OUGD603 / Extended Practice
Background
Brief 14 — Intern Mag
Intern is a bi-annual independent print publication concerned with internships in the creative industries. Alec Dudson of Intern Magazine visited Leeds College of Art for a workshop and briefing on launching an Independant Magazine, considering the design, concept and it’s launch through a Kickstarter campaign.
Brief Length 1 Day Set by Alec Dudson of Intern Magazine
Brief
Work in a group, and come up with an original independant magazine. It is vital to consider the magazine’s concept, audience, aesthetic, strategy, lifespan and progression.
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Time Scale
Alec was visiting Leeds College of Art for one day, so this brief was undertaken in that time.
Mandatory Requirements
A concept for an independent magazine. An example of a front cover.
OUGD603 / Extended Practice
01 Independent Magazine Research
Magazines Themselves
It was important to look at the existing market, in order to create something new, that doesn’t face a large competition. The following conclusions were made about some of the popular independant magazines: - Many focus on the arts and arts, something a large competition to avoid. - They can be more experimental with their design than regular magazines. - A lot of them focus on travel, looking at global culture, mone are as specific as a country.
Brief 14 — Intern Mag
Independant Mag Research
Independent Book Stores
It was also vital to visit some independant book stores, where the magazine would be sold. This helped understand how the magazine could stand out whilst in the context of others.
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Left / Mid: Examples of independant magazines researched into. Right: Two indendant magazine stores that were visited in Leeds; top right is Village Bookstore, bottom right is Colours May Vary.
OUGD603 / Extended Practice
02
Untold Magazine
Concept
Brief 14 — Intern Mag
After researching into existing independant magazines, it was clear that many of them focussed on similar topics. With many focussing on travel, as a group we decided to focus on something quite British. Untold is a bi-monthly magazine that focusses on a stories of a different proffesion each week. The issues feature as follows: TaxiDrivers, Strippers, Bouncers, Pub Landlords, Toilet Attendant & Drug Dealer. Stories could be told by both people with these occupations and those who have had interesting stories involve people with these jobs. It’s essentially about looking at life through a perspective the audience of the book wouldn’t normally see / know about.
Untold Magazine
Cover Design
I was in charge of designing the magazine cover, and wanted to make something that looked completely different. The magazine carries the ethos of ‘not judging a book by it’s cover’ - not judging someone by their profession. Each issue would have a secondary, thicker cover, with just the magazine logotype on it, and a hole through the middle. A face would be displayed, and when the page is turned, the profession of the issue is revealed. This gives the magazine a tacticle quality and encourages the publication to be picked up and interacted with.
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