This document provides an analysis of the design elements on a music magazine cover. It discusses the color palette of red, white, and black and how they establish contrast and connote genres like indie/rock. The masthead takes up the full top left grid square and uses a bold red color and font to draw emphasis. The main cover line is in black lettering for contrast and catches the eye. A variety of sans serif fonts are used to make the cover more modern. The main image is a full-page photo of the featured artist placed in the center using techniques like direct address to engage the audience. Design principles like the rule of thirds and Gutenberg diagram are employed to draw attention to key elements.

1. Salford City College
Eccles Centre
AS Media Studies
Foundation Portfolio
Colours the colour pallet consist of three bold colours that make
an effective contrast. The dominating colours are deep red,
white and black. These are effective because they illustrate the
genre for example; red connoted danger and is typical associated
with the hybrid genre of indie/rock. It also connotes a romantic
tone. Black and white because they are binary opposition. Black
normally represents death where as white is usually recognised
with purity. So therefore it creates a unique feel to the
magazine. Also theses colours help the red of the artists’ hair to
stand out and look more appealing for the audience.
Masthead It takes the full top left gird square up.
Ed with the
Otherwise known as the primary optical area. The colour
is a bold, deep red witch connotes danger and passion.
Also the white presents a contrast between the red. The
font is bold to create emphasis on the letter. The letter q
is a common tern used in the industry therefore illustrates
the music scene.
Main cover lineit is in black lettering witch is a contrast to the
white background; therefore it catches your eye. This is also
reflected by the fact some worlds are in italics. It is positioned in
the strong fallow field witch is the second thing you look at.
Typefacesthe magazine cover uses white black and red which is
all in a sans serif font. The non- consistency of the font makes
the cover more modern for target audience to relate. For
example some of the fonts are in san serif and the main cover
line is in blocked capitals.
Model creditit is in a sans serif font is bright red lettering. It is
situated in the strong fallow field on the page. This is effective
because it does not distract that target audience from the artist
face; however it is next to the artist so the targeted audience
gets and understanding of the artist if they are not familiar. The
uses of a pull quote is effective it make the audience want to
read more and by the magazine.
Photography LightingThe lighting is high key featured on the
artist this highlights that she is the leading images of the page. It
automatically draws the audience eye to the main focal point
witch is the artist. Also it creates shadows on her body which
adds to the sex appeal. In addition, the high key lighting draws
attention to her pale skin in contrast to the fiery red hair colour.
Coversine’sthe cover line are in the week fallow field. This is so
it does not distract the audience from the main image of the
artist. The cover lines also farm the image the highlight the
importance of the artist. The coversine’s have a background of a
vibrant red colour with white writing. This makes them stand
out.
Main image: The dominating image is the featured artist in
centre of the page that crosses over the rule of three
techniques. This is because she appears in each segment of
page. This make the artist stand out and could introduce a new
audience, if people like her they will buy the magazine. Also, the
artist uses direct address, this makes the audience feel she is
looking at them and helps them to feel connected to the artist.
Also the artist is in the foreground in comparison to the
background of famous iconic landmarks. Because she is larger
than all the predominate icons I could suggest that she is an
iconic artist. The artist has a camera angle of a long shot from a
low angle. This could promote the fact that she has long legs and
introduces ex appeal.
House StyleBy making the artist centre of attention in the middle of famous landmarks, it creates
a urban feel to the magazine. It highlights the genre of alternative/R&B because they are typically
scene as urban. This is demonstrated by typical conventions that music magazine typical have. For
example the coversine’s frames the main image.
Design Principles Used?The title is situated in the primary optical
area in the Guttenberg design principle. This is effective because
it make the title more memorable for the targeted audience
because it is the fist thing that you look at when you are
scanning the page for the fist time. The artist also falls in to this
sector; this is effective because it is the fist thing you see.
Therefore tis will sell the magazine. The strong fallow field it
filled with text to highlight the different stories. The fact that it
has the word “MEN” in blocked capitals suggests that this is the
primary target audience. In each sector of the design principle
there is a clear amount of text. This is effective because it makes
the magazine look like it has lots of news for the audience to
look at. In addition, the dominating image of the artist is in the
centre of the gild lines for the rules of thirds. This automatically
makes the audience subconsciously look at the artist fist and it is
eye catching.