Contents

Here is the research for the for the creation of my contents page.

I liked the simplicity of these pages, I want to have a simplicity that also linked to the title of my magazine as there hasn't a reference to it before. 

I like that this design is simple and allows for a side bar, something that I haven't yet employed in this magazine design. I think that it would be interesting to experiment with but I wouldn't know what to put in it and I am a bit concerned that it would be a little bit crowded. 

I really like the simplicity of this design, I think that if I could find a really good image to bleed across the DPS then this page may look really good, I think that this is my favourite design as it is simple and still has the ability to capture the readers attention, potentially. 

I don't particularly like this design as I feel that it would be really crowded with an image per feature. I think that it would be far too busy, which would conflict with the theme of the magazine. 

Having searched for various images on flickr I finally found this one. 

Source 

Having found this image I decided that I wanted to use it to it's full capacity. So I decided to do this. 

I am really happy with this design, but as it was done on Illustrator it needs to be converted to an page on InDesign. I think that the page good because it conveys what it needs to, without over crowding.

However much I liked this page however, I wasn't sure if it really suited my magazine, having said this I decided to make the font Helvetica so that it would suit my other pages and fade the image slightly. Having done this I looked at some more contents pages and discovered that mine was rather lacking in information, so I added more page numbers gathered from my flat plan. This took up to much space so I separated the columns into two to create this:

Having faded the image, made the two columns and changed the font to the ones that appear consistently throughout the magazines features I believe that the page is now a lot more in keeping with the magazines design. I also think that the line that separates the two columns really adds to the page. I'm now happier with this design than I was with any of the previous. I feel that the fading of the image adds to the feel I wanted the magazine to have, contrasting with my competitors, I wanted there to be a rougher and more adventurous feel the the magazine and I feel that this page most portrays this sense. 

Haunted DPS Creation

Here is the unfolding of my Haunted Britain design plan.

(This is the favoutired design)

I started off having the body copy arranged like this. With this image beneath it. A little faded.

(Source)

Unfortunately this image was too busy and didn't fit nicely with the text, nor did it really have anything to do with the features content, unfortunately, so I decided to use the map image seen in a previous post. 

I then added the map picture as seen below in the space on the second page, unhappy with this I added a background image but, I felt that the page was too crowded and decided to reconsider the amount of pages used so that the page was laid out like so:

I am a lot more please with this arrangement and am about to find a new picture to fill the gap as the original background image is not suitable for the space available.

So having tried to find a suitable image I decided that this might be a suitable image if it could be darkened. It is a staircase found in the ruins of Berry Pomeroy castle so it suits the content and the stairway could represent the ghostly feel I want the page to have.

Source 

So, using the program Fotor as perviously used I played around with the effects, making it slightly black and white and lowering the contrast, brightness and exposure. 

On reconsideration, I decided to use this image instead which originally looked like this:

Source

I decided to do this because I didn't feel that the stair image really meant anything. It didn't affect me as the other did and I want all my images to be interesting to look at. I then edited it to look like this because I thought it had a little bit of an eerier feel to it. I also thought that by adding this slightly grey/brown tinge I was allowing it to fit better with the image of the brown/yellow map.

I am pleased with this edit because I feel that it is more interesting that the stair image and it relates more the the features content. It is the gate to one of the featured places and the sky makes it appear eerie and foreboading. I also think that this image is more appropriate because it is a ghost hunt and the old fashioned gates sort of connote a old and perhaps trapped feeling. I think that it is a lot more of an appropriate image than the previously considered images. I also feel that this image has that subtle feel I wanted for this less large but equally as important image. 

Placing these features together, I got this. 

This design was unexpected as I hadn't thought I may need three pages rather than two. I was happy with this design. However, having printed it out in a trial print I decided there was a few things I wanted to change. 

I realised that "road trip" had been spelt "roadtrip" which was incorrect. I was also unhappy with the formality of the title font and I also decided that I wanted to add a stand first and stretch the title so that it spanned the top of the DPS. This would mean that I would need to decrease the size of the map image and I wanted to line up the text more suitably. I also need to add the image credit and page numbers. 

Which led to these changes taking place - minus the page numbers. 

Having changed the font of the title, the arrangement of the text and the size of the main image I still feel like something is missing. I may perhaps move the second image so that it is more central on the third page so that it's caption is moved to the side and not in the middle as it is. I also need to repair the mistake made to the first page's grid as I feel that the gap is too large to use as white space. 

Having done this and added a few more finishing touches like the magazine title at the bottom of each page this is the most recent end result. 

As you can see I changed the title fonts to Helvetica to suit the rest of the features and I elongated the stand first so that it stretched across the page. I also added a drop cap to make the page look more interesting and keeping in theme with the New Zealand feature I decided to categorise the paragraphs so that they were in the road maps order. I then categorised them so that they were under the headings of their county. I thought this was important to the look and organisation of the page. I also moved the second image to the bottom of the page because I felt that it looked nicer this way. I am a lot happier with this version of the feature and I think that it is more in keeping with the design of my other features. 

*Edit**

Having reviewed my other pages I decided that some changes to this page were needed. In order to create this, making it suit the other features better. 

As you can see I removed the "words by..." and placed the feature's author name into the stand first as with the others and I also moved the image source to the inner margin on the second page. I think that this looks nicer because it suits the other designs and it removes clutter from the page. The changes are minimal but I think it is worth the extra time and effort as now they are, I think, more suited to the other and more refined features. I also enlarged the title slightly so that it was more eye-grabbing. I like this page because it is different. Until the others it has a different and less clean theme. Though the background is still white the images are almost dirty with their brown tinges. But it works because of the feature's content. The eeriness of the topic needs that darker tone while it still remains in the theme of the other pages. I think that the colour of the titles, taken directly from the map image, integrates the image and the text together, which is important because I think that the yellow/brown tinge of the image would be too different to fit with the feature. I also like that it spans across the three pages rather than just being a double page spread. If I had more time to create on, I would have like to make an advert for that fourth page as I could not find an already created single page advert for any inner country travel companies, like stagecoach, megabus, crosscountry trains or national rail adverts, which is a shame as it would have gone perfectly in that space. 

New Zealand Images

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rsh3339/6929580620/sizes/o/in/photostream/ - RSH3339

http://imgur.com/gallery/Uqotu - squares_90

http://www.languageschool.co.nz/uploads/NzoneSkydive_QT01.jpg -

http://ouramazingnzadventure.wordpress.com/tag/oamaru-blue-penguin-colony/ - Nicola K Barnard

http://trenzblog.com/encounters-with-whales-and-dolphins-in-new-zealand/whale-tail-kaikoura/ - Paul Holman

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dynacam/7156111300/sizes/l/in/photostream/ - Graeme Knox

http://www.newzealand-indepth.co.uk/adventures-te-puia.htm -

http://www.buckettripper.com/tramping-tongariro-and-climbing-ngauruhoe-in-new-zealand/my-beautiful-picture-61/ - Karen Berger

http://dunnesdiary.wordpress.com/page/2/ - Cathrine Dunne

http://www.kiwikiwikiwi.com/photo-2410298057-AratiatiaRapidsTaupoNewZealand12.html - Gouldy99 

Things to do in New Zealand piece

North Island

1-Sail in Auckland

The City of Sails

Set sail from the beautiful harbour if Auckland, on a Pride of Auckland yacht, specially made for the purpose of passing on the local experience. From here you can view the sights of the city from the sheltered sea of “boating paradise.”

Prices start from $75NZD - £41.39 pp.

2-Visit Matamata

The Home of the Hobbits

Not far from Auckland sits the rural town of Matamata, just outside sits a large and beautiful farm, featuring rolling green hills and little holes under the ground, closed with multicoloured circular doors. Sounding familiar? Take a tour around Hobbiton and explore the set as seen in the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.

Prices start from $75NZD - £41.39 pp.

3-The Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest – Rotorua

One of nature’s greatest achievements

This is the perfect place to take part in an activity. Famous for its natural beauty Whakarewarewa forest is located just five minutes from the centre of Rotorua’s city. Here you can get go on a walk, have a picnic, hire a bike or go horse riding, the list goes on and all surrounded by the spectacular Californian Redwoods.

Entry to the forest is completely free.

4-Waitomo Cave - Waitomo

See Glowworms in their natural habitat

Explore metres of unbelievable cave structure where thousands of Glowworms radiate their magical backsides as you’re guided through the area by an expert who’ll convey the history of the caves and take you on a boat ride beneath the fairy-like-lights of ‘Glowworm Grotto’. Unparalleled in beauty it’ll blow you away.

Prices start from $48NZD - £26.39 pp.

5-Visit Taupo

Home of the ‘Great Lake’

Found in the centre of the North Island, Taupo offers a multitude of free activities that will help with keeping in budget. Here you can visit the thundering Huka Falls, relax in the Spa Park Hot Pools created by a naturally hot river that fills the many pools. Walk along the river and experience New Zealand’s beauty.

Entrance to the area? Free.

6-Visit Rotorua  

Experience a Zorb Tumble or visit a Maori Village

Visit Rotorua and experience its fantastic sights. Jump in a Zorb ball and feel the thrill of the ‘Zobit’ (dry) or the ‘Zydro’ (wet) depending on your preference. Alternatively visit the Maitai Maori village and experience multiple ceremonies and performances; be guided on a bush walk and experience a Glowworm tour. For a little extra you can also see the beauty of Rainbow Spring’s by night.

Zorb $45 (individual prices) - £24.74 pp.

Maori Village $106NZD - £58.29 pp. (inc. Beauty By Night tour $136NZD - £74.78)

7-The Museum of New Zealand - Wellington

Te Papa Tongarewa

Here is a little somewhere you can visit that would take up a few spare hours. The Te Papa museum located in the country’s capital – Wellington, has many fascinating exhibitions for you to explore, giving you the perfect opportunity to learn a little more about the country, it’s culture, history and greatest treasures.

Entry to the museum is free!

*Bonus*

While you’re in Wellington check out the Lord of the Rings movie tours, an essential for fans.

Prices start from $45 - £24.74 pp.

8-Te Mata Peak – Hawke’s Bay

The perfect place for a long hike

Yet another place to take in the breath-taking views this country offers, Te Mata Peak, in Napier, is the perfect place for you to hike, drive or cycle over. Here you can take a break from the cities and just relax in the tranquillity of quiet. It’s the ideal if you want to loose yourself in the magnificence of the mountains.

Free entry.

9-Tongariro Crossing – Tongariro National Park

Visit the sparkling emerald lakes

On this mountain you can discover a multitude of colour; from the red crater at the very peak to the glistening emerald lakes found on the mountainside. It’s a bit of a hike to the very top, not something you’ll want to attempt in jeans and Converses anyway (but even you could reach Soda Springs) but for the hikers among you, if you can, the awesome colours are just… wow.

Entrance to the park is free.

10-Te Puia – Rotorua

Maori Geothermal Reserve

Here you can visit a Maori geothermal reserve. Experience the hot springs and get a good look at the Maori weaving and carving schools. Guided by those that can track their families involvement in the area back decades, they’ll treat you to age old stories, as you encounter New Zealand’s natural spectacles, including boiling mud pools, geysers and a look at the country’s national bird – the Kiwi.

Prices start from $47.40 - £25.97pp.

South Island

1-Fox Glacier – West Coast

Fox Trot: Half-Day Walk

Fox Glacier is one of the most easily accessed glaciers in the world and one of the few you don’t have to fly in a helicopter to get to. This tour will allow you to spend at least an hour on the ice itself and the company will provide you with all the gear you’ll need to complete the trek. It’s a fantastic opportunity that will allow you to experience the magnitude of nature’s power.

Price for individual adult: $115.00NZD -  £63.09

2-Lake Wakatipu - Queenstown

Lightning bolt shaped lake

This lake is the third largest in the World and because of its unusual shape under goes a transformation every twenty-five minutes, rising and falling like a heartbeat, or so the legend goes, of a monster named Matau, sleeping under the surface. As expected a walk or cycle ride would give you spectacular views. Besides, how many people do you know that have taken a stroll beside a lightning bolt of clear water.

Entry free.

3-One of the ‘Great Walks’

The Milford Track

There are six of the nine ‘Great Walks’ in the South Island of New Zealand, including the Routeburn, Rakiura, Kelper and Milford tracks. The Milford is the most famous of the nine because the route surrounds the sound of the same name. Most of these walks you can do independently (or with a guide for a price) but you’ll have to organise somewhere to stay along the way as many of them require a few days.

Prices depend on route and season.

4-Ohau Waterfall Walk - Kaikoura

See the frolicking seal pups

The Ohau waterfall walk is a short one but is a place of fun and majesty. A place where you can watch the seal pups in their natural habitat having an absolute ball in the water. Not only can you get up as close as you want to the little ones but you can also enjoy the peace and beauty of the waterfall itself.

Entrance - not a dollar.

5-Whale Watching – Kaikoura

View the majesty of the largest mammals on Earth

Here is an absolute must. Can you imagine the magnitude of these creatures? Well imagine no more, here you can see it for your self. The trip includes a video about the animals themselves and their survival in the icy depths of the ocean as you wait, spending up to two and a half hours on the water, searching.

Individual Adult $145NZD - £79.43

6- Milford Sound – Fiordland

Rent a kayak and experience the sound close and personal

Said to be the best way to experience the famous sound, kayaking will allow you the freedom and ability to traverse the water with a certain intimacy you wouldn’t get on a cruiser. Have your skin kissed by waterfalls, move alongside resident dolphins, seals and/or penguins.

Prices start from $115NZD - £63.09

7-Rangitata River – Canterbury

White-water raft the Rangitata

White-water raft in the incredible landscape of the Southern Alps. Choose from either the gentle lower graded Fun Lower Rangitata or face the madness of Rangitata Gorge – grades 1-5! Pair the overwhelming scenery and the excitement of the rapids. If you want to skip the 5 you’re welcome to sit it out and rejoin as the water settles a little. Everyone wins.

The Fun Lower Rangitata - Grade 1-2 - $165NZD – 90.39

The Spectacular Rangitata Gorge – Grade 1-5 – fr. $208NZD -£113.95

8-Blue Penguin Colony – Oamaru

The World’s smallest penguins

Here you can watch the worlds smallest penguins go about their daily business. During the day there area is a little quieter but you are always welcome to join a guided tour to view the behind the scenes work that occurs to protect the species. Then again you can always visit at night and watch the penguins returning home after a hard day’s fishing.

Prices start from $12NZD - £6.57

9-Visit Queenstown

Welcome to Adrenaline Central.
If you fancy trying your hand at bungee jumping, skydiving, zip wiring, skiing, snowboarding or hiking over the Remarkables this is the place for you. And for all the Lord of the Ringers, you can also join a tour that will take you down the ‘Anduin River’ (Kawarau Gorge) and provide you with a tour of the beautiful country that made Middle-Earth.

Tours start at $95NZD - £52.04 (inc. Bungee $275NZD- £150)

Skydive – fr. $269 - £147.36

10- Hokitika Gorge Reserve

Scenic reserve and gorge

One of the most breathtaking sights you will ever come across comes in the form of this scenic reserve. You’ll be amazed at the colour of the water you find here, almost luminescent turquoise it seems almost fantastical. And the gorge itself is as breathtaking as the water below it. An easy walk and/or drive it’s the perfect place to spend a day; simple reiterating the renowned beauty of the country.

For More information and prices visit our website www.drifter.co.uk

New Zealand Feature Research

Things to do in New Zealand 

A few other websites were used for the research of the article but have been lost, these are the main ones, however, and will be used for the majority of the articles writing. 

North Island

1-Sail in Auckland the City of Sails

http://www.newzealand.com/uk/plan/business/pride-of-auckland-sailing-and-dining-cruises/

2-Visit Matamata and the home of the hobbits

http://www.hobbitontours.com/hobbiton-movie-set-and-farm-tours/home_idl=2_idt=2004_id=11904_.html

3-Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest

http://www.redwoods.co.nz/thingstodo.php

4-Waitomo Cave – Glowworms

http://www.waitomo.com/waitomo-glowworm-caves.aspx

5- Visit Taupo – Home of the ‘Great Lake’

http://www.newzealand.com/uk/article/free-things-to-do-in-taupo/

6- Visit Rotoua – Zorb and/or experience a Maori Village

http://www.zorb.com/zorb/

http://www.mitai.co.nz/booking.htm

7-The Museum of NZ – Te Papa Tongarewa

http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/pages/default.aspx

8-Te Mata Peak – Napier Looking for a day or two away

http://tematapark.co.nz/#

9-Tongariro Crossing– Lakes pretty

http://www.tongarirocrossing.org.nz/the-track.html

10-Te Puia – Maori Experience + geothermal reserve

http://www.tepuia.com/te_puia_daytime_experience_guided_tours_rotorua.htm

South Island

1-Fox Glacier

http://www.foxguides.co.nz/our-trips

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g609169-d3812861-Reviews-Fox_Glacier_Hiking_Trails-Fox_Glacier_Westland_National_Park_Te_Wahipounamu_South.html

2-Lake Wakiatipu

http://www.newzealand.com/int/feature/lake-wakatipu/

3-One of the ‘Great Walks’

http://www.greatwalks.co.nz

4-Ohau Waterfall walk

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g255374-d2220788-Reviews-Ohau_Waterfall_Walk_and_Seal_Pups-Kaikoura_Canterbury_Region_South_Island.html

5-Whale Watching

http://www.whalewatch.co.nz/our-tours/general-information

6-Kayak Milford Sound

http://www.roscosmilfordkayaks.com/our-adventures/

7-Rangitata Rafts

http://www.rafts.co.nz

8- Blue Penguin Colony

http://www.newzealand.com/int/plan/business/oamaru-blue-penguin-colony/

9-Queenstown – Adrenaline central

http://www.queenstownhighlights.co.nz

http://www.nzoneskydive.co.nz

10-Hokitika Gorge Reserve

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g255373-d2467220-Reviews-Hokitika_Gorge_Scenic_Reserve-Hokitika_South_Island.html

In the process of currently editing my map image for my Haunted Britain DPS and am, to be honest, struggling. Having had to re scan the original printed image, as I wanted to include the drawn on route for the trip, the image has lost quality dramatically. Not only that but because I changed the colour after I drew on the route the red line is no longer red but more of a strange brown. I am not satisfied with this and am regretful at having thought of the idea in the first place. Sad but true. However  I really want to proceed with it but don't think that the red will come out very well on the new tinge.

So I went away and found an app called Fotor in the Apple Mac store. Using this I was able to turn this 

Into this: 

It isn't perfect but I'm more please with it than I was previously. 

Front Cover Inspiration Continued

Here is some front covers that I have looked at to gain inspiration for my own front cover for Drifter Magazine. 

Harpers Bazaar 

This is one front cover that I quite like; it is simple and still quite inspiring with the black and grey with a focus on tone. I think this is a really nice front cover but I don't think the lack of colour would be quite suitable for my style/ target audience. However, the minimalist styling will be inspirational to my design. Mine will also need to have more cover lines.

Esquire

I really like that this cover is a minimalist one. I love that the cover tells the reader what that issues main focus is on. (Star Trek) I do appreciate however that you have to be aware of that story to understand the reference. It also, as a subscriber copy, contains no information on the content, this means that there would be another newsstand copy containing more information, as the one above would. The simplicity of the three colours (blue, white and black) are also a focusing touch. 

Vintage Vogue

Similarly this minimal is preferable but not as capable in the selling department other more informative covers that could be found on the newsstands. The lack of information is good for aesthetics but not for advertisement of content. 

Stylist

This cover is also very minimalist, and unlike the others contains a small amount of information; a technique that could be utilised on my own cover. This cover works as the image relates the content of the magazine and the small cover-line indicates further content. I could use this method. 

i-D Magazine 

2 

This magazines common element for its covers is a really nice idea that I could explore with my own twist. I really like the minimalist look of these covers and I like that they contain as little information as possible while still providing enough information to entice the reader. 

C For Men

I really like this magazine cover because even though there it is a little busier than the previous covers I think that this may be a little more of a reasonable idea on the content coverage I would be providing, or could provide. I feel also that despite it being a little busier it is still a clean look with the white and orange being the main colours. I want to stick to this 'clean-cut' look. With my front cover, I feel that I could still provide this amount of information and have a smaller image, (see Front Cover Image Splatter post) allowing for a little more breathing space. 

Scott King - Art Works

This was the first image I saw that made me want to have a minimalist magazine cover and though it is a book and not a magazine it made me want to explore the possibility of the idea. 

I really want to use a similar technique to grab my readers' attention as most of the travel magazines utilise large landscape images that make the reader want to be wherever the magazine is advertising. I want to try a different approach and I feel a minimalist take would suit the younger target audience that may be attracted to the different design elements.