This document provides guidelines for designing magazines, billboards, and websites for regional publications. For magazines, it recommends featuring a local person on the cover alongside a masthead and white straplines. Billboards should prominently display the product with the brand's masthead and include hashtags to increase social media presence. Websites for regional publications should feature images of the region and its people, include an identifiable masthead, use negative space and tabs to organize content, and incorporate interactive galleries.

1. Codes and Conventions

2. Magazines
• Coverpage main image tends to be of a landscape in the region, a featured local or
celebrity from the area, or wildlife. I will feature a local on my coverpage to ensure
audiences understand the magazine is about the people of Hertfordshire.
• Masthead on top centre of coverpage. This is effective in gaining the attention of
the audience.
• Typically have a white strapline with information on the articles inside or of other
editions. I think that the white background of the straplines make them appear
detached from the rest of the coverpage as they do not continue the house style.
• Usually have puffs featuring the magazine’s accomplishments, e.g. if it has
circulated the region for 75+ years.
• Barcode on bottom right of coverpage. I think this looks too clustered and takes
attention from the coverlines/ main image.
REGIONAL MAGAZINES

3. Billboards
• Usually feature one to two images of a model/models either with the product, or a
separate image of the product (sometimes photoshopped onto the image). By
avoiding the use of multiple images, the billboard avoids being misleading as the
audience can quickly see what the product is.
• Masthead visible someone on the ad. Layout typically depends on the advertised
product, e.g. fashion ads may feature just an image of a model accompanied by
the masthead in a large font.
• Hashtags/ social media links. Increase the social media presence of the brand-
enable audiences to gain more information which isn’t available on the billboard.
Increases ways for audiences to follow the brand/ to get incolved.
• Online details. Leads the audience to the brand website etc to find out more.
BILLBOARDS

4. Websites
• Images usually tend to include scenery in the region such as buildings. I will feature
a mixture of images of locations in Hertfordshire, and the people so that
audiences are aware that the magazine focuses on the people rather than just the
place.
• Masthead featured somewhere on the site. This ensures the audience are aware
that the website is affiliated with the magazine brand.
• Negative space. Enables the website to avoid appearing too busy/overwhelming-
however a lot of negative space can appear empty and not informative.
• Interactive gallery. These encourage the audience to flick through the images
which makes the site more engaging.
• Tabs. These split the information on the website and ensure the site is accessible
for audiences.
REGIONAL WEBSITES