The magazine cover features Imagine Dragons as the main image and prominently emphasizes them throughout the design. The master head is edited with the lead singer to indicate the featured band. While most magazines follow the left third rule, this cover places the band image and side stories at the top to maximize attention on Imagine Dragons. The direct gaze of the band in the main image and emotive language about their success are intended to entice readers interested in learning more about the band.
1. Master Head: The masterheadtakesupmost of the space on the frontcover as
it isthe firstthingwe see as a reader, so we instantlyknow whatmagazine itis.
The master headisevenredwhichconnotesthe factthat the magazine couldbe
importantandthe designisverysimplisticwhichshowshow wellknownthe
brand isto people.
Main Image: Thisisthe
mostimportantfeature on
the cover as itis whatthe
readermainlyseesfirst.
Alongwithdirectmode of
address,toplightingisused
to make the glamourmodel
seem"sexy".The "sexy
"representationis
enhancedthroughwater
runningdownherface and
the red lipstickisalsoused
to enhance this
representation.The redlip
stickonlydoesnot
represent"sexiness",but
alsoit linksinwiththe
magazinesstyle andcolour
scheme.Thislink
emphasisesthe styleof the
magazine andreinforces
the magazine'slooktothe
reader.
Tagline:The tagline "the UK'sbiggestmusicmagazine"issimplyusedto
describe howimportant,whatitisaboutand to describe the magazine asa
whole.
Bar Code and Price:The
bar code and price are the
smallestimage onthe
frontcover as itis
unimportant.Aswell the
magazine doesnotwant
the readerto see the price
firstas it coulddeterthem
frompurchasingthe
magazine.The magazine
wantsthe readerto be
enticedbythe storiesand
the featuredartistbefore
seeingthe frontcover.
The leftthirdrule ishighly
usedhere as the most
popularstoriesare located
on the leftthird.Thisisa
technique whichisusedby
manymagazinesandthis
one because of news
agentsonlydisplayingthe
leftthirdof the magazine.
Thismagazine hasplaced
itslogoand storiesonthe
leftthirdtomake the
readersee thatthe bandof
the magazine andalsoto
entice the reader.
Cover line:The coverline
"Cheryl Cole Rocks"gives
the readermore
informationaboutthe
featuredartistwhichagain
enticesthe readerto
purchase the magazine.As
well the coverline offersno
introductionwhichmeans
that Cheryl iswell knownto
us and sothat the
magazine doesnotwaste
time or space on
introducinghertothe
audience.
Seal of Approval: The seal of
approval isusedto make the
magazine seemmore
legitimate tothe audience
and make the readerbe more
comfortable aboutthe
purchase of the magazine
Colour scheme:The colourscheme isredand greydominantlywhichis
meantto attract attentiontothe mainimage andthe logoof the front
cover.The main image standsoutwiththe use of thiscolourscheme
whichenhancesthe "sexy"representationof Cheryl Cole andthe logo
standsout as well.the colourscheme makesthe logostandoutwhich
meansthe readerismore likelytosee the brandandpurchase the
magazine.
2.
3. Master Head: The master
headisfollowingthe thirdrule
as it ison the leftthird.This
showsthe potential reader
that the magazine is
“billboard”.The factthat the
mainsingerof the featured
band“Imagine Dragons”is
editedoverpartof the master
headshowsthe readerthe
readerthe featuredband.This
showsthe readerwhatband is
featuredinthe magazine butit
alsothe fact that the reader
knowsits“billboard”sothe
magazine ismore concerned
aboutconveyingthe bandthat
isbeingfeaturedintheir
magqazine.
Main Image: The mainimage
isclearlythe featuredband
and theyall followacolour
scheme. The bandis wearing
a varietyof coloursbut theyall
surroundthe colourscheme of
violet-blue. Thisshowsme
that the band costumesand
the backgroundof the images
correlate tocreate a better
frontcover thatseemsmore
organised.
Overall,Ireallylike thisdesignasitemphasisesonthe featured
bandrather than relyingonotherpopularstoriestoentice the
readerto readthroughthe magazine.AnyimagineDragonfan
will immediatelyrecognisethemonthe coversothe thirdrule
doesn'tapplyhere asthe entire frontcoverisbuilttoemphasise
that Imagine Dragonsisthe featuredband.
Side Features:Most magazinesfollow the leftthirdrule whichmeansthatthe mostpopular
and biggeststorieswill appearonthe leftthirdtoensure thatitcapturesthe attentionof
the target audience. “Billboard”hasnotfollowedthatrule astheyhave placedtheirside
featuresonthe verytop of the page.I believe theyhave donethistoemphasiseonthe
importance andpopularityof the bandwhichmeansthe readerismore directedtothe
featuredbandratherthan otherstories.The background hasalsobeenfadedtoa darker
shade of the backgroundcolourto allow the topstoriestobe see able to the reader.The
size of the textfor the storiesimmediatelyshowsusthatthe magazine againisemphasising
the enormityof the bandbeingfeatured.Ithinkthisisa goodstrategybecause the reader
clearlyboughtthe magazine toreadabout imagines dragonsnotthe otherstories.
DirectMode of
Address:the direct
mode of addressis
usedthroughthe main
image as the featured
bandis lookingdirectly
at the readerratherto
the side.This
technique ismainly
usedto entice the
potential buyerand
readeras the band is
lookingdirectlyat
them.Thistechnique
isusedby manyother
magazines.
Tagline:The emotive
language usedonthe
frontcover isvery
effectiveatenticing
the readerto read the
magazine asthe title
“Reimagined”whichis
a playon wordsbut
enticesthe reader.It
enticesthe readeras
clearlytheyare
interestedinthisband
and the tagline used
intriguesthemsothey
will readthe magazine
to gainthe desired
information.
Emotive Language: The
language usedbelowthe
tagline isveryemotive asit
statesthat the featuredband
“imagine Dragons”isgreat as
theyperformedatthe
Grammys andare releasing
theirnewalbum.The wording
“That’s justone waya massive
rock band comesoutswinging
on itssophomore album.This
isveryemotive asitdetails
howthe band came out
“swinging”withitsnew
album.