This document discusses layout and design conventions for music magazine articles based on examples from NME magazine interviews of the Arctic Monkeys. Key points discussed include using a three-color scheme of black, white and red throughout articles to maintain the publication's house style. Images are typically edited to black and white and include small captions. Column layouts, drop quotes, sidebars with additional facts, and large headline images are employed to break up content and grab readers' attention.

1. PRODUCT RESEARCH
Melissa Storey

2. This is taken from NME
magazine, they use a lot of
images to show the band and
what they have been up to. I
like the way the biggest image
goes over to the second page
and then the other images are
like a timeline of what has
been going on during the tour.
The typical colours for NME:
black, white and red are all
used to keep the house style.
Important text is either
changed colour or in bold. This
splits up the text a bit so you
can read the article
better.
Common conventions of an interview/article include column style which this article does. This again makes
it easier to read as it looks like there isn't a huge block of text to read. It can also split topics up easier.
Dropping a quote in bold in the middle of the interview interests the reader to find out what and when this
quote was taken out. It is usually a grabbing quote that will induce the reader to find out more.
I like the idea of a side bar and how extra information, maybe not related to the interview, can be quickly
thrown at the reader, like a fact bar. It is usually something that will interest people, like grabbing quick facts
and figures. These are put into a bar that is separate from the interview.

3. This double page spread just has
one large image taking up a whole
page. I like the way the headline
goes across both of the pages. The
layout of this article is quite spaced
out at the top but lower down there is
quite a lot of information in a small
space.
Again red, black and white are all
used in the house style. These are
typical colours for a rock/indie
magazine and used all the way
through the NME magazine. Having
important names or quotes in the
standard red makes them stand out
quickly as well as keeping to the
house font.
The text is split into columns so it is easier to read. This article has a summary of the article before it starts.
This is blocked off by a red strip and underneath is the main
article.
It has a drop quote, personally I think this it too small or not placed in the right place to be a successful
drop quote, but maybe for a slight hint before going onto the next column it is good.
A small caption on the image tells you who the photograph is about, or who took it or a funny pun to go with
the article. These are only very small.

4. This is a special “World Exclusive” from NME
about the Arctic Monkeys. They designed a
simple but professional front cover which
leads onto lots for information about the
Arctic Monkeys and other indie British bands.
Again the typical NME house style is used:
black, red and white colour scheme. Bold or
a change of colour is used to highlight
important information like names.
Lots of images are used, they have all been
edited into black and white to make it look
professional and to a high standard. And it
keeps the whole page to the three colour
colour scheme. You can just see that there is
a drop quote, this splits up the content and
grabs attention to an important or exciting
part of the interview. Small captions on the
images describe what is going on in the
photographs and gives more details like who
is in the picture and what they are doing.
Depending on the magazine puns may be
included.

5. Large titles grab attention quickly.
I like the idea of sidebars
that’s give extra information
about the artist or band.
This could be facts and
figures about them or
information on singles and
albums. the can either be
placed on the right side of
the interview or in the
middle to break it up a bit.
Using one large image with small
pictures of the album or single
around the page I feel could be
more successful as there is more
space to use column text and create
a more professional layout.

6. NME
Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys
Main body
Main Body
Main Body
Main body
Drop Quote
Drop Quote

7. Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
NME
Arctic Monkeys Headline
Interview and Drop Quote
Interview
Sidebar
Quote/C
aption in
spaces

8. Picture
NME
Arctic Monkeys Headline
Interview and Drop Quote
Sidebar
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Quote/Caption in
spaces

9. Picture
NME
Arctic Monkeys Headline
Sub Headline
Interview
Sidebar

10. Picture
NME
Headline
Quote/Caption in
spaces
Sub Heading
Text

11. IDEA
 My interview would be placed in the British NME magazine. The Arctic
Monkeys feature in this magazine a lot already so there are a lot of existing
examples for me to look at and follow. The only problem with choosing NME
is it has a lot of different layouts. From looking at other interviews, depending
how big they are, if it is a main story, a smaller one or a special edition then
this could change the way they like to layout their interviews unlike other
magazine like Company or Cosmopolitan that stick to the same layout every
month. This will let me be more creative.
 I will stick to the NME house style and use the convention colours of red,
black and white. The main body font will be a serif font just like it is in the
magazine but the headers will be in san serif.
 The pictures will have small captions with them and I will possibly use black
and white images.