This document summarizes and analyzes the design elements of magazine covers and contents pages. It discusses the use of images, fonts, colors and layouts across different magazines to attract target audiences and convey tone. Key elements like mastheads, pull quotes, drop caps and standfirsts are examined and how they are tailored for each publication's readers. Overall the document shows how magazine design strategically draws attention to content of interest for their specific subscriber base.

1. This is the front cover for NME , it’s lead
image is a picture of a band that is popular
among the target audience which would
instantly draw their attention to the cover.
There is a house font that is used on every
piece of text on the front cover, although it
varies in size and colour. The colours used
are red, white and blue – perhaps to
indicate the heavy coverage of British
music. The pull quote is something that
may interest the reader and encourage
them to want to read further.

2. The contents page is set out in a fairly
unusual way, the title is written in a
completely different font to the front cover.
Only the main articles are shown, and each
one includes a picture and pull quote related
to it. There is a small section at the bottom
which includes regular features, however
this is just written in small black and white
font.

3. This double page spread includes several design features such as a pull quote from a
member of the band. This is written in bright blue, showing that it is separate from
the rest of the text and to draw attention to it. The use of drop caps is featured here
and there is a standfirst, which introduces the band in a very positive light.

4. The front cover of Q magazine has a
bold and distinctive masthead. It is a
large capital ‘Q’ in white text on a red
background. This is a simple design but
looks effective and ties in with the
traditional tone of the magazine. There
is a banner of text above the masthead
which reads “The UK’s biggest music
magazine”. This may encourage the
reader to buy it as it is a very positive
statement. The lead image is of several
popular music artists. The reader may
be familiar with many of them and
want to read about them.

5. This contents page is split into two
main sections – ‘artists of the
century’, a special feature and
regulars of the magazine. They are
both set out very clearly with a
house style of red, white and grey
with the same font used
throughout, although it varies from
capital to lower case letters. The
tone of the magazine is quite
“sensible” and would probably
appeal to middle class adults. The
name of the artist is shown with the
page number so that if the reader
wishes to read about a particular
artist, they can turn straight to the
right page.

6. This double page spread is set
out in a way that would appeal
to the target audience. The
title is quite noticeable and the
word “noughties” is written in
a different colour to make it
stand out as it is the main
focus of the article. The drop
caps are very big in order to
define the start of each
column. The standfirst is
designed to be witty so it
appeals to the reader. The next
page has a range of images
that people would associate
with “noughties” trends in
bright colours so they stand
out.

7. The front cover of Kerrang! makes it obvious that
the magazine is designed for a specific type of
reader – someone who is into rock music. The
lead image is of a rockstar in an aggressive
looking pose. Several fonts are used, which all
look quite heavy and everything is written in
capitals. The masthead is obscured by images,
which shows that the magazine is well known by
it’s readers – they would not necessarily need to
look closely to see what the magazine is. It gives
the reader an idea as to what is inside the
magazine, such as interviews, posters and a gig
guide. Overall, the front cover of Kerrang! is
quite busy, using a range of colours and styles.

8. The contents page is set out very
clearly. It has a house style with
features about different bands stored
under organised headings. This makes
it easy for readers if they wish to read
about a particular band, they can just
turn to the page that applies. There is
a main image which relates to one of
the main stories and two other
previews of main features. The top of
the page displays the magazines issue
number and the date it was released.
At the bottom of the page there is a
letter from the editor and an advert to
encourage people to subscribe.

9. This double page spread is slightly
unusual as the pull quote is
written aside the lead image,
whereas it is normally placed in
the text. The second word of the
title “Hero” is written in a blurry
font, which relates well to the
blurred image. In the standfirst,
the name of the band and it’s lead
singer are written in red to stand
out from the rest, so the reader
knows who it is about. This is the
same with the drop caps in the
main article.