The document analyzes magazine covers and layouts. It summarizes the design elements of two music magazines - NME and Q Magazine. For NME, it describes the cover featuring Lily Allen, including the masthead, cover lines, images, colors, and other graphics. For the contents page, it analyzes the layout, images, and sections. For a double page article, it examines the title design, images, and text formatting. For Q Magazine, it provides a similar summary of the cover featuring Florence Welch and the contents page layout. The document analyzes the visual design choices for both magazines.

1. Magazine
Analysis

2. Why did I decide to annotate
these magazines?
• I annotated these magazines because these are
my main inspirations and these are the type of
magazines I want to produce for my
coursework, because they are targeted towards my
target audience, which is mainly young to middle
aged adults who love music.

3. Additional Images – This is used to
show that the magazine has content
relating to concerts and gigs, giving
the representation of the reader
through research that they have an
interest in live music.
Cover Lines – This is where all the content
and what the magazine will feature is
displayed on the front cover. The text does
not blend into the background, and is very
outstanding, giving an impression that it is
something that you should not miss. The
varying font sizes and positions makes it fun
and playful, stirring more interest.
However, it is placed at the side of the main
image so it is not blocking or distracting the
main feature.
Colour Scheme – The main colours
used in this magazine are red, black
and white. This is because the target
audience are mainly male, and are
enthusiastic music
lovers, particularly alternative, so
this matches the criteria. The use of
yellow is to represent how there is
lots of other stuff in the magazine
also.
Pull Out Quote – This gives the
reader a quick insight into Lily
Allen’s interview, giving hints on
what she will be talking about
that will engage the reader more.
1. NME – Front Cover
Graphics – With the bubbles
having different colours on it and
also in the fonts, it makes the
additional information look less
boring and actually makes you
want to read it as it draws you in.
Straplines – This is used
to show previews of
what else will be in the
magazine, in this
case, there will be
information about the
Arctic Monkey’s third
album, following some
colour not used in the
cover scheme, which is
yellow.
Masthead – The name of
the magazine is placed
on the top left of the
magazine, displayed very
boldly with the drop
shadow, to stand out
and to be clearly
presented to the reader.
Cover Price for the magazine.
Main Image – This is a high angle
medium of Lily Allen, the headline
topic that is being discussed,
presented in the colour scheme,
which is black, white and red. The
angle of the shot is used to show
her vulnerability, which she will
be talking about. Using Lily Allen
is showing that she partly
represents the Alternative/Rock
part of the Music industry that
the magazine usually discusses in
their article. Having this type of
artist on their front cover will
attract the typical readers of this
magazine.

4. Band index on the
side of the magazine
to give the reader
some insight as to
what artists and
bands are usually
discussed in this
type of
magazine, helping
new readers
understand NME
more. A different
font colour is used to
let the reader
identify that this is
separate to the
actual magazine and
is used clearly for
additional
information.
The main font used
is black, because it
makes text easier to
see on a white
background, avoidi
ng difficulty with
the reader looking
at the page.
NME – Contents Page
Main image used is
not from a photo
shoot, showing that
they have interest in
things that happen
around places and
locations, and also
backstage.
The sidebar is used for advertisement. Unlike most of
the contents, it has a black background, and does use
a lot of font in yellow, trying to present that it is
completely separate to the magazine and it just for
promotion only.
The same NME logo on the front cover is
incorporated on the title of the contents, to remind
the reader what magazine they are reading. This
logo also adds a bit more colour to the main
contents heading.
The pages of the
magazine are split into
categories; to help the
reader decide which
category they would
prefer to look at, instead
of skimming
around, trying to find an
article which you like.
The use of the graphics, which are
the arrows, give the representation
that it is pointing the reader in the
right direction.
Involving the colour scheme, it is similar to
the front cover, and it is used, especially in
the main headline, to show the difference
between the headline and the page
number. This is to avoid confusion, and to
make it look like the page number is not
part of the headline.

5. NME – Double Page Spread
The main title is using fonts that
appear to look like they have been
taken from lots of different
newspapers and magazines, to
represent Lily’s frustration about
being surrounded by the press.
Gutter
The kicker here is used to lead the
reader into the story, engaging them
to read it.
The main image, Lily, is dressed as the
stereotypical indie star which readers of
NME are interested in, in a medium
shot, being used as the background for the
article. The photo on the page is from the
same photo-shoot from the front cover, so
readers can familiarise themselves with the
article and know they are reading the right
story.
Dropcap is used to
add visual interest
and also show the
reader where to
start reading the
article.
Columns used to make it look easier
to read and process the article.
Body text is small enough to make
room for the main image which is
the main attraction.

6. 2. Q magazine – Front Cover
Pull out quote – Giving readers a
quick taste of the interview.
Masthead – Simple
title but it is very
bold and a stand
out, letting the reader
know exactly what
magazine it is.
Main cover line is placed at the top of the
magazine to make room for the main image.
It is also in a bigger font to show that it is
the first one the reader recognises when
looking at the magazine, and so they
understand why Florence Welch is on the
cover.
The use of Florence Welch as
the model really represents
the age of the reader, as the
band ‘Florence and the
Machine’ appeals mostly to
people who are mainly
adults.
Close up image for the
magazine, being Florence
Welch, used to emphasise that
it is her on the front cover.
Also, it almost looks like she is
staring at the reader, which
can also tempt them to
purchase Q.
Cover lines are
placed at the side of
the magazine cover
therefore not
blocking the main
focus and drive for
the readers to buy
the magazine, which
is the music.
Selling line – This
helps encourage
the reader to buy
the magazine,
and is also very
simple and easy
to remember.
Barcode
Cover Price
The fonts used are
the same as in the
logo, giving a sense
that everything in the
article is associated
with Q magazine.
Graphics used to give the
cover more excitement. It
is also very unique as one
colour, blue, is not in the
usual Q logo colour
scheme, which avoids
repetition and making it
look boring.

7. Q – Contents Page
Q logo is repeated but this
time on the contents
heading, probably to get the
brand known more to the
reader.
Information placed underneath
the subheadings to give the
reader more of an
understanding as to what it is
meaning.
Page numbers
positioned
next to images
that are
placed next to
the article
make it a lot
easier to guide
the reader to
the most
popular
sections of the
magazine.
All the images used in the
contents are long
shots, maybe giving the idea
that this is the whole story.
The images on
the contents page
are all from photo
shoots and not
spontaneously
from live events.
Red lines used
to split up the
articles and
make it visually
clear that this
is the
case, using red
which is the
main colour in
the colour
scheme.

8. There is a model
credit on the top
right hand corner
to let readers
know who is being
interviewed if they
do not know who
Lana Del Rey is
already.
Q – Double Page Spread
Large ‘S’ is placed to make the
page not just be filled with
columns, but additionally to
make a statement; and make
it look visually interesting. It
is also placed behind the text
to avoid the colours of the
column blending in with the
large capital letter. The large
letter used could also create a
mystery meaning that could
entice the reader to look at
the article.
A medium shot of Lana Del Rey
taking the whole page
therefore it does not run onto
the next page making it too
confusing and difficult to read.
Ariel font is used so it does not
look too complex for the older
audience.
Gutter placed to make the text
not feel as heavy but instead
more spacious and more
comfortable to the eye.
Body Text
The drop
cap is used
for the
same
reason as
the large ‘S’;
to add
visual
interest.