The document analyzes and compares the contents pages of two electronic dance music magazines, DJ Magazine and Mixmag. For DJ Magazine, the summary focuses on the title being small and out of place to draw attention to the featured content. Images are evenly sized to give equal significance to each feature. A wide range of EDM-related images ensure there is something for all readers. For Mixmag, the summary notes the symmetrical layout with larger center images guiding the eye around the page. Images take up most space to primarily engage visual readers. Both magazines utilize color schemes, fonts, layouts and images to attract their target audiences.

2. magazine 1: DJ

3. The title of DJ Magazine’s contents page is seen on the
top right corner. It’s quite small and overlaps the page
border. It’s also in a thin font. All these factors contribute
to, although it being clear, it’s purposely out of place. The
reason for this is to focus the viewer on the features
shown, not distract from them.
The style of the font is sans serif- this makes it easier to
read and is stereo-typically aimed at a younger audience.
The content is laid over a single page. The majority of the
page is text- this is fragmented through the use of colour.
The images border the text. The straight forward, neat
structure of page makes it easy to follow, and also gives it
more of an adult-like, article effect. There is much white
space, but this only foregrounds the images and text-
guiding the viewer’s eye.
The text and the images are all relatively the same size-
giving each feature the same amount of significance.
contents page: TITLE & LAYOUT

4. The images here used cover a wide range of areas- from clubbing
to DJs, fashion to music production. Everything EDM related can
be seen here with an image. This ensures someone quickly
skimming through the magazine, to find something they will enjoy.
Although there is one picture of a female, this is used for the
feature of ‘fashion’, which is stereo-typical towards this genre.
IMAGES
The people in the images range from 25-50 year olds. This is due
to the slightly younger EDM audience (late teens- early twenties),
looking up to such people. I’ve also noticed there are a range of
expressions (e.g. a silly shocked face), again linking to youth.
•
The image I enlarged to
the left, has been used to
highlight the cultural
aspects of the magazine.
Due to it being taken at
night, the lights and
silhouettes make it an
easily recognisable place-
a festival. Such simplistic
denotations allow it to be
easy to the eye.

5. Although the colours from the chosen photos are
quite random, there is a shared trend- darkness. All
the colours contain a large amount of black and
shadows. This reflects the night-light feel of the
magazine, connoting the genre ‘EDM’. It also follows
on from the dark colours used for the front cover.
Much of the text is also highlighted with colour. The
first column useds bright yellow, this connotes an
exclusive area, which proves correct by the headline
‘Features’ The use of multiple colours does give the
magazine a more child-like feel, as pink, blue and
gold (in the middle column), are almost the primary
colours: red, blue and yellow. The colours do
however, separate the featured content from the
regular, making it easier for a reader to follow. The
colour white is a simply used as a canvas for such
content.
COLOUR SCHEME AND HOUSE STYLE

6. The features are titled in capitals, this only emphasises their importance. The more descriptive text below is
then extremely small using normal-case lettering. This simply helps the viewer navigate through the
contents page. The job of such a page itself is to guide the reader through the magazine, as well as give a
more detailed overview than the front cover.
The pictures are also numbered, allowing a viewer to match a page with a picture they may find intriguing.
I’ve noticed the numbers are also places on the bottom left of each image, this may be due to it being more
central, therefore is more likely to gain the viewer’s attentions, consequently, interest.
The font of the text and numbers is simple and easy to read, making it useful for their functions.
TEXT AND NUMBERS

7. magazine 2: MIXMAG

8. The layout of the page creates a symmetrical feeling- your eyes focus on the two larger
images in the middle, before getting lead towards the bordering text. The large extent of blank
space results in a well-organised outlook and a well focused viewer- every feature takes up
it’s own rectangular fraction of the page. This results in no clashes.
contents page:
TITLE AND LAYOUT
Straight away, this contents
page is seen as having an
advantage space-wise from
DJ Magazine- It’s over a
double page spread.
Although it has all this
space, the title again is
relatively small. This is due
to it simple acting as a label
rather than a min subject
within this page spread. The
font of the title is continuous,
giving it a glow-stick, night-
life effect. The fact that it’s
capitalised makes such a
font easier to read.

9. The use of columns on this page is used in a clever manner; the columns are not in rows and are
greatly separating it, lessening from the formal article format and appealing more to the typically
less educated audience.
The fact that there are columns, does however add to the neat and organised look of such a page,
allowing easy navigation. The gutter is also wide- this avoids an overcrowded look.
SIZE & COLUMNS
The size of objects here,
has a huge role in
significance- As the
pictures take up the
majority of space through
both frequency and size,
they’re clearly the primary
focus of this page. This is
due to the young EDM
audience people thought
of as lazy-they will skim
through photos but not
text.
Here, the images of main
features are larger than
those images of the lesser
features.

10. The images are all caught in the moment- with some kind of movement. This is used as it attracts the TA
who view the contents as fun, exciting and engaging.
A mini version of the front cover is presented on the top right corner- this is to give credit to the illustrator.
Other than this, the images don’t directly link to the cover photo. Instead, they choose to focus on other
features within the magazine. This may be due to one image taking up the whole front cover already gives
enough insight on that feature.
IMAGES
The images used hint at
features within the
magazine, for example: the
shadow-like image is
representative of a DJ called
Claptone- ‘Meet the
enigmatic house producer’.
This allows the DJ’s fan base
to be more directly targeted,
and more likely to buy/ read
the whole magazine.
All the images in the
magazine has gone through
an extreme editing process,
as been made obvious. This
relates the artificial sound of
EDM music.

11. QUOTES, COLOUR
SCHEME &
HOUSE STYLE
The colour scheme follows off from the front colour through the high saturation
allowing the pinks, indigos and yellows to strongly show through. The simplistic
house style of the magazine is also seen here are the photos are placed as
squares- they’re not cut around.
•Surprisingly, no
quotes from
inside articles are
seen featured on
this page. This
may be due to
summaries being
a shorter way to
give insight on
the content.

12. NUMBERS, TEXT & SOCIAL MEDIA
ICONS
Towards the crease of the page, the website is written. This ensures the reader won’t miss
it, as well as adding symmetry to the overall graphics and means to create more long-term
magazine fans, as it sends them to their online website.
Finally, the numbers presented continues with
the magazine’s overall digital look. This allows it
to continue growing in the magazine industry as
it develops in look with technology.
The number size allows easy identification with the page
number- the second a reader opens this page they’re
automatically taken to another page with the huge number
presented before them. This is used as a hook tactic.
The main text is in bold, with a small description below. This
allows a readers eye to happily skip past parts they’re
uninterested in more efficiently, whilst finding a subject matter
of their interest.

13. I’VE LEARNT HOW A CONTENT PAGE
EFFICIENTLY OPPERATES TO ACHIEVE IT’S
PRIMARY PURPOSES. THIS WILL INFLUENCE
MY FURTHUR RESEARCH AS I NOW HAVE
BACKGROUND KNOWELDGE.
Produced by Cherie Herman