Existing Magazine Critical Deconstruction

1. Secondary
Research Into
Existing
Products
By Ana Vasilescu

2. Research into similar product

3. Front Cover Analysis

4. Introduction
During this initial research stage in order to fulfill project criteria as well as
design requirements I have carried out product deconstructive research into
similar print publications.
I this task i have critically deconstructed fashion magazine front covers,
content page and double-spread articles in order to establish design codes
and conventions and potential audience.

5. Masthead
Cover Lines
Barcode
Main Cover Line
Spine
Main Image
Straplines

6. Harper’s Bazaar Front Cover Analysis

7. The layout of the front cover
follows traditional magazine codes
and conventions by having the
main image is the center
surrounded by the cover lines,
attracting the audience’s attention
to the magazine. The cover is still
clean and simple,matching the
cool-tone colours
The language used is short and snappy however more sophisticated,
henceforth appealing to the target audience, which is upper-middle class
women
The use of a font from the serif
family correlates to the mature
demographic, giving a sense of
luxury and class. This furthermore
resonates with the magazine's full
aesthetic which is based on
elegance, high fashion and
maturity
The main colours of the front
cover are blue and white, with
pops of black. The colours are
sophisticated yet bright enough to
attract the reader’s aye. The main
colours appear in each aspect of
the front cover from the
masthead to the cover lines to the
main image. This is all tied
together by the neutral cool-tone
gray background, which in and of
itself matches the front cover
aesthetic.
The model keeps a strong and
confident pose, inspiring
empowerment. This gives an
example to the readers of who
they will be if they read this
magazine, this works on the idea
that target audience wants tot
looks like the model on the cover.
This inspires the reader to buy the
magazine

8. Teen Vogue Front Cover Analysis

9. The front cover layout obeys to
traditional magazine codes and
conventions. By having the
masthead horizontally at the top
of the page, along with having the
cover text placed around the
model’s face, attention is drawn to
the model, attracting the reader’s
attention.
The magazine cover centers
around cool-tone colours with
the model’s pink hair contrasting
the colours, therefore attracting
the audience’s eye to the cover.
The use of pastel colour in the
background ,which match the
text and the model’s hair, is
aesthetically pleasing the the
human eye. The use of sans serif
fonts matches with the model’s
modern outfit and atypical hair
colour .
Both the text used and the
language used on the cover
lines correlates with the target
audience. The use of sans serif
font associates with the
teenage target audience, as
sans serif fonts are considered
modern and appealing to
teenagers. While the topics
addressed in the cover lines are
important to the target
audience. This all goes hand-in-
hand with the used vocabulary
which is short, snappy and
straight to the point. This all ties
the cover together as it
matches the aesthetic and
connects with the target
audience.
Overall the main image, the text and the background combine perfectly to
create an “out of this world” modern aesthetic. This appeals to the teenage
target audience, attracting their attention enticing the to read the magazine.

10. Critical Comparison of Two Fashion
Magazine Front Covers

11. Main Image - In Vogue the maine image is model Emily Ratajkowski in a full body shot, whilst in Harper’s
Bazaar the main image is singer Taylor Swift in a headshot. The Vogue cover is more serious and dramatic, as
the model wears a long, sophisticated dress as she’s coming out of a phonebooth giving a retro-british
aesthetic, whilst the Harper’s Bazaar cover is more modern and fun due to the unusual makeup and earrings
Layout - Both covers traditional magazine codes and conventions. Both Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar have a
similar layout, with the masthead on the top of the page, with the cover lines to the left of the cover drawing
the eye to the main image.
Both magazines cater to upper-
middle class women however,
Harper’s Bazaar associates to more
modern women while Vogue relates
to women who prefer classic
sophisticated styles, this can be seen
by the fact that Vogue even used a
vintage phone booth and the model’s
outfit and hairstyle. Harper’s Bazaar
however, targeted a more modern
and out-there audience which can be
seen by the editorial and
monochromatic look worn by the
singer.

12. Content Page Design Mind Map

13. Content Page
Codes & Conventions
Institutional
Details
Issue
number
Date
The Continuity of
Design
Small image
of the front
cover
Brand identity
such as title
Colour
scheme
continuing
from the
front cover
to the
content
page
Other
Conventions
Typography
Camera
Shots
Demographics
Image Type
Titles on the
content
Text sizes
More ranges of
camera angels
on the content
page then on
the front cover
Text
Colours
Variety of...
Editors
Letter
List of people
who are
involved on
the making of
the magazone
List of
magazine
articles
and
features
Text Fonts
Images
appealing
to the
readers(ag
e, gender,
ethnicity,
etc.)Topics of the articles
would interest the
target readers
The colour scheme
will represent the
magazine’s target
audience
Supporting
Images for the
article

14. Content Page Analysis

15. Denotation/Connotation -
Unconventional content page
design and layout in order to
depict uniqueness. The
dominant image connotes
style and contemporary vibe
which relates to magazine
attributes.
Main Image - The main
image is a couture ring. The
ring is very high-fashion and
meant to attract the target
audience of upper-middle
class women
Direct Mode - overall composition does not follow traditional
design requirements, mainly because company wishes to showcase
their uniqueness in style and therefore modes of address are
formal with elements of style and class.
Masthead - The placement
of the masthead follows
traditional content page
codes and conventions and
is placed in the middle at
the top of the page. Thos
attrat the audiences
atteantion to the masthead,
keeping the name of the
magazines in the reader’s
head
Selling Line - Following
simple design conventions
the use of language is
simple, straightforward and
self-explanatory.
Use of Text - The text is
small yet easily readable so
that the reader can easily
understand where each
article is

16. Critical Comparison of Two Magazine Content
Pages

17. The main image for elle magazine is a picture of a designer bag, this correlates with the title of its
article while also attracting the target audience. The bag is a designer bag which is currently in style,
as this is a fashion magazine it fits with the the magazine’s aesthetic. Vogue’s main image is a picture
of model Zoe Kravitz shot by African-American photographer Gugu, this picture corresponds both
with the fashion/style readers and the readers interested in real world issues.
When it comes to the masthead
elle kept their in the top center to
attract attention to it whilst vogue
kept their name in at the bottom
left of the page, this goes against
traditional magazines codes and
conventions, this gives an edgy
and classy twist on the content
page.
The layout of the two magazines
is similar, both magazines using
columns to arange the headlines
and the page nukbers. The only
difference is the fact that elle
separated the articles into
sections by topics

18. Critical Comparison of Two Double-Page
Spread Analysis

19. The layout and vibe of the spreads is pretty different, the
Harper’s Bazaar spread is more vibrant and uses 1 main
image and 3 smaller images spread around the two
pages. The Vanity Fair spread however, uses one main
image (of Shailene Woodley) spread out over the two
pages, this gives a modern, minimalist and sleek feel. The
Harper’s Bazaar spread gives off a more active, energetic
and young vibe.
The colour schemes of the two spreads also reinforce
the different attitudes of spreads, Harper’s Bazaar
went for a colourful yet still minimal look, with pops of
various bright colours, upkeeping with their
fashionable and fun vibe. Vanity Fair opted for a much
simpler spread, with mainly black and white however,
the orange text grabs the reader's attention and
creates a burst in the minimalism. Both models are
also dressed and positioned in different ways, so as to
match the topic of the spread. Vanity Fair went for a
classy dress and flattering pose Whilst Harper’s Bazaar
went for a more laied back outfit and casual pose.

20. Codes and Conventions Used to Create a
Magazine

21. Codes & Conventions Used to Create a MagazineMasthead - is the title for the magazine, the masthead
typography is distinctive to the brand of the magazine and
it is the most eye catching convention on the cover.
Headline - is the title of the article, it appears in a large
font at the top of the page, giving the audiendes an insight
to what an article is about as well as grabbing the reader's’
attention
Selling Line/Strapline - are seen as an introductory
headline below the masthead describing the magazine
Contents- normally a one page spread which displays
what is included in the magazine
Plugs- are the prices, freebies and logos of the magazine
brand they are positioned at the top right-hand corner of
the cover
Splash/lead story - the main article of the front cove,
backed up by a photo and the headline from the article
Secondary lead/Sub-Stories - a sneak preview on the
cover of an article issued in the magazin, the title of the
story and a shocking photo makes the audience want to
read more
Side-bar - An additional box besides the main feature of
the magazine
Strand first/strapline - is the sentence under the
headline, before the article begins, that sells a feature the
the audience
Tag/Lure - engaging words or phrases that grab the reader's
attention
Pull quote - normally a quote from the article, this gives the
reader an insight to what the article may be about. This can
be found in a splash text
Box-out - a coloured box located behind the masthead, to
make it stand out
By-line/Credits - this names the reporter who wrote the
article and sometimes also the photographer
Caption - the text near an image that explains it and
normally labels the people in the photo
Crosshead - is a subheading or side-heading that explains
briefly what the next paragraph is going to be about
Typography - font, such as: serif, sans-serif, drop-cap
Main image - is a photograph of a person, people or an
object that is directly linked to the article
Barcode/issue number/dateline and price - information
that may be overlooked as it is in a small text and is located
in the bottom corners of the front cover, as it not the main
selling points of the magazine
Top and Bottom Strip - these arestrips above and below
the masthead, advertised articles and the main image(s) on
the cover that give further information about what’s inside
that magazine. Making the magazine look full of information.

22. Summary

23. Summary
In this research I was able to establish conventional and non-conventional
magazine design features which implemented in order to entice the target
audience to purchase a specific print product.
Following established design codes and conventions with elements of new
design tactics I will create a front cover, content page and a double spread
magazine article which will reflect my creative and technical ability in
combination with traditional and contemporary design tactics.