Double Page Spread

I have chosen to analyse this double page spread as I would like to recreate something similar in terms of layout for my magazine. A large pull-out quote has been placed at the top of the page in an sans serif font, making it appear visually dynamic for the intended target audience, which are of a youthful demographic. The colour scheme is quite limited, consisting of Red, black and white. The simplicity of the black in the background with the bold red in the writing creates a contrast that makes the page stand out. There are also a variety of pictures used that contain a variety of camera angles. As well as the main mid-shot, there are close-up ups at the bottom. This is something that is very effective and I will be including a range of pictures in my double page spread. The banner at the right end of the page provides more information for the reader and sticks to the same colour scheme of red and white. A two-column layout has been used so that there is a balance between the writing and the pictures. This particular double page spread is less wordy, suggesting that its target audience are young people who prefer pictures to reading.

Q Double Page Spread

The following is a Double page spread from Q magazine that I will be analysing. The first thing that the reader's notice on the double page spread is the extreme close-up of 50 Cents face. The emphasis on his face draws in attention and lets the readers know that the article will be about him. The page has also been divided into two separate  areas to create a contrast. The pullout quote at the bottom of the page strikes a reaction from the readers as something controversial or bold is usually put to intrigue the readers. In this case, the quote entices the reader to read the article, as they want to discover more about him 'getting shot'. I will be using this convention in my magazine as I feel that giving snippets of the article is an important feature within a double page spread. A Serif font has been used for the headline, which adds a sense of maturity to the magazine as 50 Cent is known to be an older and more established artist.  It is also in a large size to draw in the reader’s attention. His name '50 Cent' has been coloured in green so that it stands out from the other bits of the text. Also, 'hell' has been written in an italic font for effect. This is because the language is informal as it is a form of slang whereas the rest of the headline is in formal language. This makes the headline stand out and gives an insight into the type of language that will be used within the main text. A double column layout has been used so that the page seems balanced in terms of writing and pictures. Overall, there are a variety of conventions that Q's double page spread displays that I will use when designing my magazine. 

Draft Contents Page Template

The above image is the proposed layout for the Contents page that we have constructed based on the verbal feedback of our market research. Our research indicated that although we are sticking to a theme colour, it is important to incorporate other colours to give the magazine a vibrant feel. The contents page appears fresh, colourful and dynamic.

I have adapted conventional elements into this sketch, as well as having rough ideas of bringing originality to this magazine. I now need to work on choosing appropriate magazine features that will appeal to my target audience, and interest them.

Kerrang Contents Page

I will be analysing Kerrang magazine contents page. Kerrang focuses on rock, which is clearly seen from the pictures on the contents page. The first thing that the reader notices is the variety of colour presented on the page. Kerrang, in the same way as Q, sticks to a colour theme (of Yellow, Black and White) but also has incorporated other colours onto the page, making it appear more lively and eye-catching. The main image takes up most of the page and is very effective due to the British flag being held by members of the band. This also suggests who the target audience are people in Britain. All the people in the image are making direct contact with the readers, making it more personal and relatable. Both the words 'Contents' and 'This Week' have been highlighted in yellow, adding a pop of colour to the magazine, and abiding to the colour scheme. The top half of the page also contains pieces such as a double page spread from within the magazine. Page references have also been placed by these to indicate where they are located. This has been done so readers receive a glimpse of the magazine so they know what they will be reading.

The bottom half of the magazine contains an editorial. This is something that I would like to use in my magazine as I feel that it adds a more personal touch to the magazine as there is some interaction between the editor and reader. This is a typical convention of a magazine, which is very appealing to the readers. The headlines are all in a bold font, with black and yellow contrast so that they stand out. There are also more pictures such as Henry Rollins. This makes the contents page more alive and more visually appealing to the reader. Unlike the previous contents page that I have analysed, Q magazine, this one is less wordy and more visual, therefore catering to a target audience who may prefer images to words.

The words ‘5 posters’ has been highlighted and outlined in a red colour. This graphic work adds to the visual appearance of the page and makes the magazine seem less serious, catering to a younger target audience. There is also a competition on the right-hand side of the page. This captivates the reader’s attention and persuades them to purchase the magazine. In effect, this is a marketing method to convince people to buy the magazine, which has proven successful with many other magazines, and is therefore a common convention of a contents page. The competition is linked to the genre as readers have the chance to win a rock star's ‘bandana’. This is very important when including a competition on the contents page as it must show a clear link between the theme of the magazine and the prizes offered.

 Overall, the Kerrang contents page includes many codes and conventions that I will be incorporating into my contents page in order to produce a successful piece.

 

Q Contents Page

I have chosen to analyse Q contents page as I wish to create something similar for my magazine. The layout is very simplistic, which makes it very easy to read. The font used for 'Contents' is again very simple; sticking to the theme and so is the writing. There is only one main image that takes up most of the space on the page, which is a mid-shot of a band that helps to emphasise that this is the main feature within the magazine. It also instantly catches the reader’s attention and adds to the 'rock' feel of the magazine. A smaller image has been used at the bottom of the page in order to give the readers an insight into the magazine. The colour scheme consists of Red, White and Black. These colours all stand out as they contrast. Although only three colours are used, the page looks relatively colourful due to the bursts of red colour on the headlines, which capture the reader’s attention and make it easier for them to navigate around the page. For my contents page, I will be sticking to limited colours; so far these are- Red, Black, Blue and White. I believe that these will create the same effect. A page reference has been pulled out of the side and placed onto the main picture. This is effective as the reader knows what page to go to in order to read about the main feature- The Courteeners.

Audience Survey

We created a survey for our audience to fill out. Using the information and feedback we received , we were able to incorporate this into our production process.

NME Front Cover Analysis