Enterprise Task 1: Who am I - Who are they?

To begin this task, I first sat down and drew a mind map of all the different sectors that use Graphic Design that I could think of that I could possibly see myself working within or doing this task on.

The areas of design that I really like and where my interests are are:

• type
• print
• publishing/editorial

For this task, the area that I have decided to do it on is publishing. This is because I think from the 3 this is the most appropriate one to choose.

Publishing

I have a strong interest within type and layout, and I am very particular when it comes to detail which is what I think is needed within publishing in order to produce something that is not only appropriate, but also effective.

Within type and layout skills which are needed within publishing, it is important not to only know them, but to understand them too. Knowing the difference between how to make a layout look friendly and how to make a layout look intense is something that not all designers particularly know how to do, or not effectively enough in some cases. This is a skill that I do believe I have developed quite a bit already throughout the type module that I am doing, but is also something that I am keen on pushing further. Using type is basically speech as a written form, and achieving the right tone of voice within anything that uses it is what is key to is being effective. You wouldn't whisper something that needs shouting from the rooftops, so why would you use type in that way either?

My professional/creative aims are to push my skills within type and layout so that I produce work that is to the best that it can be every time I do something as I believe this is the difference between every day design and outstanding design. This relates well within the publishing industry as it is important to speak to the readers with a tone of voice that they can relate to which would ultimately keep them coming back to the publication, whether it be a book or a magazine. If a layout uses a tone of voice that seems as though the publication is talking down to the reader, or seems a little patronising in anyway then this can potentially damage the way that it is perceived in the future.

Two distinct examples of this that have the same responsibilities but different audiences to work with are:

Creative Review

Product: Creative Review is the leading magazine for visual communication which was launched back in 1990 who now have subscribers in over 80 countries and readers online in over 120. The aim of CR is to inspire, inform and stimulate among their readers in graphic design, advertising, digital media, illustration, photography and all other fields of visual communication worldwide.

Price: The price for a copy of Creative Review from a store/online purchase is £6.50. To subscribe to the magazine the price is £12.80 for 3 issues (saving £6.70), £71 for 12 issues (saving £7.00), and £119 for 24 issues (saving £37).

Place: Creative Review is available to buy from magazine stockists such as WH Smiths and art galleries such as Tate. It is also available on subscription which can be ordered online through their website, and then each month the latest copies are delivered straight to peoples doors.

Promotion: Creative Review is the leading magazine for visual communication, and basically every one within the creative industry knows about it - ultimately meaning they don't really have to go out of their way to promote themselves. For similar magazines to CR though, they would usually promote themselves within similar magazines, as well as on each others website through web banners. Creative Review offer all of these to other publications at a price both within their magazine and on their website.

Heat Magazine 

Product: Heat is a British entertainment magazine launched in 2004. It is now one of the biggest selling magazines in the UK, with a regular circulation of over half a million. It is a mix of celebrity news, gossip, beauty advice and fashion, primarily aimed at women, although not as directly as in other woman's magazines. It also featured movie and music reviews, TV listings and major celebrity interviews.

Price: The cost of the magazine from a shop is £1.65. To subscribe to the magazine, you can either subscribe for 1 year which would give you 51 issues at £60 (saving £24), or you can get a rolling yearly subscription at £51 a year for 51 issues a year (saving £33 per year)

Place: Heat magazine is available to buy in all news agents, and supermarkets all over the UK.

Promotion: Heat promote themselves using web banners and things such as TV adverts to raise awareness towards their magazine, usually highlighting this weeks 'hottest topics' and what not.