Double Page Spread Development
First idea
We started by experimenting with different designs on different pieces of software such as Microsoft Publisher and Adobe InDesign. Eventually we decided to go with Adobe InDesign as it allowed us to be more creative and flexible. Our original idea was to create something eye-catching so if it was to go in a TV listing magazine, people would read this. We decided to replicate the British Rail logo as the background for the double page spread. We thought this would be a good idea to show how the train industry is evolving from the once British rail to the now National Rail since 1999. Furthermore, this logo is still heavily used and associated with British Rail so by using this logo as our background in our double page spread, people would instantly know what the documentary is about.
Double page spread Designing
Opening paragraph
What it’s about?
In the first part of the 3-part documentary series, James shows us how his local town of Tamworth is going to be affected. By speaking to Local MP Christopher Pincher and the local people he finds out what most people think of the HS2. James also gives a very quick history lesson about the HS2 by explaining the chosen route and Illustrates to the audience the staggering figures of the project.
What it’s about?
This documentary focuses on the unfolding story of the country’s well known up and coming project in public transport. Daniel James shows us what to make of the HS2 how areas such as housing, establishments, and the environment is being affected by this oncoming storm.
In the first part of the 3-part documentary series, James shows us how his local town of Tamworth is going to be affected. By speaking to Local MP Christopher Pincher and the local people he finds out what most people think of the HS2. James also gives a very quick history lesson about the HS2 by explaining the chosen route and Illustrates to the audience the staggering figures of the project.
Q&A – Director Tayte Fordham
Do you think you have gotten your own points across in the documentary?
Tayte: No, not at all, but we think that’s a good thing. Being biased is a great for the audience as you don’t just focus on one side of the argument and give them all the wrong information which they may or may not like, plus it’s just boring, it’s like I’m moaning at them.
Dan: I totally agree with Tayte, we don’t want to give them one side, because then it’s not a documentary, we want the audience to have their own thoughts about the documentary if it’s for or against the HS2.
Why did you add the element of your hometown of Tamworth, It must mean a lot?
Dan: Well actually I’m not originally from Tamworth, or I don’t even live in Tamworth, but this is still a huge development for the town, and although it’s not directing in directly it is indirectly affecting it, so we thought it would be a good idea to get the people’s views or even just educate them in the process.
Tayte: Well I actually live in Tamworth so it’s sort of a big deal for mew as some big changes are coming for Tamworth in the next few years, and maybe it’s good for Tamworth, who knows. But yeah it can mean a lot and like Dan said it’s always good to educate a community and find out what they think, For example we even got CP (Christopher Pintcher) involved which was great because its always good to have someone else who knows what they’re talking about.
Also you mention MP Christopher Pincher, how did you manage to get him involved? And would you like any other Political guests giving g there opinion on whatever the next Documentary is?
Dan: Well that’s quite funny. When we were planning the first Documentary, we thought of having the PM Theresa May in the documentary, but you can imagine how that went. But we went through many people dropping them emails, until Tamworth’s MP Christopher Pincher got back to us and things just went from there. But definitely want a bigger political Presents in the next one.
Tayte: Defiantly Boris Johnson, I’d love to hear his thoughts.
We thought these 4 pictures would be good to use our double page spread as they all have relevance in our documentary. The British Rail logo that currently has got scaffolding around it shows how the current infrastructure is old, lacks new technology and needs improvement. This evident by the lack of the red colour of the old British Rail logo or the blue of the present National Rail logo.
The picture of us interviewing with MP Christopher Pincher about HS2 would be one of selling points of the documentary. Therefore including a picture of us interviewing him in our double page spread is crucial to show that we have got interviews with experts and important people that know a lot about HS2. Also including him would create synergy with the documentary, getting more people to watch the documentary as he is an important figure in the HS2 project.
We have included the picture of a statue of Sir Robert Peel (former MP for Tamworth and one of the founders of the modern Conservative Party) that resides in Tamworth in the double page spread. This is because in our extract of a documentary, the Midlands/Tamworth region is spoke about a lot as the HS2 is going to affect this area a lot.
Our last picture we decided include in our double page spread was a picture of a current train running in the Midlands region. Originally we were going to use this picture to show the current infrastructure on the present lines. However for the purpose of our double page spread, we said this was train running on the HS1 showing what the ‘current HS1’ looks like.
The first idea final design
Evaluation of the first idea final design
We discovered problems in this design. The whole design was a bit cluttered and text would of been squashed in between the spaces. The red background is over powering and the black text used in the article would be difficult to read. The colour white wasn't a choice for the text as it would of clashed with the British Rail logo. The text boxes used in this first design are all different widths which makes the whole design unorganised and we wouldn't see this in a RadioTimes magazine which we later found out after researching and analysing some. On the left-hand side there isn't enough writing and the pictures haven't been labelled to give some context. In addition to this, the pictures aren't aligned in any sort of manner and it looks like we just threw on to the page.
This design was very unconventional for a double page spread in a TV listings magazine for starters. As already said above, we were trying to replicate the British Rail logo. After producing this design, we looked back at the British Rail logo and although striking some resemblance, it was not apparent enough.
Finally, having reviewed this first design, the design did not follow a conventional TV listing magazine's double page spread like the RadioTimes magazine. We decided to look at a RadioTimes magazine and analyse the document so that we could produce a similar product following the conventions of a double page spread which looked more professional.
We discovered problems in this design. The whole design was a bit cluttered and text would of been squashed in between the spaces. The red background is over powering and the black text used in the article would be difficult to read. The colour white wasn't a choice for the text as it would of clashed with the British Rail logo. The text boxes used in this first design are all different widths which makes the whole design unorganised and we wouldn't see this in a RadioTimes magazine which we later found out after researching and analysing some. On the left-hand side there isn't enough writing and the pictures haven't been labelled to give some context. In addition to this, the pictures aren't aligned in any sort of manner and it looks like we just threw on to the page.
This design was very unconventional for a double page spread in a TV listings magazine for starters. As already said above, we were trying to replicate the British Rail logo. After producing this design, we looked back at the British Rail logo and although striking some resemblance, it was not apparent enough.
Finally, having reviewed this first design, the design did not follow a conventional TV listing magazine's double page spread like the RadioTimes magazine. We decided to look at a RadioTimes magazine and analyse the document so that we could produce a similar product following the conventions of a double page spread which looked more professional.
Example of RadioTimes double page spread
From these 4 images of a RadioTimes magazine, we began to identify codes and conventions for a double page spread in a TV listings magazine.
The layout of the article is a key convention and allows readers to be able to follow the text easily. We noticed that the on each page there is 3 columns of writing with equal width, equally spaced apart from each other and has a margin on the left & right hand side of the page. This format is used throughout the whole magazine for continuity purpose. This layout works well because the text is not cramped up on one page therefore it is appealing and is easy to read.
Furthermore, we picked up on that every double page spread in the top left hand corner is the name of the program, day, time and channel the program is on. This immediately tells the reader the most important pieces of information as that is where the reader looks first due to us reading from left to right. The name of the program is always in bold so that it stands out at the reader. The day and time are in italics as if it was in bold, it wouldn't stand out against the bold used for the program title. The channel showing the program is in bold to stand out from the italics used previously. The example in the article above is: The Last Leg Friday 10:00pm Channel 4
Underneath the example given above is always the headline. The headline usually uses some literary technique, for example; power of 3, alliteration, simile and is always in a large, bold font. This engages the reader and tries to persuade them to carry on reading the article to find out more about the show. The example in the article above is: Seriously Funny
Succeeding the headline is a subheading which gives a brief sentence about the article and the program itself usually using emphatic language to persuade to carry on reading article and more importantly watch the show. This is a useful technique because the reader will know from this subheading whether the program is for them or not. The example in the article above is: The Last Leg began as an irrelevant comedy show about disability - five years later, it's a political big hitter
Following the subheading is the opening paragraph. This opening paragraph briefly explains what the show is about and what it will explore. The rest of the article will usually contain more information about the show and may focus on a certain topic of the documentary.In some articles, the writers interview the producers about their thoughts on the documentary, giving their take on their documentary.
The final paragraph summarizes the whole article on the TV documentary in our case and finishes with the writers name who wrote the article. At the bottom right of the first page and bottom left of the second page is RadioTimes & the date the issue is for.
Final Design draft in the making
We were much more focused on the conventions of a double page spread and it looks more like double page spread you'd see in the RadioTimes magazine. We implemented the convention of the TV show name, date, time and channel being put in the top left hand corner. We made each page have three columns of writing of equal width. As well as this we added margins on the left-hand side of the page. This makes the article easier to read. Our off-white background colour (cream) for the article makes it easy for people to read. However in this draft, the heading and subheading are in an awkward position leaving a lot dead space. The main picture on the right is also not positioned like a normal RadioTimes magazine as it is starts in the middle of nowhere and isn't in line with anything therefore it doesn't professional. Furthermore in this draft all the text is all cramped up on the first page and would make the article difficult to read.
This is a screenshot of the finished product.
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