The document discusses how the author's magazine both conforms to and challenges conventions of magazine design. It conforms by including standard features like a masthead, cover lines, and contents page with page numbers. However, it challenges conventions by using the unconventional color orange and a script font for the editor's note. The author analyzed design elements from other magazines to develop their magazine's visual style. A survey found the magazine was viewed as fun and colorful by readers mainly ages 17-20 who also read magazines like Vogue. Respondents favored the double-page spread design most.

1. How does ‘ Beat ’
Magazine conform
and/or challenge the
conventions of
magazine design?

2. The
Front
Cover!

3. The
Contents!

4. The Double Page Spread!

5. My magazine uses forms from current media, I have
done this by including basic conventions such as:
These are all the features on the front page
The Masthead which are very similar to other magazines, I
based my design on different magazines
which I researched in order to plan a design
for my own magazine. One of these
magazines was ‘VIBE’ because the genre of
Cover Lines music I wanted to base my magazine on,
was very similar. I have also used similar
colour schemes, and similar text throughout
the magazine to retain ‘House Style’ which is
often found in other magazines. On the front
cover I used a lead line and a lead image
Lead Line that are related to each other as it is the
main article within my magazine.
Although, because my magazine is a new
product, I have done some things differently
Cover Image and challenged the conventions, I have
(Medium done this by using the colour Orange which
Close Up) is not very often found on magazines of this
genre because it can be bright.

6. Front Cover Comparison
Here I have used the idea of a
black and white photograph When looking for magazine
which connotes seriousness, design, I mainly used ideas
because the lead line talks from some of these front
about having a challenge. covers. As you can see I
have mixed up many of the
ideas to create my
layout/design.
My overall layout is very similar I used a very similar design for
to this front cover because of my cover lines as Rap Up’s
the positioning on the main because I thought they were
image and the cover lines. It fun and funky. It also helped
also follows a strict colour me because I didn’t want my
scheme much like my magazine to be too serious and
magazine. boring.

7. My magazine uses forms from current media, I have
done this by including basic conventions such as:
Title
These are all the features I believe are
conventional to a magazine. I have kept the
colour scheme of the magazine very well as
it has maintained the house style, I have also
used the same font as the front page and
Feature Stories throughout the contents page. Although, for
the editors not I have used a ‘Script’ font
because this often seen in magazines
because it wants to feel like the editor has
handwritten their message. I have also
included the page numbers and a short
Regulars introduction to the features, because these
are exclusive therefore their importance
needs to be emphasised. I have also placed
the regulars on the other side of the contents
page, but these have less emphasis because
people who often buy the magazine know
they are there anyway.
Editors Note

8. Contents Page Comparison
The colour scheme, I believe is
very similar to the We Love Pop
magazine because of the
bright colours.
My title for my contents I
believe is very similar to the
contents title in rap up. This
shows that I have used current
magazine conventions.
When I was looking at ideas
for a contents page, I have
done the same as I did for
my front cover and used
many different design ideas
from similar magazines to
create a unique design.

9. My magazine uses forms from current media, I have
done this by including basic conventions such as:
These are all the features on my Double Page
Stand first Spread that I believe are conventional to
magazines. I have tried to keep with my house
style by using very similar colours. Although to add
a bit of variety I use light blue for my columns to
make the article stand out on the page. I have also
put a border around the lead image to make it
Pull Quote more fun and upbeat, which goes well with the rest
of the magazine. I have also included a pull quote,
which is very common in magazines and if the pull
quote is interesting enough it will draw the
audience in and they will want to read the entire
article.
Lead Image At the beginning of the article I used a drop cap to
put emphasis on the beginning of the article. To
introduce the article, I used a standfirst which gives
the reader a brief introduction into what the text is
about, it also let’s the reader decide weather or
not they wish to read the article/interview.
Although, I have also made my own features such
as the ‘Did you know’ boxes because this will make
Drop Cap the reader believe they know more about the
person featured. Therefore it’s more personal.

10. Double Page Spread Comparison
My double page spread was
hard to design as not many
of the magazines I analysed
had design features which
stood out for me.
Columns are very conventional
within all magazines, therefore I
decided to use them to create
a more professional look to the
DPS. The colour scheme and
way the page is laid out is
slightly similar to Rap up.

11. Survey Responses
I conducted a survey on
www.surveymonkey.com so that I could find
out what people thought about my magazine
and what I could do to improve next time,
overall I only managed to get 14 responses.
Although, some of the responses we’re
detailed enough so that enabled me to
understand what I need to improve.

12. Readership…
The highest amount of
people that reviewed
my magazine were
between the ages of 17
and 20. This is very similar
to the readership I was
aiming my magazine at.
50% of people are male
and the other 50% are
female. Although, this
magazine is mainly
aimed at females. I
believe it is good that
also Males have taken
an interest.

13. Readership…
I also asked what other sort
of magazines people read,
according to my survey the
most popular was the high
end fashion magazine;
Vogue at 44.4%. Which is
good, because on my
reader profile I said people
who read my magazine
are into fashion.

14. Magazine Evaluation…
I found out people
thought my
magazine was fun,
bright, colourful,
interesting and
pretty. I believe this
is a good response,
because I wanted
my magazine to be
eye catching and if
they believe it is
colourful and fun,
then it will be very
eye catching and
interesting to look at.
No negative
responses we’re
given, so I don’t
believe I need to

15. Magazine Evaluation…
I also was interested to know
what peoples favourite page
of the magazine would be. The
result shows that people
thought my Double Page
Spread was the best. Although,
I thought my contents page
was my best design. This
therefore means next time I
should try to improve the
design of my contents.

16. Magazine Evaluation…
To find out what people
thought in more detail, I
asked them to say what
they liked about my
magazine, and gave them
a comment box to type
their response. This has
helped me to understand
what the readership like
about my magazine.
Some responses such as ‘I
think the colour scheme is
spot on’ tells me if I was
going to do this again, I
wouldn’t need to rethink
the colours I used.

17. Magazine Evaluation…
For some helpful criticism I
asked for people to
comment on what they
dislike most about my
magazine. Luckily I
received some helpful,
detailed feedback.
People have commented
on the facial expression of
my lead image on the front
cover as being too serious.
This means I could improve
by having a model with a
happier expression to keep
in style of the rest of the
magazine as it is meant to
be upbeat.

18. Magazine Evaluation…
As well as asking people
what they dislike, I also ask
them to comment what I
could do to improve the
overall look of my
magazine so they would
like it more. Again, I have
gained some good advice.
Such as; You could use
more photos. I agreed with
the comment as I believe
my magazine lacks variety
of photos.

19. Overall I think my magazine was successful, but I believe there
are areas in which I could improve such as using more photos
and taking more time on the overall layout of the magazine. I
could do this by taking more time on Photoshop, and
concentrate less on the content and more on what people see. I
would also take more time to research other magazines which
would be similar to mine.
Again, I think I have kept the conventions of Professional
magazines by using different elements, and creating my own,
new, unique magazine.