Statement of Intent

 How do you intend to use the four areas of the media theoretical framework to communicate meaning and meet the requirements of your chosen brief?

My magazine is aimed at a 16–25-year-old audience and is inspired by contemporary youth fashion, digital culture, and a more creative, alternative, house style. The brand identity of my magazine will be established through a consistent, recognisable aesthetic communicated through colour palettes, fonts, and images. I will use a collage-style layout, experimental typography, and a mix of editorial and candid photography, inspired by conventional Gen Z fashion publications. The colour palette will consist of pastel pink, purple, and blue with bold, darker accents of navy blue. I also want to experiment with layering, cut-outs, and mixed textures to create a unique tone. My intended use of unconventional layouts communicates creativity, individuality, and trend awareness, which aligns with the expectations of a young, fashion-conscious audience. However, to remain conforming with conventions of magazines, I will ensure to include a clear masthead, cover lines, and a focused main image. In terms of representation, I intend to represent young people as expressive and self-defined rather than fitting into traditional fashion stereotypes. Drawing inspiration from my mood board, I will include models of different ethnicities, genders, and styles, promoting inclusivity and empowerment, themes that resonate with a Gen Z audience. Audience theory informs both the content and style of the magazine. According to Uses and Gratifications theory, my target audience will engage with the magazine for inspiration, identity formation, and escapism. I will address the audience directly through ‘trendy’ language and relatable topics, making them feel seen. The magazine will assume an active audience who enjoy decoding visual references and fashion trends, reinforcing a sense of belonging to a style-aware community. Industry considerations will shape the magazine’s format and branding. My magazine will follow conventions of existing youth fashion magazines while offering a more niche, trend-forward identity to stand out in a competitive market. The design will also be suitable for cross-platform promotion, acknowledging how magazines now function alongside social media to reach and maintain audiences.

To approach my magazine website, I studied existing fashion magazine websites such as British Vogue, i-D, and Conde Nast. This led to me to an understanding of codes and conventions of websites such as easily accessible layouts, 2-3 fonts, and headers leading to additional pages. Websites also use images to enhance stories and display fashion trends, making the sites more visually interesting. Furthermore, fashion websites include links to popular social media sites such as Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, and Spotify. This allows viewers to access additional content from the company and makes the website more interactive. As a result, I intend to include these in my website to attract audiences.