Analysis of Kerrang contents page

1. GuttenbergDesignPrinciple:
The start of the title islocatedinthe
primaryoptical area.The axisof
orientationwill cause the readerto
readthe title .The image of
Metallicawill be noticedbythe
readinggravity.There isa special
offeronfor subscriptionsinthe
terminal optical area;thishasbeen
placedthere astheywant to sell as
manycopiesas possible.The topof
the contentspage islocatedinthe
strongfallow areaand the editors
notesare placedin the weakfallow
area.
Target Audience andNeed:
The target audience forthisissue
wouldbe 15-45 as Metallicaare a
famousbandthat was formed inthe
80’s. The prize fromthe Metallica
competitionwouldattracta younger
audience astheyare more likelyto
wearVansthan the older
generation.The bandsincluded
wouldalsoattract themas they
wouldbe youngerbandsunlike
Metallica. Kerrangchose Metallica
as theyfanswill be instantly
interestedinwhatthey’re doing
withKerrang.
House Style:
Kerrangshouse style forthisissue is
synonymouswiththe rockgenre.
Black andwhite isusuallyusedina
lotof rock videos.These colours
couldrelate tothe nature of songs
foundinKerrangas theyare
predominatelyquitedark.The
yellowfontisfrequentlyusedby
Kerrangand isassociatedwith
energy.Redisanothercolour
includedandhasconnotationswith
danger.All these colourssignal
rebellion.
Imagery:
The main image of thiscontentspage isof an
instantlyrecognisable bandMetallica.Due tothe
bandsconnotationswithrebellionandnot
conformingtothe ‘norm’theyhave chosennotto
use directaddress.The image againisin blackand
white givingaclassicrock feel tothe contentspage.
The leatherjacketsMetallicaare wearing are
synonymouswiththe rockgenre;thiscouldbe
interpretedascheesythough.There isalsoanimage
of a pairof trainerswhichhasbeenusedtotry and
attract a youngeraudience tobuythe magazine.
DesignBalance:
The focal pointof thiscontentspage isthe image of
Metallica.Thisisnotifiedasthe topof Lars Ulrichs’head
overlapsthe title.Rule of thirdsisadoptedhere asthe
image of Metallicatakesupa third of the page.Thisis
adoptedsothe contentscan be fittedin.There isno
symmetrytothiscontentspage meaningitis
unbalanced. Metallicaare a well-knownbandwhichis
whytheyhave takenup the majorityof the page.