Researching and Designing Mastheads

To create a good magazine, it's logo has to be recognised. For example, any brand, magazine or not, needs its own identity, or people wouldn't buy it. Here are some examples:

 Before I started thinking about names, I wanted to be sure about the Gothic genre. After researching. I found out a lot about this genre:

• Goth music (also known as Goth Rock) grew from the ties it had with English punk-rock in the late 1970s
• It combines dark, heavy music often with depressing lyrics
• It deals with dark themes, addressed through the lyrics and musical atmosphere
• The lyrics exhibited literary romaticism, morbidity, religious sybolism and supernatural mysticism
• Typical gothic fashion includes dyed black hair, black lips, black clothes, black eyeliner and dark fingernails

I also researched the previous Goth bands who could influence my magazine:

• Bauhaus
• Siouxsie and the Banshees
• The Cure
• The Sisters of Mercy
• The Cult
• The Damned

Once I finished researching, I brainstormed a list of possible names for my magazine. As the genre is Gothic, I tried to stay within the "dark" and "creepy" theme. Names like "Bleak" and "Ink" were possible outcomes. I then decided on "Phase", as for a lot of Goths, this type of genre is just a phase in their lives that they will move on from at some point. I eventually moved on from that, as I wasnt too sure of the title. I brainstormed all my ideas onto paper.

 I then thought of "Resurrect". I think this is a good choice, as it has a double meaning; the first, could be interpreted that Goth music is making a comeback ie. being resurrected. The second is that alot of Goths are associated with Death and Graveyards etc. so resurrect would make a good masthead. Once I decided on this title, I sketched a couple of ideas.

I then went on Dafont.com and chose a font that I thought would work with the conventions of my magazine. I found "Nightmare 5", which I thought suited the Goth genre quite well.



I then opened Paint and used the paintbrush tool to edit the image. I decided I wanted to fill in the gaps in each letter, so used the paintbrush to cover them. I also wanted it to be more "block-like", so I drew around each letter until I was satisfied. I extented the stalk of the "T" so it looked like a crucifix and filled it in with a dark purple colour. Goths have been associated with crosses and graveyards etc. so this seemed appropriate. This is my final product: