3. The Masthead is very powerful, and
striking. This is a method of brand
recognition, it’s short and sweet. It’s
powerful because of the colour
used and the boldness of the
typeface. It is the first thing the
viewer will see on the page and
therefore has to be striking. It comes
in front of the cover photo, showing
it is an important part of any of their
magazine covers however it comes
behind the competition bubble,
which is interesting and this could be
a sign that it is a huge competition
and somewhat a sales technique to
buy the magazine.
This cover photo sums up what the
main issue is about, as well as what
kind of people Disclosure are. This
photo has put them in a playful
light, which could entice buyers to
find out more, and make them
want to know who they really are. It
shows that they are going to be the
main feature of the article and how
they, themselves, believe they are
different to any other dance music
artists.
This extra information
advertises how NME has
an exclusive interview
inside. This could create a
Unique Selling Point for
this issue because no
other magazine has it
and may show how
successful the magazine
is. Exclusive means it is not
going to be shown
anywhere else therefore
another reason to entice
buyers.
The date and price are very
small on this cover, therefore
it is very difficult to see.
Making it look less
professional than it could
potentially look. Having a
barcode this small diverts all
attention to the cover photo,
and won’t attract the
readers as much as it could.
4. The importance of the
contents page. The
contents page
follows straight from
the front cover
therefore it is very
important to the
magazine to follow
not only the house
style but the promises
of the front cover
articles which must
be found on the
contents page so
readers can locate
them in the
magazine.
Each article is
situated with a
picture which relates
to the article. This is a
good tool to use
because it allows the
contents page to
look full, but not
crowded. 5 out of the
6 photographs on this
article are posed,
therefore personal to
the artist. This enables
NME to present the
artist in the way they
would like to but also
appeals to the
reader because they
get more of an insight
into who the artist is
rather than just an on
stage picture.
Each article is located with a page number
on the relating photo. This is a very good tool
for readers who don’t wish to read the whole
magazine, from cover to back page
therefore with the page numbers in place
they can flick to the article in which they
wish to read. Without these page numbers, it
may be a put off for customers and NME
could lose sales.
The text is split into 3
columns however NME
hasn’t stuck to the
conventional method of
staying within the 3
columns. They have
placed photos and
article information out
of columns. This mixes
the contents page up
and makes it a lot more
interesting to look at.
Shown here is how
NME chose to produce
quotes from an article
onto the contents
page so that it shows
and entices people to
read this article.
Situated with a picture
also. The quote text is
in under case
compared to the
explanatory or title text
which is all wrote in
capitals. This is too
make these
explanations and titles
bold, and to make
them stand out.
5. The column in
this double
page spread
is in a
conventional
column style.
This outlines
where type is
to go, and
also makes it
easy to read.
None of the
typeface
differs in size
therefore
makes it
consistent.
The quote text is
highlighted by
extracting it from
the article and is
in bold type
face. This allows
it to be picked
out and may
entice a reader
to read the
article if they find
the quote
somewhat a cliff
hanger, or
maybe unusual.
Here they have inserted an extract from a different artist, reviewing
disclosure. This could be interesting to readers because it’s
disclosures album from a different persons opinions, and gives the
reader an informational viewpoint of which this article is lacking.
6. Again, the mast head is bold
and uses sans serif to make sure
it stands out and the reader
can see it from a distance.
NME has used an approach
that is becoming very common
for large scale magazine to
use, adapting the masthead to
the issue but still keeping the
house style. For example, in the
previous issue they used block
red lettering for the masthead
with a transparent background
whereas here, they have used
a red background. As well as
using the masthead as a brand
recognition tool, they have
used the red background as a
backdrop for the date and
issue number. This is very subtle,
too subtle in fact. I believe they
could improve this by placing
the date and issue number
somewhere more noticeable.
The front cover they have used is
very busy and is a lot to take in.
However, it instantly enables you to
know what the issue is about.
Young British artists. The fire
extinguisher can be interpreted in a
various amount of ways, either a
playful manner. Or a symbol of
extinguishing the artists, as they
could be ‘on fire’ with their music
and may be becoming very
successful.
These name tags can be
depicted as the extra
information boxes in this
special issue of NME. They
label what you’re going to see
in the magazine, however
they do not explain what you
are going to see. This could be
because of the nature of this
issue, with it being a special
issue. It is thought to be self
explanatory however with
explanations, it could seem
more enticing to customers
who don’t necessarily know
who these artists are.
7. NME uses a
conventional 3
column technique
here, and sticks to it
which enables the
reader to easily
pinpoint what they
want to read and
where it is located in
the magazine.
They have outlined
the features of the
magazine, using subtle
but bold typeface.
NME has made the
subtitles bold which
allows the reader to
know what is the title
and exactly what is
explanation of the
article.
You can see here that
they have highlighted
the main article of the
magazine, by using a
question to present it.
Somewhat seeming as
if it’s a weekly feature.
They have situated the
article title with a
picture, allowing the
reader to find out and
get more of an insight
into what the article is
about.
This is a very clever technique of
outlining exactly what is in the
magazine, but doesn’t tell you
where meaning it entices you to
read the whole magazine and to
purchase it. With the red
background it stands out
completely, and could be classes
as one of the main features of the
contents page.
8. This two page
spread is mostly
taken over by
the main
picture, which
gives the reader
an instant
knowledge of
what they’re
about to read. It
is very obvious
the story is about
the alarming
festival drugs,
with the high
saturation it
stands out
because it is
very colourful
and vibrant.
NME has used a 2 column grid for this spread, making it very clear and
simple to read. Not only does this look consistent but also looks very
uniform which ties in with the black and white colour scheme.
By starting the
spread with a
highlighted
question on a
black background
a white writing, it
instantly stands out
and alarms you.
Because of the
nature of the
article NME has
chosen a colour
scheme that
complements the
article. By using
black white and a
touch of yellow, it
doesn’t look too
busy with the
vibrant picture but
stands out enough
to make you read
it.
9. The use of
minimal colour
complements this
cover because
the picture is very
vibrant and
exciting therefore
by over doing it
with the colours it
would of washed
the cover picture
out. Therefore by
using black, white
and red, it has
stuck to the NME
house style.
The cover picture is very vibrant and
draws you in. It makes you want to know
more about the sisters and who exactly
is HAIM? The picture is very playful, and
put the sisters in a light in which they
can connect with the youth of today.
You can see from the Mise en scene
that they are trying to be fashionable
and look unique. The use of the camera
connects with the headline “GET THE
PICTURE?” hence one of the sisters
holding the camera trying to translate
that they know what kind of artists they
are and they are trying to show this
through their cover.
These ‘speech bubbles’ are quotes from
the girls, enticing you to read their article
knowing that from what they’re saying
and judging from the cover whether you
want to find out more. This is a good
technique to use because it allows the
reader to judge their interest in the sisters
before they’ve read the article and may
be a unique selling point for NME.
10. This advertisement is
positioned here
because every reader
will look at the
contents page
because it follows the
cover therefore by
showing a special offer
promoting your
magazine, it allows the
reader to be drawn in
and wonders if this
offer is for them.
This contents page
has a feature that has
featured on all of the
rest of the NME
contents pages a
‘PLUS’ section. Not
necessarily features
but articles that will
be of interest to the
reader.
The structure of the contents is very
clear and organised. The sub
images show where the reader will
find each article and gives a
personal photo for anyone who
maybe doesn’t know the artist or
would like to know who they are
reading about. Each sub image is
numbered with page numbers so it
is clear as to where you will find
the article you are looking for and
exactly what you will be reading.
This clear title outlines
exactly what you are
going to find on this page
and what is in the issue this
week. It also states the
date and title which is
informative but also is
useful as the reader may
collect NME magazine
therefore if this magazine is
memorabilia, they will
know exactly what issue
they are reading and can
clearly identify it.
11. NME has extracted
quotes from the
articles that may
make people
wonder, therefore
enables them to feel
as if they have to
read on to find out
more. By extracting
and spacing out the
text with a box
quote, the extract
stands out and is
very noticeable.
Also shown in this article are photos from their tour, concerts,
backstage. All of which giving you a better understanding of
the girls and giving the layout a much less conventional look
tieing in with HAIM’s status.
They have used
a very
stereotypically
girly colour
scheme by using
pastel colours
which contrasts
with what the
girls are wearing;
very rock chic
fashion. The
contrast is also
shown in the
faces they are
pulling in their
portraits.
This article involves a special feature ‘Haimline’ This goes through the timeline of HAIM’s success, and outlines the girls intentions from
day 1. This is an interesting feature and makes the article look more fun to read, and gives the article a different feel to it. It allows you
to feel closer to the sisters, because you know how they became so successful.
