Factors To Consider When Developing Our Print Advert and Album Cover

Title & Typeface
The title often dominates for obvious reasons. But we should also consider the type/style of the typeface and font, and the colours used for it.

• Title or main font and typeface on the text.
• Size(s) of the text • Positioning of the font and typeface
• Type of font and typeface used
• Colour(s) of the typeface(s)
• Any logos or distinctive graphics used

Copy and Anchorage (Written Language)
Tag-lines often accompany adverts or copywriting for products. They may also have acclaim and reviews on albums or products. There might also be a website address so you can find out more about the product.

• Any prominent tags or slogans and your interpretation of these
• What is the layout/format of the text? • Consider MES: Lighting, props, costume, performance.posture, location.
• Image photography. Consider framing, camera angle, shot size, MS, CU etc
• Any intertextuality in the images(s). Borrowings from other media texts.

Representation
Who is featured in the text? Are they well known stars? Are they a key selling point for the text? We should also consider representation of the people featured in the text. Look for archetypes, stereotypes and generic types, and any attempts at realism. Remember who your target audience are and the representations need to appeal to them. Consider age, gender, class, race, and media forms & language used to create representations and the values that are attached to these representations.

Genre
We must consider whether our advert suggests a genre of music, as this will help us to define the target audience of the industry behind the adverts. Also, we should decide how clear the genre is going to be in the text and what generic elements we will use.

Narrative
Will the text contain a suggested storyline, sometimes known as a narrative image, that will draw the audience's interest to the text? Sometimes the text will tease us with questions creating a mystery or an enigma. This image may be backed or aided by a tagline or some copywriting such as "just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water."

Institution
The institution behind the band needs to be considered. Are they on a huge label and trying to sell the artist to the widest possible audience or a tiny independent label where the band will have more control?

Ideology
What is the ideology and the messages and values we want to project? This could be the idea of the hero, good versus evil, capitalism, true love, ideas towards the typical family, youth and vibrancy etc. Audience A very important part of developing our print pieces are who our target audience are, and profile them and give reasons for the decisions we make on our target audience. We must think about demographics, socio-economics, VALS, labels, and also our audience size and how we will appeal to them using media language.