The research strategies used in my project:

image from 'How to be an explorer of the world'

OBSERVE
What different types of magazine formats are there?
Where and how is each format available?

COLLECT
Different magazine formats
Visual examples of different magazine formats
Quotes/literature about magazine formats

ANALYSE
The visual characteristics of each format
Theory written about formats

COMPARE
Characteristics of formats identified in analysis
Similarities and differences in formats

NOTICE PATTERNS
Of why certain characteristics apply to some formats and not to others

Interviews and questionnaires

‘Equations’ for making each format
e.g. content + scissors + tape + photocopier = zine

PMI for my process of making format
PMI for my outcome
PMI by reader of format

Re-focusing my SVR

I have recently been thinking about re-focusing my SVR, time is running low and I don’t want to loose track. Here are my reiterated aims of the project

My identified design problems:
What different formats can be used to produce what is classified as a magazine?
How do design features, the representation of text and image and production processes change depending on a chosen magazine format?
Which format is best suited to showcase the work/work in progress of graphic design student?
How do you gage the success/suitability of each format?

My body of practical and experimental work:
Examples of a range of magazine formats (including experimental)
Research and examples of existing formats
Analysis on the suitability of each format
Various stages of development of my own examples of each format.
All research gathered into a final body accompanied by format examples

My strategic research methods
Using the “observe, collect, analyze, compare, notice patterns” process from ‘How to be an explorer of the World’

Observe– looking which existing formats are out there/ observing how people interact with each format
Collect– visual examples of each format
Analyse– each format’s features (just design features or content and topics?)
Compare– the similarities and differences between formats
Notice Patterns– draw conclusions about each format and its suitability for show casing my magazine’s content

Identifying and documenting existing market visual languages
Mood boards
Interviews
Documenting process of producing my own version of each format

Industry standard prototypes:
My own examples of mag formats;
Fanzine
Independent magazine
Glossy
Website
Quick-time animation
Internet generated publication (e.g. zinepal)
Bag/t-shirt