The magazine follows many conventions of existing magazines in its design, including using a plain white background on the cover, placing the tagline and masthead at the top of the cover, featuring a large central image overlapping the title, and including additional coverlines and pricing along the edge. The contents page similarly places "contents" in large letters at the top and divides articles into subsections with headings and page numbers. Some elements challenge conventions, such as using a two-shot cover image instead of a solo shot and including more images on the contents page. The double-page spread equally divides space between image and text in columns, highlighting questions and quotes, and uses a casual interview style.

2. The three end products that I have created share
several of the codes and conventions that are
used by other magazines, here’s a look at how
my magazine follows these existing
products, and in some ways goes against them.

3. FRONT COVER – SIMILARITIES

4. The magazine uses a
plain white
background, as seen
on the majority of
existing magazines.

5. The tagline is found at the
very top of the
page, near the title, to
emphasise the content
of the mag

6. The main masthead uses
big, bold letters and is
situated at the top of
the page to grab the
viewers attention.

7. The main image uses a
mid shot, like most
others, and takes up a
large amount of the
page. It also somewhat
overlaps and obscures
the title.

8. The page contains a main
article headline
accompanying the
image, to stand as the
main feature of the
magazine. This is
found in the centre of
the page, and stands
out from all other text
through the use of the
band logo.

9. Additional coverlines run
down the sides of the
page, advertising
additional features.
They consist of a sub
heading, as well as a
line of info to anchor
its meaning further.

10. The barcode and pricing
are found along the
edge of the page, in
order to not take away
from any of the main
page features.

11. CONTENTS – SIMILARITIES

12. The word “contents” has
been placed in large
letters across the top
of the page, as with
many other magazines
seen during research.

13. The contents has been
divided into smaller
sub sections, to allow
for easier location of
articles. This was done
to replicate what was
seen in existing mags.

14. Each article has been
given a sub
heading, along with a
short section to sum
up what it contains.

15. Articles were given
corresponding page
numbers, found
adjacent to each
feature title.

16. All written information
was kept down one
side of the page, whilst
accompanying images
filled the other.

17. Each image contained a
page number, to allow
the audience to relate it
to a particular feature,
as seen in several
music magazines.

18. DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD

19. The two pages are equally split between picture and
feature, this technique being seen on numerous
cases from the research.

20. The first page primarily consists of an image of the
feature’s subjects. Along with a very brief intro to the
article which followed.

21. The interview text is split into columns, which is the
norm for any large quantities of text of this type.

22. Questions within the interview have been highlighted in
some way to distinguish them from the rest of the
text.

23. A quote has been extracted from the interview itself and
highlighted on the page, which is a common feature
of other interviews found in magazines.

24. CHALLENGING CONVENTIONS
On a couple of occasions, I decided on style
features that were perhaps not considered the
norm of other established magazines of the
same nature. For instance:

25. Firstly the main front cover image depicts a two
shot over the typical solo shot as favoured by
other conventional covers. It is also located
slightly to the side of the page, again
challenging the conventional “middle of the
page” approach. This was done due to the
nature of the image, which was chosen as it
showed potential to stand out as a professional
leading image for the front cover. It also allowed
for an interesting and unique page layout
regarding the article titles/”plus section” etc.

26. The contents differs from convention as it
includes a far greater amount of images that
typically seen on standard contents pages of a
similar nature. I felt this would give the readers
a greater insight into the included articles from
the off, as well as create the sense that the
magazine was bursting with features.

27. Finally, to the double page spread .The language
used in the interview goes someway in differing
from that typically regarded as the norm for
music based interviews. The style in which it
has been transcribed allows for more of a
personal feeling and connection between reader
and interviewees, who in this case answered in
a jokey, casual fashion. This was chosen over
the more generally accepted formal approach to
further appeal to the youthful audience.