The document provides an evaluation of the front cover design of a regional magazine. It analyzes the different design elements and how they conform to typical conventions of regional magazine covers. These include using a bold masthead at the top to draw attention, a scenic main image to represent the magazine's content and region, short sell lines to intrigue readers, and additional images and text blocks that relate to and promote the articles inside. The evaluation also notes some unconventional design choices, such as the overlapping of images, and assesses how well the overall layout and stylistic elements appeal to the target audience.
3. Masthead
Bold and distinctive serif decorative font. The
masthead is the biggest boldest part of the front
cover and instantly draws attention, due to the
positioning and white colour which stands out
against the blue background. This also creates
brand awareness and instant recognition of the
brand, as the masthead is made to be the most
important eye catching feature on the page,
following codes and conventions.
The main mast head pops out of the page, onto the
border, making dominance on the page, this is
important as its the main feature and needs to be
recognised.
Other regional magazines with the same
codes and conventions as mine:
4. Main image
Long shot of a natural scene, following
typical codes and conventions of a regional
magazine. Personal connections, audience feel
like they’re there, also feel connected due
to the people standing in the photo (can
identify to them). I also followed common
conventions by using high key lighting in the
main image, and keeping the image in colour.
The split between the sky and ground gives
the front cover an interesting, naturalistic
look and feel, and breaks up the page up.
The text ‘dive in’ reflects the main image,
relating the two together, conforming to my
target audience as it relates to them. By
connecting the text with the main frontal
image this gives my magazine a more complete
look.
Other regional magazines with the
same codes and conventions as
mine:
5. Sell Line
I used conventional sell lines in my
magazine; the sell lines relate to what’s in
my magazine (wide range of cognitive needs -
uses & grats) I used different fonts to the
masthead differentiating the two, and a
colour which stands out against the
background therefore following the common
codes and conventions.
Short and snappy words to intrigue the reader
then creates enigma - Barthes.
The sell lines relate to what's in the
magazine and give a summarised short detailed
line to give the reader an idea as to what's
in the content of the magazine - uses &
grats.
Other regional
magazines with
the same codes
and conventions
as mine:
6. Image
Following a less common convention of
using a smaller image in the corner of
my magazine, I overlapped the border
with the image giving an effect of
pooping out the page giving the image
dominance, as this will get my
audience's attention,(overlapping the
main image and border).
I choose to use high key lighting and
really heighten up the contrast on the
photo to make the dog look
sophisticated, to appeal to my target
audience, the dog also creates a
personal connection with the audience as
its using eye contact, direct mode of
address, grabbing the audience's
attention.
Another regional magazine
with the same not so common
convention as mine:
7. EXtra Text
Following conventions by adding
on extra subtitles to further
intrigue my target audiences
and enforcing enigma - Barthes,
by leaving the audiences
wanting more.
These also give further
information of the content in
the magazine - wide range of
cognitive needs. By giving
subtle information of what's in
the magazine makes the guests
want to continuing reading.
Other regional magazines
with the same codes and
conventions as mine:
8. House Style
I wanted to follow a theme through my
magazine so I chose the theme of beaches
and coasts and the colour scheme relates
to this theme and also the layout.
The colours on my front cover are
subtle, therefore appealing to my target
audience, as it’s not too loud and busy
on the page. No specific colours which
apply to different genders, the colours
used are gender neutral therefore again
applying to my target audience.
The use of a banner at the bottom of my
magazine complies to typical conventions
however, mine is translucent therefore
challenging these.
Other regional magazines with the
same codes and conventions as
mine:
10. Fonts & features & text
I used simple, italic, serif fonts
with short knowledge as to what’s in
the magazine, with short sentences to
pull the reader in but also inform
them the content of the magazine (uses
& grats). Using punctuation such as
ellipses is another way to intrigue
the reader and make them read more, it
tries to lead the reader into the
magazine.
My title follows codes and
conventions, by being above the main
majority of text and also the largest
on the page. Also a serif font
continuing with the theme of
subtleness on the page which links to
the ideologies of my target audiences,
making the text relatable to them.
Other regional magazines with the same
codes and conventions as mine:
11. Main images
I followed the convention of using a variety of images all
linking to the text which relates to the magazine (uses &
grats), all the images are placed next to each other
sequentially.
Due to my theme being coasts and beaches the shapes of the
images all together are meant to represent the formation of
a wave, I had not seen any other magazine with different
shaped photos to represent a certain type of theme, they
all seem to have a more straight look, with no different
sizes, therefore I challenged conventions when creating the
curve with the images.
I followed conventions by using a variety of images with
long shots and close ups with a mix between scenery,
objects and people. I found magazines to have a real mix of
images on the contents page to try and fit all of the
magazine content onto the page. By using high key lighting
(another convention of regional magazines) this creates a
relationship between the magazine and the reader as they
can truly visualise the articles when reading them.
Other regional magazines with the similar
codes and conventions as mine:
12. Rows & columns
The text is informative to the audience (uses
& grats), its also in an organised manner,
meaning it's easier for the audience to read.
Conventions use white space between each
layer of text, to separate the text so
therefore it's easier to see, I chose to use
follow conventions in my magazine t make it
easy to see and read on the page fulfilling
the audience's needs and wants.
Many regional magazines follow the common
conventions of two columns however I
challenged this by adding an extra column on
my page, I decided to do this as it
complemented the images more, and made the
page look more professional.
Other regional
magazines with the
same codes and
conventions as mine:
13. Numbering
Common conventions showed numbers laying on
the left hand side of the page in a
structured vertical line. However I decided
to follow a more unusual convention where
the numbers were placed centrally above the
chunk of text, giving my contents page a
more sophisticated look.
The numbers are also in a serif font,
slightly larger than the text, this makes
it easy for the audience to navigate to,
and also informs them (uses & grats).
I also added numbers on the images
coordinately to the numbers on the text,
this was common convention which I picked
up on. Linking the text to the images again
gives the audience a visual for the
article, fulfilling the audiences needs.
Other
regional
magazines
with the
same codes
and
conventions
as mine:
15. Images
Using a variety of images relating to the text about
coasts & beaches follows common conventions of relating
text to the images. However not many editorial pages
have a theme about one particular thing they have a
variety therefore for me sticking to one theme and then
relating everything on the page to one thing, is
challenging conventions.
I used a mixture of shots, ( long shots and close ups)
to give the audience a sense of location, I used shallow
depth of field in the first image which challenges
common conventions (for editorial pages). Common
conventions include the use of objects however I wanted
to use more scenery shots so The audience can visualise
the text more. however I split the images through the
middle and parted them creating an unusual effect, no
regional magazines followed the convention of splitting
full images up and were always whole, however I believe
this gave my magazine, quirky look and follows on from
the unusual placement of the images on the content page.
By using flow through my magazine, this gives my
audience a sense of belonging, due to the fact the flow
follows conventions, relating to their ideologies,
therefore fulfilling their needs.
16. Layout
My magazine is
conventional by following
the idea of images
bordering text however I
chose to border the
entire text by using
images on both sides of
the page, challenging the
common convention.
By breaking up the text
with images this makes
the page look more
aesthetically pleasing
therefore fulfilling the
audiences needs.
Other regional magazines
with similar codes and
conventions as mine
17. Text
Sticking with common conventions of having a
letter written from the editor allowed me to
create a personal connection (uses&grats)
with the audience, so they can relate more to
magazine. This conforms to hegemonic forms,
therefore to my audiences beliefs.
Using a large title attracts my target
audiences attention, by complying to common
conventions of using titles in a direct way,
this makes it more personal to the audience
as they feel like its a direct letter to
them, personal relationship with the magazine
(uses & grats).
large first letter; invites the audience in
more as it leads into the text.
Signature to sign off the editors note again
makes the letter more personal to the
audiences (uses & grats), conforming to
common conventions.
Other regional
magazines
with the same
codes and
conventions as
mine:
18. Tags & feature
By adding social media tags this informs the audience -
cognitive needs - but also would attract a younger
generation therefore widening my customer base, more young
people use social media therefore using tags may intrigue
them to find out more.
I also added a banner at the bottom of the page which I
found was a common convention promoting a charity, this way
the magazine is promoting a good cause and complying to my
audiences beliefs.
Other regional magazines with the same codes and conventions as mine:
20. TextMy Ad includes very little text challenging ‘normal’
conventions,, my aim was to to write a description with the
main image.
The informative text is written in the top right hand corner
and is the address of the museum, this will appeal to my
target audience as it gives them some information which they
can use to find out more - informative (cognitive needs) It
also features the museums logo.
The ideas of using little text was to intrigue people into
thinking, where is this place? What more does it have to
offer?
The masthead of the ad also challenges conventions as its
placed at the bottom of the page, I choose to do this because
I wanted the logo and address at small at the top and a main
banner (masthead) placed at the bottom so more of the image
was on show, as there is a slight empty space at the bottom.
I kept the common convention of using a local company ,
keeping this personal to the audience therefore linking to
the uses and grats theory
Other regional magazines
with similar codes and
conventions:
21. Main Image
The main image is blown up and used as the background,
this then gives a cool/unique look. This close up shot
used for my ad has high key lighting which is a common
convention it shows more detail of the image and
intrigues the audience more, however this usually to
advertise a product whereas my advert is displaying an
exhibition to make people want to visit therefore
challenging the conventions of showing a product to
buy instead of a place to visit.
The image is positioned so that the more detailed bit
is placed in the middle and then expands outwards to
the top left, I wanted to create a look which is
different and by using this flow of one end of the
page to the other makes it more interesting intriguing
my target audience, linking to Barthes theory
(unravelling the image).
Other regional magazines with
similar codes and conventions
22. Ancillary 1
I followed conventions by using a bold
masthead at the top of the page located in the
centre. This way the audience will instantly
recognize the brand creating brand awareness.
Another common convention is having tabs
underneath the masthead directing the audience
exactly where they want to go (uses & grats
and wide range of cognitive needs)
My website has two hyperlinks, each have the same
masthead as the home page this again creates brand
awareness and keeps the consistency throughout the page,
this is also a common convention. The gallery page has a
wide range of photographs, they’re all long shots of scenery in
Iceland. They do not have much range however appeal to my
target audience. The scenery is different however quite alike
so many of the photos look very similar, conforms to Neales
theory ‘Pleasure is derived from repetition and difference’
23. Ancillary 2
Very few regional magazine billboards to go by, therefore I found it difficult to design one specifically
for regional magazines. I followed codes and conventions from the regional magazine the resident.
By using a block colour for the background, and using various platforms displaying the magazine I've
conformed to conventions.
Bold blue colour
continuing on from
the coasts theme
dn also stands out
to the audience and
catches their
attention, following
conventions of
regional magazine
billboards.
The use of various platforms
can appeal to younger
audiences as it involves
technology which is more
popular in younger
generations which could
widen my audience and
create a larger target base.
Large serif font, the same font
as the magazine masthead,
this makes my audience
recognise the brand, by using
the same font will make it
more recognisable (following
conventions). Minimal text as
which you can read at quick
glance does not flood you with
info just the simple info (web
address) that you need to find
out more, and can visit in your
own time - cognitive needs -
therefore fulfilling the
audiences needs.
Other regional
magazines
with the same
codes and
conventions
as mine:
