TOC Choices and Selections

Introduction. In this blog, I am going to look at two different TOC pages with original content, and start selecting which TOC I want to choose for the final product. When I was making these TOCs, I was looking at how it relates to the cover, the main article in the magazine, and how it connects to conventions of travel magazines. I used Canva to make these TOC pages, and used 8.5 x 11 dimensions for each page since it is the size of a magazine.

Mockup 1:

This is my first TOC mockup. This mockup is going with the conventions of travel magazines because it makes the magazine look like an actual travel magazine and looks more professional. I was going for a professional looking, and not too simple but not too complex TOC page. With this TOC page, I was originally planning on having an image as the background, and the white column on the left of the image. I put a bar under "Contents" and then I put all the information. This was purely a stylistic choice chosen to make my TOC page look better and more complete. This is because it takes up space which means that there is no empty space, and it does not look like my magazine is lacking any information. For the "World Travel," I decided to go with a slabs serif font. This is because it is gives a sense of power, and establishment. It makes people have trust in the magazine because it makes the magazine look more capable, and that the audience can trust the information inside. I also made the masthead bigger than everything else. This is to emphasize that this is the masthead, and at the same time that this magazine is about international travel because of the name "World Travel." I decided not to make it too bold because it was too big, and looked weird and out-of-place. I made it blue to match the color scheme (more about the color scheme below.) 

The "Contents" underneath the masthead is in a sans serifs font. This is because it is seen as more modern and cutting-edge. This makes the audience trust my magazine even more, because it seems more up-to-date, and recent. The "Contents" are smaller than the masthead so that it stays separate from the masthead. I also wanted it to stay separate from the headings, so I made it bigger than the headings. I did not make it bold because it is just there to guide the reader and indicate that it is a TOC, and is not to attract too much attention. I made it black to follow the color scheme, more about that is below.

The headings are also in a sans serif font. This is for the same reason as the "Contents," it is more recent and up-to-date. This especially makes sense for the headings because it shows that the writer was aware of recent events, and knows what locations are popular to travel to at the time the magazine was written. I made it bigger than the text underneath it. This is because it is supposed to be  distinguishable from the information underneath it. This is also a reason for it to be blue. I did not make it bold because it would take up too much room, and would not look good. The color scheme is talked more about below.

The information underneath the heading is also in a sans serif font. This is because I do not want to introduce too many new elements (fonts, colors, etc.) to my TOC page. This is a convention of travel magazines, as to not overwhelm the reader. It also looks straightforward, and creates a connection to the heading, since it is the same font. I kept the text small so that it looks like it is supposed to be under the heading, and I did make it bold because it would be too thin without it because of the font. This would make it too hard to see. The color is black, but the color scheme is talked about later. 

The numbers are a serif type of font that look a little decorative. This is because it boosts the mood of the reader, while also sending a mood of intellect to the reader. This makes the audience know that the magazine knows what is is talking about. It is also trustworthy and inviting, and this helps the audience trust my magazine, and makes the reader feel invited to read the magazine. I made it big so that it is clear that all the text is on that page number. I also made it bold so that it is big and it makes the text look like it is a subsection of the page number, which is what I was going for since the articles that the descriptors are talking about are on those page numbers. I made it gold to match the color scheme, talked more about below.

 The miscellaneous information at the bottom left is is in a sans serif font. This is because there is a website there, and is supposed to feel friendly to the audience so that they actually visit it. This helps the magazine to look more professional, especially since it is paired with the issue information. The issue information is in the same font as the link so that they look like a pair, and to not introduce a new font.

 The color scheme I chose is blue, white and gold. I chose this color scheme because in the image, there is a lot of blue for the sky. I wanted the masthead to stand out, and because of the blue sky, I made the masthead blue. This creates consistency and connects the TOC page together. I wanted the "Contents" to stay separate from the masthead, so I made it black. This is because it is easily visible with the white background, and creates contrast with the blue. I made the bar under the "Contents" blue because it connects back to the masthead. This helps to make the TOC page connect together. I made the headings blue because it makes the headings stand out from the text underneath. It also shows that the information under it is a subsection of the heading. This is also why the numbers are gold. It makes the text look like it is part of the page number (which it is) and also creates contrast with the black, and stands out on the white. I made the miscellaneous information at the bottom black because it is not supposed to attract too much attention, so I did not want to make it too flashy. 

I chose the image at the back because it has hot air balloons. This makes a direct connection to the cover, which is further emphasized with the color blue which is in both the cover and TOC page, and the color yellow which is in both. There is also some red which is in the cover. I put another image which is supposed to go on the right of the TOC spread. This is because I did not want to start the actual magazine next to the TOC because it would look weird, so I decided to put a picture. I put a picture of more hot air balloons in the same location because it looks like a continuation, and also connects to the cover. When creating the layout, I put the white column on the left side. This is so that it does not cover the hot air balloons on the right. I did not put it all the way to the left because this would make it look too open. I put the masthead on the top because ti shows that the all the information underneath it is part of the magazine, and is about international traveling. The headings are on top so that they have space, and the text is to the right of the column so that the page number can be on the left. This shows that the text is on the specific page number, and that page number is about the article that the heading reads. I put the miscellaneous information on the bottom left so that it stays out of the way, and does not attract attention. Design features you can easily recognize are not overwhelming the reader, the white column, the blue bar, and one image laid out on the back.

Mockup 2:

For my second TOC, I am using the conventions of travel magazines. This is so that my magazine actually looks like a travel magazine, and is more persuasive in making people want to read my magazine. This also makes my TOC page look more professional. I was going for a simple and minimalistic design, with an easy to read layout. For the "Contents" I decided to go with a sans serif font. I chose this because it is friendly and trustworthy. This will persuade the reader into reading my magazine because they will feel more welcome. I also made it bigger than everything else. This is because it is supposed to stay separate from the rest of the text, and is just there so that the reader knows that this is the TOC page. It being bigger also shows that the rest of the information underneath is all part of the TOC page. I did not bold the "Contents" because it would take up too much room, and look weird, especially with the smaller text around it. I put it on top because this is where readers will look first. I made it blue because it matches the sky. This creates a direct connection to the image, and makes the design look less simple. It also creates contrast to the dark colors underneath, which makes the entire TOC page pop out more. 

I made the page numbers dark green. This is because it matches the bushes, which helps to create that connection. I made all the page numbers the same color. This helps to create consistency throughout the TOC page. I made the page numbers in a sans serif font. I did this because it is more inviting for the reader, and creates a sense of trust. I made the numbers bigger than the text so that I could put the page numbers next to it. This makes it look like the heading and the text underneath is a subsection of the page number, which is what I was going for because it shows that this information is on that specific page number. I made the page numbers not too bolded because it would look too chunky with the font. I put the page numbers on the left side of the text instead of the right. This is because the original plan was to put it on the right, but it looked like the text on the right was for the page number, so I settled with putting the page numbers on the left. The page numbers I chose are 3, 5,7 ,1 15, and 19. This is because it gives each article adequate space to fit, using either two, or four pages. 

I made the headings black because it pairs with the dark green, is easily visible on the white, and creates contrast with the blue. This helps make the TOC page pop out. I put the headings in a sans serif font. This is because it pairs well with the other fonts in the white bar at the bottom. These fonts are also used for looking more modern. This will help me because readers will see my magazine as more up-to-date, and read it. I made it a little bit bigger than the text underneath it, but smaller than the "Contents" and the page numbers. This is because it being smaller than the page number and the "Contents" shows that it is part of the TOC, and is on that page number. I did not bold the headings because of space limitations. Bolding the headings would take up too much space and would require for me to make the font size of the headings smaller. I did not want to do this because it would look like it is part of the information underneath it. I put the headings on the top for obvious reasons. The text is part of the heading, and the heading is supposed to be the general title for the information. It is on the right of the page number to show that the headings and the text are all part of that specific page number. 

The information underneath is also put in black. This is because it is a convention of magazines to not introduce too many new colors or fonts as it would overwhelm the reader.  I put it in a sans serif font. This is because it pairs well with all the other text as they are all written in a sans serif font. Along with this, it looks more recent and up-to-date, which helps in making the reader trust my magazine, which this font also does. I made it smaller than the headings to make them look separate. Them being the same size would make it look as if they both are part of one body of text, which is not the case. I bolded this text because it was too thin not bolded, and was too hard to read. I put it underneath the heading to show that the information is part of the heading. This is true, as the heading is the general title for that specific text. For the same reason, it is to the right of the page number. It is to show that all the text is on that specific page number.

 The small miscellaneous information at the bottom is also black. This is because it is easy to read, and does not attract too much attention. It also creates contrast, so it helps to make the TOC page look better. This text is also smaller. This helps to stay hidden, and does not attract attention. It is bolded because it would be too small to read otherwise. I kept it on the bottom left to not attract attention. It was originally on the bottom right, but there was no space due to the text under the heading. The link and the issue information have the exact same properties (fonts, colors, size, etc.) so that they look like a pair. 

The bar I put on top of the white box is green. This is a stylistic choice, and the trees to the green to white box looks good, and creates a smooth transition. For the first image, I decided to put a brown heart with greenery in the background. I did this because it make the reader happier and lightens their mood. I decided to put the top part because it looks better than just showing the bottom, and it shows the actual heart. If I showed the bottom, it would not be clear if it were a heart. This is also in Turkey, the main article if my magazine. For the second image, I showed an image of another location in Turkey. This is because it connects to the main article, and the first image. When cropping it, I cropped it in a way to show the building with the greenery in the back as it shows the full image which shows the readers a good image of Turkey. I had to use two images because it would look weird if I started my spread right after the TOC. Because of this, I put another image to create a two-page TOC spread. Clearly recognized tips are not overwhelming the reader, the green bar, the page numbers on the left with the headings on top and text on the bottom, and the "Contents."

Conclusion. For both TOC pages, I followed the conventions of travel magazines. I went with an easy to read but complex design for the first TOC, but a simple design for the second TOC. I put page numbers that gave articles enough space to breathe. I sized the text based on what type of text they were. For example, the content and the masthead were the biggest, and the miscellaneous information the smallest. I also used specific fonts and colors to provoke certain emotions and feelings. I also included some stylistic choices such as the bar, and put all the information on a white box. I am planning on choosing the first TOC page. This is because it is more complex, and looks less crowded. It also utilizes more design features such as the gold page numbers, which makes it look good. It also connects to the cover with the hot air balloon pictures taken in Turkey.