This document discusses codes and conventions used in magazine design. It provides examples of magazine covers and explains techniques like using colour schemes, layouts, images and text styles to engage readers and represent the magazine's brand. Key elements highlighted include the masthead, date, sell lines surrounding the main image, and using techniques like contrast and sizing to guide the reader's eye through the page. The document also references theories like Barthes' codes and Mulvey's male gaze to analyze representation in the magazine covers.

1. CODES AND
CONVENTIONS
A magazine contains multiple features to make it stand out and be differentiated from
other magazines.
Colour is one of the first things the audience can identify on the page, often allowing it
to be recognised from regular house styles that occur. The colour can often be used to
create a certain mood, for example, white connotes purity and red connotes
fire/passion.
Layout often helps the reader navigate through the page, and the columns/sizes of each
image or text box often show the reader which way to read and determine what the
main focus is.

2. ABSOLUTE

3. Masthead – known typography throughout each issue /
bold and white / contrasts with background – drop
shadow around font
Sell line beneath masthead – tells audience what the
magazine is about
Date and issue number
Main image – direct mode of address /
personal relationships (uses and grats)
Heavy makeup – connotes the fashion
theme that recurs throughout the issue.
Facial expression is inviting, mouth
slightly open / stereotypical
representation of women and sexuality
Only sell line in light yellow – shows reader what the
issue is about /fashion – relates to main image
Colour scheme (reds & oranges) connote
spring time and summer time.
Genre is fashion as well as regional magazine
for younger adults.
Sell lines – in white to contrast background
and stand out / surround main image – not
in any particular order
Barthes theory – The enigma code / tension is built up so
we are guessing what happens next

4. Masthead – known typography throughout each issue /
bold and white / drop shadow around font
Sell line beneath masthead – tells audience what the
magazine is about / alternates from black to white
and changes font
Barthes referential code –
cultural information for
reader
Date and issue number
Main image – direct mode of address / personal
relationships (uses and grats)
Heavy makeup and extravagant hair – connotes
fashion theme that recurs throughout the issue
Side profile with lighting on one side of the face
Mulvey’s male gaze – light lingers on curves of female
body.
Sell lines – alternate between white red and black /
make the reader aware of contents of the magazine
Quite a messy layout / no strict order for the sell lines
Fit around the main image
Genre is fashion alongside culture regional magazine, aimed at
young adults especially women for this particular issue.

5. Masthead – known typography throughout each issue /
bold and white to establish ideology of magazine/ drop
shadow around font to make it visible with white
background
Sell line beneath masthead changes in this issue to the
right third to make way for large image - lowercase
Date and issue number on
the left third
Main image – direct mode of address /
personal relationships (uses and grats)
Heavy makeup and extravagant hair relates to
theme of magazine of fashion and culture
Sell lines found in bottom half of cover /
colour scheme of charcoal and dark yellow
– fit around image
Barthes theory – The proairetic code /
tension is built up so we are guessing
what happens next
Special issue – buzz word – The effects
model – gains attention of reader quickly

6. THE
CANTERBURY
INDEX

7. Masthead – mixed fonts / aligned in the centre
Sell line – lists places that features in the magazine
/appeals to wider audience
Date and issue number on
the left third – very small
between masthead
Main image – direct mode of address / personal
relationships (uses and grats)
-unusual convention of image on left third
-mise en scene coordinates with colur scheme
Sell lines – take up most of right third /
contrasting red and white
Barthes theory – The hermeneutic code /
tension is built up so we are guessing what
happens next – uses question marks
‘Special’ = buzz word / makes
readers intrigued – the Effects
model
This magazine uses 3 colours in their house style, the
red highlights important bits and white is sell lines
and extra information

8. Masthead – mixed fonts relates to house style / aligned
in the centre
Sell line – lists places that features in the magazine
/appeals to wider audience (Barthes cultural code)
Date and issue number on
the left third – very small
between masthead
Main image – no model / landscape image of
Canterbury – promoting the region for readers /
tourist qualities
Genre is regional cultural magazine targeting a wide age
range.
Sell lines – take up most of bottom third/
contrasting orange and white – text on
stairs makes reader read from top to
bottom
Barthes theory – The enigma code –tension
built up keeps reader asking what happens
next.
The chance to win something / entices reader into
promotion to win free holiday hotel break / grabs
attention of reader

9. ATLANTA

10. Header – ‘exclusive’ – buzz word The effects model
engages readers attention
Masthead – known typography throughout each issue
establishes ideology of magazine / contrasts with
background – overlaps background – only text in this
colour
Background – lollipops /
connotes summer time –
relating to summer guide issue
‘How to’ – useful information for reader
Surveillance theory / makes the reader feel
they will gain knowledge out of it.
‘Summer Guide’ – scripted font in middle
third relates to background image
Use of black sticker to highlight key
information for reader
Sell lines on the bottom third of the page
– stuctured and neat in white to
coordinate with colour scheme
Genre of this magazine is a regional cultural
magazine

11. Header – ‘BIG IDEAS!’ – scripted font / only red colour
to stand out
Masthead – known typography throughout each issue
Blue sticker – highlights
important different information.
Main Image – relates to all
sell lines / overlapping –
uses an artistic layout to
display features of
magazine
Sell lines surround the main image – scripted
handwriting font.
Use of facts and figures and information from other
countries – Barthes cultural code looking at
audiences wider knowledge.
Barthes enigma code –
builds tension and asks
question to engage reader
Barcode in bottom left
hand corner with date and
price

12. TIME OUT

13. Masthead – known typography throughout each issue /
top left positioning.
Colour scheme is pinks, blacks and whites
countertypeing the usual convention for Time
Out of reds and blacks.
Main image – direct mode of address /
personal relationships (uses and grats)
Heavy makeup and unusual facial
asthetics connote unusual representation
of women – not stereotypically showing
skin or sexualising women / countertype
of Mulveys male gaze.
Sell line – uses ellipses for Barthes enigma
code, gives tension and keeps the
engaged.
Barthes cultural code to also cover wider
areas of issues and problems ‘bullying’.
Cover Line – relates to main image and
uses geometric shapes to surround.

14. Masthead – known typography, always top left usual
convention of Time Out.
Buzz word ‘plus’ engages
reader to want to know extra
information
Colour scheme usual convention of black white and
reds, with blues to highlight sell lines.
Fonts are all the same to keep house style all
similar and tidy.
Main image – unusual convention of no direct
mode of address / the shot connotes fashion by
using the hair covering masthead.
Surveillance – giving the audience extra
knowledge ‘Get the look…for less’
Offer frequent gifts and competitions to
enter, engages reader and appeals to wide
variety of audience.
Cover Line – takes up bottom
third and relates to house style
of fashion. Bold font.
Ellipsis to engage the reader –
Barthes enigma code to build
tension engage reader.

15. NEW YORK

16. Masthead – known typography throughout each issue /
contrasts with background – overlaps the main image
and overlaps page
Date and issue
number – small right
third under masthead
Main image – direct mode of address /
personal relationships (uses and grats)
-mise en scene / hair colour relates to
summer issue / connotes summer and
sunshine
-light contrasted image
Sell lines – both left and right side / very
small surrounding image
Colour scheme connotes summer / pink
font to match jumper and yellow to match
masthead
Bold black text highlights important
information and names
Barcode on left bottom side