Fall Fashion, as this is what I will be featuring in my products. By going from this inspiration, my shoot and images from it will look effective and reliable in my fashion magazine. Hopefully I can get my hands on some of these items, or items similar to this for my shoots to allow my images and products to come out as realistic and professional as possible.  

Magazine and Brand Name Ideas

These are the primary masthead inspirations that I have thought of for my magazine and ancillary products. Within my masthead, I have to include conventions and ideas that portray regional identity and the fashion genre. The idea of "NE Fashion" applies to both of these conventions, however, it seems vague and has no personality. Even though it looks professional and could work, I wanted my magazine to have more thought. I also was thinking about "On Point!" as it was quite a new, fresh and young term that would be undershorts by my target audience and was related with the fashion genre. However, it doeskin comprehend or relate with the regional side of my product, and may weaken the connection to my target audience. Finally, I decided with "lush!" as this is a commonly used term in the North East and definitely relates to appearance and fashion, as the terminology is used for these topics a lot up North. It also adds a but of fun and personality to my masthead which I wasn't primarily grasping in my other options. Overall, I believe that my final decision will be effective for my magazine and ancillary tasks, and will help me connect with my readers and allow me to go in deeper with regional identity further within my products. 

Hair Inspirations

For my photos I need to resemble the nature of fashion, but also an autumn look to match my issue's subject. In this photo, I have included examples of particular hairstyles that I will be including and showing on my models. Using straight hair is classy and easy, and will allow readers to appreciate more simpler styles and allow them to be able to make a decoy look of their own. 

Also the natural wave look familiarizes with the Autumn factor that I will be including in my magazine, therefore it would be effective as it almost completes a look. 

Again, heated and more unnatural curls almost represents a more glamorous look, however, this indicates more of the fashion genre, and may come across to the reader as being professional and reliable for tips and tricks. 

Overall, I will be using all these hairstyles within my work, and maybe even more, as within the fashion industry and culture, anything is possible and plausible. 

Font Ideas

For my fonts, I initially want a professional but fun look, as I want to resemble the fashion industry while still making it look professional. I also have to try and make it look considerably 'girly' to reach out to my target audience, which are women from ages 17 onward initially. These are my main fonts that i have decided may feature in my magazine. I have included various fonts that may fit as my masthead title, and I have also chose a few that resemble some of my planned articles that I will be featuring; like my autumn double page spread. I have also tried to include some basic font stat I will use for most of my body text, as this needs to be basic while also keeping it original and to fit the genre of the magazine and ancillary products.  

Colour Scheme and Plans

When thinking about the colour scheme and layout of my magazine, I looked back on some original and professional covers to get some inspiration. I decided that colours on fashion covers consisted of light pastel colours, sided with basic but bold nude and monochrome shades. these together allow the magazine to be 'girly' but at the same time show matureness. I will take on this idea in my own magazine pages, as I believe that these two togethers individually and partnered are aesthetically pleasing and reflect the fashion genre and my target audience effectively.

Fall/Autumn Mood-board & Inspirations

As summer is just about coming to an end, all publications and brands will be planning out fall fashion. Huge designer brands may even be looking at this field months in advance. Therefore, it is beneficial to find inspiration for my own products, so that I am prepared for when writing my content and to plan my shoots. In this mood-board I produced, we can grab the sense of autumn and what it entails. Themes like dark makeup, wool clothing, bulky shoes and beanie hats are extremely popular for this time of year, and contribute hugely to the feeling of autumn. Occasions like Halloween and Bonfire Night are also part of this season, which would mean more contribution for darker themes in my work. Also, the colours that you can see in the mood-board are extremely important. Unlike summer, these colours are slightly mustier and have an old vintage look, which should be easy to portray in topics and themes in my work

Fashion Moodboard

As I have chosen fashion for my regional magazine, I decided to create another moodboard representing a quick idea of fashion and its industry and aspects. It is obvious that fashion has been a huge cultural subject around the world for decades, and is quite a serious matter to individuals, and especially the media. Fashion can be plastered in almost every visible location. For example, on billboards, printed journalism, broadcasted live on television, throughout retail, and on the web. Therefore, it can be argued that it cannot be escaped from. Knowing this, it opens a lot of doors for me to add a lot of different kinds of content in my regional magazine.

Regional Moodboard - The North East

When creating a media product about your own region, a way to express most aspects and themes is through a moodboard. You can see here in my own creation that I have produced and placed a range of images that specify to my own home region. Just from this one piece, I can demonstrate all of the moods, themes and atmospheres that I would have to try and capture when I am creating my own content on the North East.