This document outlines common design elements and conventions used on magazine covers. It discusses the typical positioning and design of elements like the masthead, main image, cover lines, background, banners, and other promotional text or images. Overall, it provides guidance on how magazine covers effectively showcase their brand and content through established design patterns that highlight key information, relate to the publication's genre or topic, and attract readers.

2. Masthead
 Mastheads are always used on magazine covers, they
are the title of a magazine.
 They are usually positioned at the top of the page,
mostly in the centre of the page.
 The name typically relates to the genre of music for
the magazine.
 The font used on the masthead is always unique, the
same font isn’t used again in the magazine at all.
The masthead has
its own unique
font. Main image
overlaps the
masthead,
suggests that ‘Go’
is a well known
magazine.

3. Main Image
 The Main Image is typically a medium close up
and usually positioned in the centre of the page.
They are always the biggest thing on the cover.
 The masthead and cover lines always overlaps
the main image.
 The main image is almost always a music artist
or band.
 The main image always relates to a section of
the magazine, the person on the front is always
in the magazine itself.
Jay Z is the main image
of this music magazine
cover. He is the largest
thing on the page. On
this cover, he overlaps
the masthead.
Positioned quite
centrally. Medium close
up.

4. Colour Scheme
 Every magazine cover stands by some
colour scheme. The typical heavy metal
based magazine cover’s colour scheme will
usually be different to a soft rock magazine
covers colour scheme. Therefore the colour
scheme relates to the genre of the music
magazine.
 The masthead and cover lines may be the
same colour over a different coloured
background.
The colour scheme makes
the main image and writing
stand out. The main colours
used are pink and black.
Pink appeals more to
women, which is the target
audience of this magazine.

5. Cover Lines
 They are positioned around the main image and
to each sides of the magazine cover.
 They often match the colour of the masthead.
 They tell the viewers what is included inside the
magazine, so they must sound appealing and be
short but interesting to attract any viewers.
 The main cover lines are typically the second
largest section of writing on the page. They are
bigger than the less important cover lines.
These are
examples of cover
lines used. This
cover uses several
which gives insight
to the inside of
the issue.

6. Background
 Always relates to the colour scheme.
 Usually a blank colour like white or black to
make the writing and image stand out on the
cover page.
This background colour is the typical
plain white on this cover. It relates to
the colour scheme as they use colours
like red, black and grey for the writing.
The white makes the writing and the
image stand out well.

7. Positioning Statement
 Gives an insight to what is inside the magazine.
 Tells you about the magazine place in the
market.
This is like the typical positioning
statement, this one says about the
actual magazine.

8. Banners
 Banners are typically positioned at the top of
the cover page, on top of the masthead.
 They are a different colour to the background
but blend in with the colour scheme.
 They contain a short sentence advertising
something extra in the magazine issue.
This banner is like the typical
magazine banner. This one
advertises an exclusive interview
with an artist and positioned above
the masthead.

9. Font
 Every magazine cover sticks to a specific font.
 The font for the masthead is never used again in
the same magazine.
 The font relates to what genre of music the
magazine is.
 The font used for the cover lines is simple and
easy to read.
This masthead’s font is different to
the other fonts used on this page.

10. Barcode/Price/Date/Issue
 Usually hidden or out of the way on a magazine
cover as they don’t mean too much.
 The price is sometimes hidden in a corner if they
think it is quite costly. They like to hide the price so it
isn’t the first thing a viewer see’s.
 The barcode is often in the bottom right or left
corner.
 The Date and issue is also usually kept hidden and
small over the background.
The Barcode, date and price
are all hidden in the bottom
left of the cover. This is like a
typical front cover

11. Splash/Puff
 A splash/puff is an incentive which is placed on the
cover to make something stand out. Usually is text
inside of a shape.
 Don’t feature on every magazine, not that common.
This splash is used to advertise a
competition which features inside
the magazine. Competition is
related to music.

12. Sub - Images
 Sub – images are images used on a cover that aren’t
as important as the main image but still represent
something that features inside the magazine.
 Very uncommon
 Typically the image will be of a recent magazine. If
not then it is vary unusual for a magazine cover. They
feature a lot on contents pages.
Multiple sub – images are used on this cover.
One is advertising recent magazines from
‘Kerrang!’ and the other sub images are of
other rock stars.

13. Incentives
 These are a separate way of persuading
people to buy their magazine.
 A typical incentive would be using an
extra free item like a CD or a poster.
The ‘free …’ is the incentive on
this magazine cover.

14. Mise – en - scene
 The face expression of the person on the
main image must relate to the genre of the
magazine, the clothing used must also be
relevant.
 On a music magazine, they may use props
like musical instruments to represent the
genre of the magazine.
On this cover, the artist for the main image is
clearly screaming down a microphone which
represents the genre of the magazine, which is
rock – ‘Kerrang’.

15. Quotes
 Used as cover lines but quoted from an
artist from the genre which the magazine is
based around.
 Positioned on the side of a magazine like a
cover line.
Here is an example of a quote being used from
Cheryl, who is the main image.

16. Buzz Words
 These are usually on the front cover near
sub - headings. They are in bold or in bright
shapes/colours to attract the consumers eye.
The buzz words are used to promote sales
typically.
 E.g. ‘Free’ ‘Plus’ ‘Exclusive’

17. Musical Iconography
 Props that represent the genre of the music
which the magazine is based around.
Ed Sheeran and his guitar shows the musical
iconography on this cover page.