Student digipak and magazine advert analysis

Finished advert

This is our finished magazine advert, we chose to use the same picture and font that is on the front of our digipak because it helps with brand identity and the feedback we got from our drafts suggested we should.
We originally just had the NME rating but it looked a little lonely so we put in another from MOJO magazine.
Overall the advert was easy to make as we already had the image from the digipak so didn't need to edit the image again.

Making the advert

 We started to make the advert by having the black and white checkers as the back ground and then layered a white rectangle for our image to go on. We then took the image from the digipak and added it on to the centre of our advert. We used the same font on the advert as the digipak to ensure brand identity. Overall the magazine advert is looking how we want it.

 

 

 

 

After putting the image and font in place on the advert we put in the websites, logos and release date. The release date is in the same font as we used on the back of the digipak. The final steps in making our advert is to add in the reviews from NME and MOJO magazines.

 

 

 

 

Magazine advert drafts

Our first two ideas are very similar. The both have the checkered border, the same image as the digipak, the two tone logo and the release date and websites in similar positions. The only slight differences is that the album name is in different places, one has a rating and one has Madness' logo.


Our third idea is fairly different although it does still fit to generic conventions the same as the others. The checkered pattern, the logos, artist name and album name etc. It doesn't have the black and white border all the why round just a section at the top. The main image on this is the image used on the back of the digipak. This one has a rating and a quote 'The rockiest rock steady beat of Madness'.
The feedback we got was good and that we should use a combination of the two first ideas because they will have better brand identity with the digipak and will be more easily recognisable. We were also told to make sure we have the correct form of rating as NME doesn't use stars it uses a number rating.

Generic conventions of magazine adverts

For this we struggled to find any magazine adverts for albums from our genre so we have used posters for gig dates and for the artists in general.
Characters
Like the digipaks in this genre, adverts/ poster mostly have the band as the main image. The Specials poster here shows that they are walking with stern expressions. The body language of the characters connote that they are trouble and rebellious which is what this genre is generally stereotyped to be. This promotes both the artists and genre well as it represents what the genre is about, which sometimes is about some quite controversial issues.
 Some of  the posters don't feature any images of actual people but feature cartoons of people in black and white to connote the ska movement like The Selecter's  gig date poster.


Mise-en-scene
Costume - The costume is usually the normal 2 tone ska clothing. Tight trousers, blazers, braces, collared shirts, white socks etc.
Lighting - If there is an image of people and not a cartoon then the lighting is usually high key to connote happiness and the style of their music.
Actors - The majority of artists in this genre are young males. This poster for The Specials shows them with quite stern and serious facial expressions.
Make up - Mostly in this genre, make up isn't used although Terry Hall from The Specials does use some eye make up.
Setting - In this poster, it is a fairly urban setting to fit to the genre and connote the working class which will listen to this genre. If there isn't an image it is usually a black or white background.

Iconography
The main iconography in ska adverts/posters is the clothing worn in the 2 tone ska movement. This includes tight trousers, blazers, collared shirts etc. Also the black and white checkered pattern is featured on most adverts because it signifies the 2 tone ska movement and the music.

This poster for The Selecter's tour for next year features the black and white checkered pattern. It also has pictures of their different albums attract the audience to the tour. Featured on the front album 'Too Much Pressure' is the 2 Tone Records logo. As most bands in this genre are under that label, their products will have the logo on.
You can also see it on the top left corner of a Specials poster.
The image to the right is from the 2 Tone Records website, showing all the artists under this label.


Themes
The main theme throughout Ska music, adverts, posters etc. is the black and white contrast. There is mostly a black and white checkered pattern used. Another theme is that it adverts tend to be simplistic where you only get the information you really need which entices audiences in as it doesn't push you into a product but rather pulls you in and interests you.

Font
Magazine adverts from this genre generally use bold block lettering which stands out from others which is usually black or white with black outline. This again uses the general theme that runs through Ska products. The Selecter as you can see from the above poster have their own font which they use on all their products. Although it doesn't necessarily follow the same font as other bands it has a similar sort of style with how it is pointy and sharp lettering. An audience can easily recognise this font.

Generic conventions:

• Black and white checkered pattern element
• Bold and block lettering
• An image of artist or cartoon
• Black and white contrast
• Simplistic - not too much information
• 2 Tone records logo

Conventions of magazine adverts

Conventions of magazine adverts from LillieCram

Brand Identity

Brand identity is the visible elements of a brand, such as colours, design, logo, name or symbol, that together can identify and distinguish the brand in the consumers mind. Usually a magazine advert for a digipak will have a similar if not the same image on as the digipak but with different information such as the date it is released etc. This is so the consumer can see the magazine advert and then the digipak will be instantly recognisable.
For example the image on Kings Of Leon's 'Only By The Night' album is exactly the same on the magazine advert.