week 9 post 2

 After weeks of planning, designing, writing, and editing... my fashion magazine is finally finished! It feels kind of amazing to hold something that I made from start to end. I still can’t believe it’s real. When I opened the final version in InDesign, I just stared at it for a few minutes. Every page looked so clean and organized. The colors matched, the fonts felt stylish, and the photos popped. I thought, Wow—I actually made this!

I really overall loved how this came out and how much I learned using Adobe InDesign. All the different tools were fun to explore, and I was able to understand how to use them firsthand. I feel like I got a strong understanding of how to actually create a magazine—from planning the content to designing it—and how to make it connect with a certain audience.

I think one of the coolest parts was being able to take my ideas and turn them into real pages. I learned how to arrange text and images, choose styles that match a fashion theme, and make it all look neat and stylish. It wasn’t always easy though. I struggled the most with formatting and figuring out where to place the cut-outs. Choosing the right color scheme and matching fonts also took a lot of thinking and testing.

But even with the challenges, I feel proud of how it turned out. The final product looks really nice and clean, and it shows how much time and effort I put into it. I think all the hard work was definitely worth it, and now I feel more confident if I ever want to design something like this again.

week 9 post 1

 Creating my fashion magazine was super fun—but it definitely didn’t come out perfect the first time. That’s where the editing and feedback part came in. This stage was all about taking what I already made and making it even better. I used Adobe InDesign to put everything together. At first, I thought it looked pretty cool. But once I stepped back and looked at it again—and shared it with a few people—I realized some things needed to change. Some pages looked a little too crowded or messy. InDesign makes it easy to move things around, so I changed how the text and pictures were placed. I gave some parts more space to “breathe” so they weren’t so squished.

I had a few fonts that didn’t match the fashion vibe I wanted. After getting some advice, I picked cleaner, more stylish fonts that looked more like real fashion magazines. It made everything feel more professional.I used some bright colors at first, but they didn’t really fit the overall look. I switched to more neutral tones and pastels that felt softer and more elegant—just like the mood I wanted the magazine to have. My friends told me which pages were their favorites and which ones were confusing. One friend said a photo was really cool but kind of got lost in the background, so I made it bigger to let it stand out.

creative criticial reflections

 Now that I finally have my magazine finished, I will be answering some very important questions relating to it in creative ways.     

1. How does your product use or challenge conventions and how does it represent social groups or issues?

I answered this question in a podcast format, explaining how my magazine challenges conventions and how it represents social groups and issues. 

Hi everyone, and welcome back to the Fashion-Forward 2025 podcast. Here, we delve into the background of the fashion-forward 2025 movement, how it originated, and its future developments, and address any questions you may have. Today, we will explore how the fashion-forward 2025 movement challenges conventions and represents various social groups and issues. To provide some context, I designed this magazine as a blend of beauty, fashion, and lifestyle.  Inspired by renowned magazines such as Forbes and ELLE, I aim to present young teenage girls in a fashionable light while inspiring younger girls. My magazine draws inspiration from the recent trend known as the " clean girl aesthetic, “which emphasizes self-care and self-love.

 Although this trend originated on social media, I embraced it throughout my magazine because it fosters a healthy mindset, healthy habits, and a healthy lifestyle- something I believe is a challenge for girls in today's world due to social media. Given the society we live in today, I advocate for body positivity and diverse beauty standards by featuring girls in my magazine with varied appearances, including different body shapes, ethnicities, and abilities that challenge conventional ideals of beauty. In the subsequent pages of my magazine, I showcase unedited photos to counteract the unrealistic beauty standards perpetuated by social media and advertising. I also highlight inspiring women to share their personal stories about self-acceptance and confidence. Throughout my magazine, I consistently feature encouraging gender-fluid fashion, breaking the stereotypes that dictate certain clothing is exclusive to specific genders. I wanted my magazine to be inclusive of all genders. Although my title is Her Era, I still included pages that portray girls in roles traditionally occupied by men, showcasing them in fashion-forward, non-traditional attire. 

Another great part about this magazine that helped to break regular societal norms and conventions is that it addresses mental health and the well-being of young adolescent people in our world. Normalizing conversations about anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphia helps resonate with teenagers and helps to inform them in a creative way that these things are not taboo and can be spoken about safely.  Providing self-care tips and real stories from young people navigating mental health challenges also helps to break society, norms, and conventions in my magazine. All the tips and tricks that I’ve included in my magazine help to build girls, confidence and boys’ confidence to be OK with their bodies, to help make themselves feel better and look better. I believe that looking good and feeling good is a healthy mindset that a bunch of young adolescent people should follow because it helps to build confidence, self-worth, and love. 

 

That’s why, in Her Era, we make it our priority not to influence people to look a certain way but to brace their uniqueness and their unique beauty by giving them tips and tricks. I think that my magazine is very accepting of all aspects of beauty, as well as unrestricted to boundaries such as financial stability, as we include expensive and non-expensive options regarding makeup products, beauty products, skincare products, and dupes that all ranges of people could purchase. I think that’s something that a bunch of girls struggle with when they’re young, trying to be someone they’re not at such a young age, meaning trying to grow up so fast without appreciating the beauty that they have at their age. I included pages in my magazine that are targeted at even younger girls to help them feel comfortable in their skin and accept themselves as young women.  I love the final product of this magazine and how amazing and impactful it can be in our modern-day world. In her era, we hope to continue breaking social norms as our magazine gets put on a wider stage. if you guys have any questions or would like to be featured on our podcast on Instagram, her era, remember, self-love, and confidence will lead you to success!! 

https://youtube.com/shorts/0bGfKzVhjR0?feature=share

2. How did you integrate technologies-software, hardware, and online-in this project?

I answered this question through an infographic which I explained each technological aspect of the processes I used to put my magazine together. Here is a picture of my infographic. 

3. How did your production skills develop through this project?

I answered this question through a canva presentation in which I went through the different aspects of my magazine, the difficulties I faced, and how I overcame them. I added pictures of the slides and added a link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1n4aXCLt60HnO-s4EpiC5q2T7xq1NxAoZ/view?usp=sharing

here is a quick video of my explaning and introdcuing my presentation i xreated to answer the question , "How did your production skills develop through this project? :

https://youtube.com/shorts/NxkMd2ux6lk?si=OcgEhJngqwQV5HZ0

4. How does your product engage with audiences and how would it be distributed as a real media text?

I answered this question through a media kit in which I went into detail about how I would give my target audience options to include their photos, and videos, and get further access to my magazine.  

 

 

Creating the magazine- BLG WK 8 POST 2

Hello! This week's blog post is about the final stages of my magazine. I finally think that I have the photos I need for my magazine. I've already done all the research that I need and collected including interview content, product research, color, research, lighting, research, and designing research, I've began to use in Indesign to create the cover of my magazine, for which I will provide photos below to demonstrate the progress of the cover. I really like the cover of my magazine because I think that it gives a really sophisticated, classy, and elegant look.

 I think that I was able to convey this by using a stylistic font that resembles very famous magazines such as Vogue and ELLE. I also think that the outfit that my model is wearing helps to convey a sophisticated and elegant look. The contrast between black and white, and the use of no vibrant colors, I believe, also helps to that classy look. I wanted to use a red color for the masthead and the subtitles because I think that it helps to mark the professionalism in contrast with my color palette. I used inspiration from research that I did on magazine covers, specifically from Vogue, of my magazine; it also helps, and I've seen that they use this feature in a majority of their magazine covers to add more creativity and liveliness to the cover. 

The photo below is the picture I'm gonna be using for my magazine cover. My model's name is Celina Grindey. She is wearing black jeans from Edikted, a very popular clothing store among the teenage population in America. Her top is from another very popular clothing store named Garage. This outfit, I believe, is very stylish. 

Interview Content- BLOG WEEK 8- Post 1

 Good interview content for a fashion magazine should include both personal stories and professional opinions. It’s important to learn about the interviewee’s background, what inspired them, and how they got into the fashion industry, along with their creative process and design ideas. Asking about current trends, the future of fashion, and their thoughts on diversity and sustainability adds more depth to the interview. Talking about challenges they’ve faced and how they’ve overcome them can provide helpful lessons. Additionally, asking about their personal style, favorite fashion influences, and goals for the future helps readers connect with the interviewee on a personal level.    

Here are some interview questions that I will be asking my target audience to include in my 2-page spread: 

What beauty products do you use every day, and why do you love them?

How do you describe your personal fashion style?

What’s your go-to outfit when you want to feel confident?

Which fashion or beauty trends are you most excited about right now?

How do you decide which beauty or skincare products to buy?

Do you follow any influencers or celebrities for fashion and beauty inspiration? If so, who?

What makes you feel the most beautiful or confident when getting ready?

Are there any brands or stores you always shop at for fashion or beauty products?

How do you feel about sustainability in fashion and beauty? Is it important to you when choosing products?

What type of makeup or skincare products do you think every girl should have in her collection?

Product Research- BLG WK SEVEN POST 3

 In researching products for my fashion, lifestyle, and beauty magazine, I looked into what products women like and which brands they trust. By using surveys, market research, and trend analysis, I found that women tend to choose products that are high-quality, easy to use, and actually work. Popular beauty brands like Fenty Beauty, Estée Lauder, and Glossier are known for their wide range of shades and creative formulas. In fashion, brands like Zara, H&M, and Nike are favorites because they offer trendy styles at affordable prices.

I really love this layout for product display because it highlights what's in the "bag" of a famous beauty and fashion icon. It's a fun and creative way to show off products. The items are spread all across the page in an interesting and playful way, making it visually engaging. The use of girly, appealing colors adds to the overall charm. I also feel that brands carefully choose certain colors and styles of products to attract and connect with their target audience, making the ad even more effective and appealing.

I like this display of products in their magazine because they feature popular items that girls today are constantly using. Even though all the products in the display are beauty-related, I think I can do something similar for fashion products. I could use cut-out pictures of clothing and accessories to create a stylish fashion spread. This approach would allow me to highlight trendy pieces in a fun and visually appealing way, just like they did with the beauty products.

This last display is a combination of lifestyle and beauty products, which I really love because it's labeled "Cheap Thrills." This title immediately tells the audience that the products are affordable, making them accessible to a wide range of girls. It’s a smart way to appeal to those who want great products without breaking the bank, and the label helps create a fun and inviting vibe. The mix of lifestyle and beauty items also makes the spread more relatable, showing that these products can easily fit into everyday life.

Ad Research - BLOG WK SEVEN POST 2

03/08/2025

 While researching ads for my fashion, lifestyle, and beauty magazine, I looked into how women react to different types of advertisements and found that certain features appeal to them the most. Studies and market research show that women prefer ads that are relatable, inspiring, and visually attractive. Advertisements that include diverse representation and create an emotional connection tend to be more effective because they feel more real and trustworthy. In the fashion and beauty industries, luxury and aspirational branding catch attention, especially when they combine style with usefulness. Learning about these preferences has helped me choose ads for my magazine that connect with the audience while keeping the overall look and theme consistent.

#1

I really like how the editor arranged the ads in the magazine. The big, bold masthead instantly catches the reader’s attention and adds energy to the layout, making each ad stand out. The mix of bright yet classy colors, stylish fonts, and well-organized layouts makes each ad look visually appealing. The way the pictures and text are placed creates a smooth flow, guiding the reader’s eyes naturally across the page. The blend of trendy visuals and creative design makes the ad display both effective and beautiful.

The layout the editor chose for the magazine gives the entire page a soft, girly vibe with pink tones, which I really like. I also enjoy how they feature a famous fashion figure and then include ads for the products she uses to achieve her look. I think this works really well because it helps make the products feel more relatable and desirable. For my two-page spread, I would love to use this style too. I believe that younger girls are often influenced by what famous social media personalities use, so showing them the products used by someone they admire could really catch their attention and make them want to try those products.

This spread and layout of the ads remind me a lot of the second layout I talked about earlier in my blog, but it feels more geared toward younger girls, especially from the 2016-2017 fashion era. The fonts and styling of the ads really capture the vibe of that time period. I love this layout just as much as the second one and think it would be perfect for my advertisement in my magazine. The look is trendy, fresh, and speaks to the audience I want to reach, so I’m excited to use this format for my spread.