The document analyzes magazine covers from various music publications to gather ideas for designing their own magazine cover. It examines aspects like font, layout, color scheme and how elements are used to draw attention or establish a magazine's brand. Key techniques noted are using bold colors that make text stand out, changing font size or style to emphasize important words, and incorporating stylistic elements that match the magazine's genre of music. The document considers both eye-catching and minimalist designs, and how to convey the magazine's purpose through visual cues.

1. CLOSE ANALYSIS OF
MAGAZINE COVERS

2. Mixmag
• The red of the headline and
sub heading makes these
parts stand out against the
white. The women's pose
and outfit further makes the
women seem imposing and
like a queen which would
match into the subtitle.
• This makes me consider this
colour scheme because it is
very eye catching which
would cause peoples
attention to drawn straight to
my magazine.

3. Metal Hammer
• The metallic design of the
headline matches the type
of music that the magazine
is displaying. The word
‘nightwish’ is written in a
very different font to the rest
of the magazine. This
causes it to stand out and
gives the word a slightly
unnerving feel.
• I could use this technique in
my magazine to make
certain words seem more
important.

4. Classic Rock
• This font is very suited to the
name of the magazine because
it matches an old American style.
The way that the font changes
on the rest of the magazine
gives the title a more important
feeling. Also having the word
rock as the biggest word on the
page means that there can be no
mistake as to what the magazine
is about.
• My magazine could use this
technique to make sure that it is
obvious what my magazine is
about.

5. NME
• The way that the subtitle
has been written like its cut
out of a newspaper makes
the magazine seem more
sinister. This is added to by
the picture which gives the
magazine an eerie feeling.
The way NME is written in
the corner also makes the
brand seem like its very
established.
• I could use this technique
in my magazine to give my
magazine an eerie feeling.

6. Kerrang!
• Kerrang is written in an
interesting font which
matches the subtitle and
mood of the magazine. The
fact that the font looks like it
smashed glass adds to the
angry effect that the
magazine gives off.
• The effect is good and could
be used in a different way to
create an effect that would
be better suited to the
magazine type that I would
like to create.

7. Uncut
• This magazine has an old feel.
The font and matching
coloured picture makes the
whole cover seem very linked
together. Nothing but the
name of the magazine and the
name of the celebrity stands
out which isn't really the effect
I was aiming for in my
magazine but still makes for a
good minimalistic cover.

8. The Fly
• This cover has a very 3D feel
as the shadow of the girl is
very prominent on the cover.
The magazine name and
women's name stands out
very obviously on the
background. The magazine is
very full but still appears very
minimalist.
• This is a clever design but
does appear a bit boring.

9. Mojo
• The title does stand out but
the people in front of it causes
it to blend into the background
more than I would like. The
name of the band is the only
part of the magazine that I
feel stands out.
• Im not very fond of this
design. It works for this
magazine but I feel like it
would be to busy for my
magazine design.

10. Q
• This magazine cover is very
minimalist but it still does a
good job at drawing attention
to it. The Q makes the
magazine seem like a very
established brand while the
way that the person is
placed on the cover gives
the magazine a classic feel.
• I like this magazine design
as it gives the magazine a
classic and elegant feel but it
also give it a minimalist feel
that makes it seem more
modern.

11. Billboard
• This magazine’s name is
very difficult to read as the
persons head is in the
middle of the word. I don’t
like this effect as it makes it
hard to tell what magazine it
is. There isn't much else on
the magazine so it doesn’t
really tell you what content is
inside.
• I like some parts of this
cover as it has an elegant
feel but I think it needs some
more writing on the
magazine to tell the
audience what content is in
the magazine.