2. Covers of the big issue and what they mainly
cover talking about
The big issue usually cover issues and campaigns that cover celebrities, political campaigns, sport,
current entertainment and problems that are generally affecting society (like mental health,
homelessness). I’m planning on creating a cover that reflects the issue of mental health and how it
should be more supported – by making a picture that sticks to a stereotypical design of the usual big
issue, with scrawled, ‘handwritten’ messages around the main image. I got inspiration from multiple
different front covers, but mainly from the issue no.1292 , but the design of others I chose are also
contributing the idea of the cover I want to create. Other images regarding mental health from the
internet also what gave me the idea for my cover.
Issue no.1292
3. Analysis of the of the covers which influenced
my front cover The colours in this front cover are all red,
white, blue and black (all primary colours)
and the colours are darker than usual (not
bright and cheerful colours) which help to
construct his typical dark and abnormal
personality.
The black and white contrasting in the
writing of the roles he’s played show the
differences and the blue being used for
the background has connotations of
discovery and balance (which contrasts
against the words surrounding him and
the steely appearance he’s given himself
with his facial expression)
The theme of this cover is mainly
focused on Johnny Depp and how
people usually perceive him, because
of the roles he’s played and the way
he presents himself but also has a
focus on his career and the path it’s
going to take as he gets older.
There’s obviously a large interest in this
cover creating a target market of
women in their teens and 20’s, as
Johnny Depp brings interest to that
specific market, but also reaches out to
older readers or men who are a big fan
of his movies.
The masthead is still in the middle
like usual, but the price and date has
changed places and is now under
the masthead, to make it clearer to
the readers and more visible
The fact that the main image is a
drawing instead of an actual
photoraph fits in with the
‘handwritten’ and ‘doodly’ style of the
rest of the issue, and suggests
4. My idea for a big issue front cover – mind
map
• A photograph of someone’s face – close up, with watery eyes , with negative
words drawn and doodled around the picture – darkened lighting and brighter
face (still sad) – TO SHOW THE EFFECT OF MENTAL HEALTH, THE CURRENT RATES
OF LOW ESTEEM AND SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND THE CONCEPT THAT IT NEEDS TO
BE NORMALISED AND THAT IT SHOULD BE TALKED ABOUT MORE.
• The image will be partly photographic but also partly graphic – a physical photo of
a boy crying (so it also challenges stereotypical masculinity)
