Ski Magazine - Butter

Magazine title:
Butter

Concept:

An interactive magazine with smartphone activated imagery

Images activated by Smartphone app 
Due to recent studies suggesting apps are replacing printed publications, my aim is to make sure that both platforms support one another and are equally as important

Details:

- Publication will include text and imagery about freestyle skiing

- The images can then be animated using the matching smartphone app

- concept allows for both digital and print aspects of publication to be used equally as apposed to one more than the other

- this way, print survives along side digital media.

- The printed publication will include exclusive content that can't be seen anywhere else

Research

I have chosen to call the magazine 'BUTTER' as it is the name of a freestyle trick that would be recognised by the intended target audience straight away.

The trick consist of a bend in the ski at the front or back when passing over a jump, knuckle or rail.

For the front cover, I aim to have a picture of the skis in action filling the spread.

I will then be using design principles I have learned this year along the way.

BUTTER imagery

Content

The content of the first volume of the magazine will be a showcase of ski photographers. I have tried to find high resolution examples to use.

Logo design

I've designed a quick and simple logo that is easily recognisable and can be translated onto multimedia platforms such as the smartphone app.

Layout and Composition

My aim was to keep the publication very simple and less crowded than the existing examples I found.

I used a 4 x 4 grid for the double page spreads and used a 3 x 3 for the front and back covers.

I've included information about the photographer as well as a QR code that directs the users smartphone to a website, video etc.

Smartphone App

The next step was to design the smartphone app that would work along side the magazine to create a multimedia magazine.

The thumbnail icon would be the logo itself.

I made a mock up to show how the app would work. The app has a number of different sections including videos, images, and portfolios. There is also a link to the phone camera in order to scan QR codes and smart images.

Magazine Exploration

The Downfall of the printed publication

I did some research into the usage and popularity of magazines over the past few years. The results are shown below.

Numbers of readers of printed publications have taken a huge hit over the past couple of decades. The internet and smart phones are taking over how we receive our news and info. 

Magazines

throughout my written essay, I talk about the evolution of magazines and how the magazines of today try to survive in the predominantly digital age.

The most effective way that these magazine have done it is to bring out a smart phone application that supports the magazine.

This app is usually just a digital alternative to the magazine, sharing content and layout. This allows people to read the magazine on their phones where ever they may be. This is effective for boosting reader numbers, however it means that people will download the app and not even think of buying the print copy.

So having an application is one solution that works in someways, but not in others.

Existing Magazine & Newspaper Apps

New York Times

Buzz Feed

The Daily Beast

My Concept

My own magazine & matching application concept deals with this issue. What I aim to create is an app that is only activated by the magazine itself. This means that the application will be no where near as useful without the print magazine to activate the images.

This will lead people to buy both the publication in print form and download the app to SUPPORT the magazine instead of replace.

In doing this, the magazine will have a both a strong print and digital presence.

Above is a screen grab from a video I found online showcasing a similar concept to the one I am creating.

The above application allows people to have printed photos in and around their house, along with other uses such as with newspapers, that are then activated with an iPhone app. The photos then come to life on the phone screen.

My application will be similar to this, however its uses will be specifically for the publication.

Behance Projects

For inspiration on editorial design, I've looked at a number of existing examples of ski publications that have a strong consideration for design and that I would ideally like my magazine to look similar too

Examples I will be taking influences from include:

Resort Brochure for the ski resort Le Grand Bornand

Published by French designer 

The brochure consists of 3 parts. Each part being a different format. All evoking the idea of ​​expansion, exponential happiness. This sequential cutting, leaving partially appear photography background, invites you to discover, to the surprise.

Newschoolers.com magazine

An annual compilation of the most popular pictures, videos, forum threads and news stories from the past year, produced into a high-quality collectible magazine masterfully curated by a massive community of passionate skiers.

I am a big fan of the combination of colourless images with brightly coloured text over the top. It results in a highly eye catching title page.

The small detail of the skier doing a flip over the road, over the text, is another detail I admire about the design. It gives the reader a good idea of the contents from the get-go.

Ski resort journal

Strong combination of text and large high-resolution imagery.

Interactive Magazine

Interactive Magazine

Integrating print with smart phone technology

For my body of practical work for this module, I have been brainstorming and researching ideas of how to combine both print and digital media.

In my previous blog, I came across a genius idea of an interactive print platform that is activated on a smart phone. This gave me the idea to produce something similar to this in the form of a publication or poster.

The design would include still images that, when hovered over by a smart phone, come to life and play a video or song.

Music Magazine

My first idea was to take an already existing music magazine such as Rolling Stone magazine and design a spread that can be activated by a smart phone. The image would send a message to the phone and would play the video or song out of the smart phone.

Developing on from this, I then had the idea to combine the magazine with an iPhone app. This would expand the concept and allow further exploration into web app design.

Sports Publication

Another idea is to produce a sports magazine, maybe football, that would have a similar concept of the interaction between smart phone and print.

The publication would be monthly and would have all highlights and other videos included but would be freeze frames from them. The smart phone app would then recognise the photo and immediately start playing the video on the screen.

This magazine would combine reading and watching through print and digital media.

Ski Magazine

As a big passion and interest of mine is skiing, I've had the idea to produce the publication on the extreme sport.

I have begun researching existing ski magazines. I have found that they are all very similar to one another in their use of text, imagery, layout and colour.

They're generally a bit chaotic, filled with differing typefaces and action-shot imagery. The composition is a bit haphazard and there doesn't seem to be a clear consideration for the use of grids.

Snow Magazine

Snow magazine is an example of a publication that sticks out from the rest a bit more than some others.

The magazine includes ski and related lifestyle articles. The magazine is aimed at the more affluent audiences that typically go on ski holidays and this is evidenced in the editorial design.

Target Audience

The strong influence of target audience is something I will be exploring in my own design.

My magazine will be targeted at the younger skiers. This will influence the imagery and content used.

I have chosen this target audience as it is most suitable for the combination of print and smart phone app. The app will be more widely used amongst younger skiers.