Task 9 – Flat Plans, Fonts Development

Task 9 - Fanzine Article

Fanzine Research

‘Fanzine’ articles are rather different that to a traditional tabloid or broadsheet publication, due to the fact that they feature no specific guidelines, as they are written solely by the ‘fans’ of the specific subculture or following. Fanzines can contain coarse language, colloquial language and even formalised language. It depends on the primary target audience of each specific fanzine magazine. A fanzine such as ‘The Beat’, which is centred around hip-hop, is likely to feature explicit language and colloquial terms due to the fact hip-hop music generally features these two conventions. Therefore, the primary target audience will be able to identify with this. Fanzines can feature hand-drawn illustrations or comic strips, which adds to its stereotypically informal nature. The articles that feature within the fanzines themselves are written by the fans, therefore, slang terms will be used and the layout of the text columns are likely to be rather haphazard, possibly not featuring a particular type of structure. Fanzines can be associated with any subculture, such as hip-hop, which features publications such as Flava, which panders to an audience that lives an ‘urban’ lifestyle, listening to music artists including the rap superstars, Drake and Pusha T.

 This specific flat plan layout is rather haphazard in the sense that I have slanted the ‘article headline’ in order to make the layout as a whole appear more ‘free’ so to speak, instead of it having a specific structure. I wanted it to have this type of layout due to the fact that is for a fanzine article, therefore, it is not meant to ‘fit in’ with the traditional guidelines. I have sandwiched the ‘article headline’ in-between the main image, as well as the ‘main body of text’, as I thought that it would stand out greater if it was the central piece. I placed the ‘image’ at the top of the page due to the fact that I thought that it would ‘frame the layout as a whole and the attention of the viewer will be drawn to it immediately because of its prominent presence on the overall page. The main body of text has been displayed at the bottom end of the layout, as if it was central, the consumer may not choose to view it, as they may be put off the extended amount of text, therefore, if the consumer is drawn in by the image and article headline first, they will then feel obliged to read the main body of text as their attention has already been drawn in.

Flat Plan 1

Flat Plan 2

This layout differs to that of my previous one in the sense that it is of a landscape orientation, as opposed to a portrait one. I think this is effective, as it makes the layout seem more interesting, as well as unique, which may attract in the attention from the primary consumer of my fanzine (individuals who listen to rap/hip-hop music). I decide to place the image in a central position due to the fact that it will draw in the consumer immediately, as it is the main focus. After viewing this, the audience will then move onto the other two sections in the fanzine article. I decided to slant the ‘article headline’ in order to reinstate the ‘laidback’ structure that a typical fanzine publication inhabits. I think that by putting this particular section at this angle, it makes the layout seem more ‘abstract’ and interesting, so to speak. The ‘main body of text’ section has been placed on the right-hand side, as I wanted there to be more emphasis on the ‘image’ aspect, therefore, in comparison with the other two sections, the main body of text is miniscule. However, by using this layout style, it may only pander to a younger audience, so if I was going to include an older, more sophisticated group, I would have to reconsider this decision and initiate a contingency plan to replace it.

Flat Plan 3

 I have taken a different approach for this specific flat plan in the sense that I have altered it to a portrait orientation, like my initial design and I have also decided to include these three sections (main body of text, image and article headline). I have placed the ‘main body of text’ in the centre for this specific layout due to the fact that it differs to that of my previous design, where there was a high emphasis on image as opposed to text. I wanted to see whether this design would work better. I think that there is a sufficient amount of space for the text, however, I think that the ‘image’ section is overshadowed slightly, therefore, I would alter this in the future, where there would be a bigger section for the visual aspect, as I think that this particular type of aspect catches the attention of the consumer more than that of a text-based one; especially if the fanzine panders to a juvenile audience. This particular design is rather conventional, however, I am going to alter it in the future and make it less ‘structured’ in a sense, with a more ‘free’ outlook; possibly featuring several text and image boxes, as opposed to just singular ones.

(FRS Genuino)

(Detroit Ghetto)

(UrbRapper)

(Street Style)

I chose these specific typefaces due to the fact that they fit in with the theme of my fanzine (hip-hop). I think that the font ‘Detroit Ghetto’ is most suitable for my ‘main body of text’, as it is a legible font that any age group could clearly determine. Also, it is rather urban and has a graffiti style edge onto it; therefore, the consumer will be able to identify with it immediately. I would say that the ‘FRS Genuino’ font is rather appropriate for use as well, as it also has a significantly ‘urban’ edge, which makes it more interesting as a whole. Also, it is rather bold, unlike ‘Detroit Ghetto’, therefore, I think that it could be used within my fanzine, as it stands out and will attract in the attention of the primary consumer of the hip-hop periodical. For my article header, I have featured the typefaces ‘UrbRapper’, as well as ‘Street Style’. I chose these two fonts due to the fact that they associate with the ‘hip-hop/rap’ theme, as they look as though they have been presented in the form of graffiti, much like the typeface ‘Detroit Ghetto’. They both have an informal element behind them, which will initially make them appeal to the consumer, because ‘fanzines’ are known to be ‘casual’, so to speak. Both fonts would be suitable for the ‘article header’, as they are very prominent and bold and would be appropriate for the ‘header’, as they may help to frame the page.

Fonts

Images

I have chosen to use images of Eminem solely because my actual fanzine article was based around the hip-hop star. I have featured modern, up-to-date images, due to the fact that it is a recent article. I included a mix of images, both symmetrical (the professional, studio ones) as well as one ‘candid’ photograph, so to speak, which has been shot in an unprofessional way. The photographs are all at eye-level, which is effective, as it connotes a sense of equality between the viewer and the subject of the image, which will initially put the primary consumer of the fanzine at ease. Also, it reinstates the fact that fanzines are informal documents, therefore, ‘candid' imagery would be suitable for use within this specific article. I will choose to use several photographs within my final piece, as I want to include a high visual emphasis into my work, as I think that it is very effective in catching the attention of the audience.

This is the primary stage in my development of my fanzine article. I chose to edit the different conventions that are displayed when creating the product. As it is for a fanzine article, I thought that I would ‘break the boundaries’ so to speak, with a non-traditional layout, with a width x height of 200x300mm. Also, I decided to just include a singular column, as there would be no need for several, as it is not for a tabloid or broadsheet publication, where the ‘rules’ are strict in accordance to the structure of the article, which is set. It is notable that with this type of publication, it is solely up to the author/creator of the product to initiate their own structure, where they abide by no industry settings and rules. The margins for my inDesign document are rather narrow, however, I do not need them specifically because of the fact that I am not going to follow any guidelines; the layout of my article and the places where I put my different elements in (such as the main body of text and images), will rely on my own decisions entirely. I kept it at a portrait orientation (even though I experimented with a landscape view on one of my flat plans), as I thought that this would be the most simplistic to work with, as it is commonly used to place ‘articles’ on in many existing print-based publications.

I inputted text into my layout, however, it was only for experimentation only, as I will not include an extended amount of text within my final piece due to the fact that it is a fanzine article, therefore, there should be a high visual emphasis featured within the layout itself. This now appears as though it is either a tabloid or broadsheet publication because of the structured text columns, although I am going to delete most of this text and transfer it into another typeface; one that fits in with the hip-hop theme. I decided to slant the columns, as well as the header in order to make the layout appear more interesting in general. I think that the image in which I placed within the layout is rather abstract in a way, due to the fact that I cut around it in order to give it that ‘edgy’ look, so to speak. I am going to use this image in my final design, as I think that it will catch the attention of the audience because of the bright colour scheme, which almost gives it a 1980s style, which makes it appear rather vintage.

I decided to scrap the idea of including an extended amount of text within my work and having a high visual aspect to replace it. The typefaces in which I have used within this piece of work were established in my choices of fonts previously. I think that they fit perfectly with the hip-hop theme, as they almost look like graffiti, which gives them an ‘urban’ edge. I have included a microphone image onto my layout as well, as it links in with the musical theme of the fanzine and the fact that Eminem, the subject of the article in which I am going to create, uses this device frequently. I have carried out the same colour scheme that had been established by the image, with the bright, neon colours, such as yellow and pink, which I have used as the main colours for my text. I think that by using bright colours, the attention of the audience will be held in full, which is why I think that is important to feature this specific element into my work. I have also included a slanted autoshape into the bottom of my layout, as it adds a sense of dimension onto the product, whilst making it appear more interesting as a piece.

I have added more text into the layout in this particular stage of my development, which is useful, as it helps to fill out the ‘white space’ in the background. I have decided to change the colour of the autoshape at the bottom of the page into pink, as I think that by doing this, it will fit in with the other colours that I have featured within the layout already. I decided to include two more images into my design, which I may alter in my further stages of development, as I am uncertain whether they are suitable for use, as I have placed a ‘crown’ image on top of the microphone to represent Eminem’s dominance and respect in the rap/hip-hop industry, therefore, it features specific connotations. I also inputted an image that was rather similar to that of my initial image, at the right-hand side of the page. I think that it is effective in the sense that it makes the layout appear more unique, in a sense. It fits in with the fanzine theme, which is meant to ‘break the rules’, where the author can display their text and images in any way that they like. I am trying to express a form of freedom into my work and make it unconventional.

In this stage of my development, I have managed to compose the article together with the use of autoshapes in the background, which are effective, as they help the text to stand out. I am going to alter the typefaces on several pieces of text within the layout though, as they do not fit in with the theme and they appear rather out of place on the design as a whole. For the autoshapes in the background, I have altered them in the sense that I have toned down the opacity of them so that they blend more into the background and are not prominent in a way that it distracts from the text, as well as the image aspect. There is an ongoing colour scheme theme in this particular layout, which is effective, as it catches the attention of the primary consumer (those who enjoy hip-hop music, preferably young adults) due to the fact that is bright and vibrant, which initially makes it more visually appealing and because of this, the viewer will be drawn into it immediately. I have also included an oval autoshape that I have filled in with a dark pink colour; and it almost looks three-dimensional in a way, which makes the design as a whole more prominent in a sense.

In my final layout design, I have featured the use of my inputted fonts (sourced from Dafont) in the place of some of the san-serif fonts that I had included previously. However, I only put them in my work so that I could determine where the text boxes could be placed on the overall layout in order for it to appear as though it could be an actual article in a fanzine publication. As displayed in my previous stages of development, I have included the use of bright colours within my work, as I think that it will draw in the attention of the consumer greatly; and appear more ‘appealing’ overall. I have used a wide range of typefaces within my work, some that were generic (and already installed on the system) as well as the ones which I sourced from the internet being ‘FRS GENUINO’, as well as ‘StreetStyle’. I chose these fonts due to the fact that they had an ‘urban edge onto them, therefore, they would be suitable for use in a hip-hop fanzine. The spacing between the text is rather haphazard, although, this is very common to find in fanzines, as they are meant to be informal and have a quirky layout, which initially ‘breaks the rules’ of a traditional broadsheet or tabloid layout design. I would say that my design as a whole is rather eye-catching because of the emphasis on vibrant colours, which link to the tones that were used within the image still from Eminem’s music video ‘Rap God’ (hence the sentence that relates to it on the right-hand side of the page). It is hard to say how a fanzine should be created, as it is ambiguous in a sense, as it is solely up to the author of the product to initiate their own, personal house-style, as opposed to copying the design of others. Therefore, I would say that I based my layout design on what I thought the primary consumer of my fanzine would prefer; including a high visual aspect, with the autoshapes, as well as the images, which will make the article appeal to a juvenile audience, who may become weary of extended amounts of text. On the other hand, my fanzine could also apply to an older, more sophisticated audience on a secondary basis, as they may choose to view the text, as opposed to focusing on the images. The article has been broken down, instead of it being presented into several text columns, as this type of feature is not usually found in a fanzine and I wanted it to appear as realistic as possible.