This document discusses conventions of magazine design and how the student's media product utilizes and develops those conventions. It examines conventions for magazine covers, contents pages, and double page spreads. For the cover, conventions like the masthead, coverlines, images, and taglines are used and developed. The contents page utilizes columns, images, and page numbers but challenges conventions with its layout and color scheme. The double page spread features a large central image, quote headline, and interview format but positions the image differently from conventions. Overall, the document analyzes real magazine conventions and how the student's work applies and innovates elements of magazine design.

1. INWHATWAYS DOESYOUR MEDIA
PRODUCT USE, DEVELOP OR
CHALLENGE FORMS AND
CONVENTIONS OF REAL MEDIA
PRODUCTS?
EvaluationQuestion 1: IsabelWatkins

2. Conventions typical of a magazine front
cover…
■ Masthead (usually the main feature article)
■ Main Image (Studio image, usually medium
close up or mid-shot with eye-contact)
■ House style
■ Barcode
■ Price

3. Mastheads
■ A masthead conventionally uses a trademark, unique font. Here are some examples…
■ I chose a masthead that connotes rock, is large and fills the page and has a recognizable
font…
• The masthead is usually one or two
words and fills the width of the top of
the page.
• The masthead usually hints at the
genre of the magazine

4. Main Coverline
■ A main coverline is the largest text on the page excluding the masthead: it is used to
describe the image and is often followed by a smaller ‘sub-coverline’.
■ I develop this convention by adding ‘sub-coverlines’ above and below the main one.
By having sub-coverlines surrounding the main coverline, it draws attention to the word
‘Velocity’. My audience research determined that who is on the front cover often is the greatest
factor in whether or not someone will buy a magazine. Because of this, I chose to have the
band’s name stand out.
This issue of ‘Classic Rock’
featured Led Zeppelin in
the coverline with a sub-
coverline describing what
the article is about.
My sub-coverlines describe
what the article is about,
similar to the Classic Rock;
cover

5. Main image
My main image doesn’t
use the conventional
rule of thirds that many
magazines use,
however, it allows
plenty of space for
cover lines and puff.
The image covers the
masthead, a convention
seen here in Kerrang!
magazine.
My main image
features a popular artist
who has an article in
the issue.

6. Taglines
■ Tag-lines are defined as short phrases or sentences that reinforce the magazine name
and typically tend to make it memorable in the mind of the consumer.
■ Not all magazines use a tagline, however, I decided to use ‘Bursting eardrums since
1997’ for my magazine.
■ I challenged conventions by using a tag line that’s purpose is for humour, rather than
reinforcing the name of the magazine. My target audience are young people that likely
don’t take things too seriously and would find the tagline amusing.The tag-line shows
the year the magazine was first published- 1997- suggesting the magazine is good
because it has been in publishing for so long. My tagline uses the convention of
reinforcing the genre of the magazine: ‘bursting eardrums’ suggests loud music i.e.
rock and roll.

7. House Style
■ Most front covers will use a defined choice of colours to create a recognizable house
style.
This issue of ‘Mojo’ uses a colour palette of black,
white and gold.
My front cover uses red, white and
yellow.

8. Conventions of a magazine contents
page…
■ Layout in columns
■ One main image (usually relating to a featured
article)
■ Other smaller images
■ Page numbers on images
■ Name of magazine on top of page
■ Subscription/ contact information
■ One colour scheme
■ Contents divided into headings
■ Sublines
■ An image of the front cover

9. Layout
I took inspiration from ‘Kerrang!’s recurring contents page layout for my own: I chose
to use 4 columns at the bottom of the page so there was more space at the top for
images.

10. Conventions I used in my contents page
I use one large image of a
featured article as well as
several smaller images.
Similar to how front covers
often have buzzwords like
‘FREE’ to entice audiences
in, I put an image of the iPad
you could win in the
contents because it arouses
interest.
Numbers on pictures
Front cover featured
Subscription info
Social media links. I chose to highlight this information in blue
as most social media sites are blue and this will send a
subliminal message to my audience.
Magazine name featured
Contents divided up by
headings
Constantly referencing, advertising
self… (the magazine)

11. Conventions I developed/ challenged
Magazine name in centre
of page/ not at top
Many smaller images that
are not just for featured
articles.
Many colours; not the
typical 2 or 3 colour
scheme.
Although this image conforms to real media
products as it is an action shot from a gig, I chose to
use a slightly blurred image because it effectively
shows the atmosphere of a gig.
No ‘From the editor’
section as I want to
advertise the music
and the bands, not
the creators of the
magazine.

12. Conventions of a double page spread
■ A large image (usually direct
address looking at camera)
■ A quote as a headline/ pull-quote
■ The star’s name stands out e.g. in a
different font/ colour.
■ A short introduction
■ Text in columns
■ Image usually on the left hand side,
sometimes on the right

13. Conventions I used in my double page
spread
Quote used as
headline- doesn’t
explain what the
article is about but is
striking and interests
the audience.
‘Introduction’
explaining the article
Interview questions
highlighted

14. Conventions I developed/challenged
Main image in centre/
crossing the two
pages Multiple smaller
images used