The document discusses the importance of consistency in magazine covers for defining a publication's identity. It states that a magazine's cover represents its personality and differentiates it from competitors. Consistent covers within guidelines build this personality and identity over time. While creativity is valued, guidelines should not be compromised at the cost of consistency. Maintaining consistency provides readers with clear expectations and allows the magazine to be easily identified even among similar publications. Losing consistency through inconsistent covers can cause a magazine to blend in and lose its mindshare in its genre.

1. Identity
by- G.S.Virdi

2. Does
the cover of
every issue
of your magazine
reflect its
identity?

3. It is the
Cover
of a magazine
which as the face,
represents its
personality
that defines its
identity.

4. When it
comes to the cover,
a never-ending
argument
starts…

5. A ‘great’ cover for any magazine-
Should be… Should not be…
• Eye catching • Bound in grid
• Eye contacting • Text heavy
• Related to reader • Crowded
• Symmetrical • Cluttered
OR
• Storyteller • Complicated
• Teaser • Very colorful
• Thematic • Templatised
• Creative • Techie
• Value-for-money • Marketing tool
• Consistent • Monotonous
etc… etc…
And any of these & all of these, from both sides, can be logically justified.

6. But, once
philosophy
&
guide lines
for the covers are written,
those should be
followed
strictly.

7. Often,
in the name of
creativity
people start bending
the guide lines
to break the
monotony
of the cover.
Just have a look…

8. Are these ‘monotonous’ covers?
Contd…

9. …contd
Contd…

10. …contd

11. In fact,
these are the
consistent
covers.
It is critically important to create consistent covers, because…

12. Consistency
defines the
personality
of your magazine
and also gives a unique
identity
to it!

13. “Why
should we
create a
personality
of a magazine?”

14. Don’t forget that
the key
to success
of any product
is the
differentiation.
And this…

15. …personality can differentiate-
-your magazine from others!
Contd…

16. …contd
Contd…

17. …contd
Contd…

18. …contd
Contd…

19. …contd
Contd…

20. …contd
Contd…

21. …contd
Contd…

22. This
personality
can be built by
consistency
only!

23. “OK..
consistency
is fine, but
what about the
creativity?”

24. Strictly adhere to
the written
philosophy & guide lines
of your magazine,
and then
without compromising
on those lines
get creative.

25. Consistency with Creativity
Ooops…

26. …here are little bigger ☺
Contd…

27. …contd

28. “But what
is threat
if
we are
inconsistent?”

29. When you loose consistency…

30. …you
also loose
your
identity…

31. …and
you also loose
your
mindshare!!!

32. Within your
vertical space,
you have to
create your own
identity
by giving
consistent covers.

33. With its own
identity,
a magazine can
survive in a
better way.

34. A magazine
should be
identified
clearly
even in the crowd
of its own genre.
Have a look at a few covers from same vertical…

35. Same-same but different…
Contd…

36. …contd

37. If
a magazine
doesn’t have its
different identity,
it gets
lost
in its own genre.

38. If you hide
mast-heads of
indifferent magazines,
even their
regular readers
won’t be able to
identify
them.

39. Do these similar looking covers…
…belong to the same magazine?

40. No, they do not!!!
‘SAKHI’ is the only magazine with a ‘different identity’ in this genre…

41. Creativity & Identity- Together!
When you are consistent, you can do different on some special occasions!

42. If your cover is not ‘different’…
…your competitor can replace it easily!!!

43. A few of inconsistent covers…
Contd…

44. …contd
Contd…

45. …contd
Contd…

46. …contd

47. Even for
the subject like
photography,
guide lines can not be
over-ruled
in the name of
creativity
or topicality.

48. Consistency in photography genre
Contd…

49. …contd
Contd…

50. …contd
You also can do differently, but only on special occasions!

51. LAST WORD
Do not create
your cover
for an
issue,
make it for the
magazine.
Cheers!