The front cover analysis summarizes the key design elements of a magazine cover. It notes that the bold sans-serif typography conveys power and strength for the artist, while a pull quote uses serif font to suggest femininity. The central image of the artist grabs attention and cover lines are positioned to maximize selling potential. White and blue text pops against the background image and tie into the makeup of the featured artist. The close-up image further establishes the artist as powerful yet approachable.
Front Cover Analysis of Q Magazine Typography, Layout, Colour, Image and Language
1. Front Cover Analysis
Typography- The typographyusedisfunand boldwhichis
conventional tothe genre thatitis representing.The use of
Capital andboldfontalso connotesthe artistas powerful
and strong.MainlySansserif fontisusedthroughoutthe
frontcover withone exceptionof apull quote from
Florence’interview withQmagazine.The pull quotethatis
usedrepresentsthe artistasmore vulnerable aserif fontis
usedforthispull quote.Serif fontconnotesfemininityand
femininitystereotypicallyconnotesweaknessmakingthe
use of serif fontappropriate forthispull quote.
Layout- The layoutof the magazine gravitatesaroundthe
central image whichattracts the reader’sattention.The
coverlinesare positioneddowneitherside of the magazine
especiallythe leftsideasthismaximisessellingpotential as
whenadvertisedthisthe reader’sfirstviewof the product.
All Standfirstsare positionedbelow the coverlinesgiving
more insightintothe contentsof eachpage.The Headline
ispositionedinthe toprightcornerof the magazine using
the route of the eye to attract the reader’sattention.
Colour- White andblue are the maincoloursusedforthe
texton the page,bothfittinginwiththe house style of q
magazine.White contrastswiththe backgroundimage to
helpthe textpopfromthe page.The blue tiesinwiththe
mise-en-scene of the coverandthe makeupof the artist.
The Masthead isconventionallyredasalwayswithq,the
colourstandsout fromthe page and immediatelyattracts
the reader’sattention.
Image- The close upimage of Florence furthersuggeststhe artistaspowerful.The artistismakingeye contactwiththe
readerwhichconnotesthe artistas somewhatintimidating,howeverherhandpositioningsuggestsfemininityand
softness.Bothof these fitthe conventionsof the popgenre asthe artist isportrayedas bothpowerful yetapproachable.
The makeupof the artistcomplimentsthe typographyandcolourscreatinganoverall funandcontemporaryhouse style.
Language- The language isinformal whichfitsthe conventionsof the popgenre.Rhetorical questionsare usedtointrigue
the readerand make themwantto read furtherintothe magazine ’Dance geniusornoisygit?’ Alliterationisused‘heroin,
hookersandhair metal’toalsocreate eye-catchingandattractingtitlesthatcause the readerto wantto knowmore.This
taboolanguage suchas ‘hookers’alsofitsQ’sedgyanddaring house style.
2. Typography- The typographyof the contentspage isboldsans
serif whichgivesthe contentsmagazineanedgyandcurrentfeel
whichfitswithQ’shouse style.
Layout- The majorityof the page is takenup by a picture of one
of the feature articlesinthe magazine,the lefthandsize is
dominatedbythe contentslisting.The bottomrightof the
contentspage has the review sectionandabannerrunsacross
the top of the page.All sectionsof writingare insquaresor
rectanglesgivingthe magazine anedgyandcontemporaryfeel.
The use of consistentrectanglesandsquaresalsogivesthe
magazine anorderedandconsistentfeel whichshowsitis
aimedat an olderaudience.
Colour- The coloursusedare black,white andredall of which
are boldandstrikingcolours,fittinginwithQ’sedgyandvibrant
house style.Textiscolouredblackona white background,these
twocontrastingcoloursallow the texttobe shownmore clearly
to the reader.The image isdark and the coloursin the image
have low saturationwhichgivesthe contentspage adark and
gloomyfeel.ThiscomplimentsQ’ssomewhatgrungyfeel/vibe
and appealstoQ’s demographicaudience.
Image- The image hasa lowsaturationwhichfitsinwithq’sdarkhouse style.The bandrepresentedare all also
makingeye contactwiththe readerwhichmakesthemappearintimidatingwhichisstereotypical toQmagazine
and the waytheyrepresenttheirbrand.
Language- The language usedinthe standfirstsgrabs the attentionof the readerandthe use of ellipsiscauses
the readerto be intriguedandluresthemintoreadingthe magazine article.The language isinformalandmature
whichsuitsthe more mature demographicaudience.Pull quotesare usedtogive the readeraninsightintothe
articlescontentsanddrawattention.