This document analyzes the design elements used across multiple magazine covers and pages. Key elements include using prominent colors and text sizes to draw attention to important details. Main images are usually well-known celebrities exaggerated to entice readers. Articles are signified through headlines above images of the subject. Color schemes and positioning of images and text help guide readers through the content. Consistency in stylistic elements shows professional magazine design.

1. Analysis of Existing
Magazines
By Alvin Goolab

2. Masthead Sky Line
Barcode Main Cover Line
Buzz Word
Cover Lines
Main Image

3. Masthead – The masthead has The importance of the text has
been written in Red & Black for this been colour co-ordinated in 3 levels
article as it suits the Artists dress of transparency to the background.
code shown on the front, it also Least important text is set in grey to
illustrates the articles style and the blend in with the background as it is
artists personality. not a priority to being noticeable
whereas, the second most
important text is in black to stand
out enough as important. Finally,
the most important text is set in
Main Cover Line is, Eminem, bold red to stand out to the
which shows the lead article audience to foreshadow the leading
within the magazine is about articles. The importance of the text
Eminem hence him being the also determines the size, smallest
main image. This persuades text is mostly written in grey
people to buy the magazine as whereas the largest text is written
they would be interested to read in red.
about the article.
Contrast is shown between the The main image dominates and is
background colour and the colour shot at eye-level which catches
of the outfit worn by the artist in peoples attention and depicts a
the main image. serious article.

4. Masthead – The masthead has
been written in yellow with a black It is evident that the most
outline, this makes it stand out for intriguing text has been written in
brand recognition. white despite the colour scheme
of white and blue This could be
because white stands out more
than blue.
The Main Image is Lil Wayne and The well known artists are
The Secondary Image is DJ written in white to show these
Khaled. Although the two images artists have a role in this
are separate, it has been arranged magazine.
to make it as if DJ Khaled is
assisting Lil Wayne.
The Main Cover Line is Lil Wayne
and DJ Khaled who are “simply the
best”. Lil Wayne has been written in
a bigger font whereas DJ Khaled
has been written smaller and in a
different colour to show the
The Barcode is displayed in the importance between the two artists
bottom left corner of the page and the difference in popularity.

5. The main image/focus on the The word Contents is the biggest
contents page is a picture of the word on the page as it informs what
lead player of the band, Arctic page the viewers are on. The
Monkeys. This picture co-operates contents is one of the most
with the article displayed beneath. important pages in a magazine
because it guides the viewers, it
should be displayed clearly so it
can easily be found as NME have
done. The name of the magazine
has been written in the heading so
viewers are aware of who the
contents page belongs to.
The actual contents is set out in
categories such as, News, Radar,
This little article gives us an Features, etc.
example of what to expect
from this magazine. The page numbers have been
highlighted in red to stand out
whereas the page headings have
been set in black with a description
of the page in a small print
beneath.
Advertisements have been displayed on the bottom of the These advertisements are included on the
contents page as there is a higher chance of it being noticed contents page to persuade people to subscribe
as the contents is one of the most viewed pages in a therefore allowing the magazine company and
magazine. customers to benefit in financial terms.

6. The title, Contents is always written
The V in the background in this format to give the page style.
represents the brand of the
magazine, VIBE. As you can see, it
has been overlapped by the title
and the main image to form
structure for better appearance.
This shows that this page is 1 of 3
The women seen in the main contents page
image is dressed in crème
clothing which blends in with the
background for a more relaxed
effect.
As you can see, there are 5 articles
displayed on this contents page
each with a minimum of 4 pages.
The main image is consistently a well
known celebrity often in an
exaggerated pose to entice the
audience and persuade customers to
purchase the magazine.

7. As this double page spread is an As the main focus of this page is Florence, the
article about Florence, she is used as second main focus is USA. The two are associated
the main image on the whole left hand with each other hence the reason she is seen sitting
side of the page to make it easy for on the American flag with the word, USA, written in
people to know this page revolves bold behind which takes up two thirds of the double
around her. page spread.
This Tagline is a
quote from one of
Florence’s songs. It
has been used in this
page to portray that
USA have “got the
love”.
Her colour of clothing
contrasts with the
colours used in the
article which makes her
Her name has been highlighted This has been written larger than
fashion sense stand
here to show her importance and any other text to indicate that it is
out. In my opinion, it
almost a shock for what is said in the beginning of the article. I
shows a sense of
the articles summary. believe it also improves the
hatred towards
appearance.
America.

8. The main image is a young woman dressed in a
She is seen to be looking at the title of the white top with a black jacket on and blue
page which draws the attention to the pun sunglasses which establishes the articles colour
used in the heading which foreshadows scheme. The question mark in the title has been set
the article. to blue to match the sunglasses to provide
consistency within the colour scheme.
The main colour
scheme of this
page consist of
White, Black and
Blue.
Her colour of
clothing contrasts
with the
white background.
The first letter of
the text is yet
again written in a
larger text
compared to the
rest of the text
used in the article.
This indicates the
articles starting The main image has been placed at the right hand side of
point and the page and takes up a whole side of the double page
emphasizes a spread, this makes is easier for the audience to see that
main convention the article is based on her. She is assisted with pure text
of all magazines. on the opposite side of the page.