This document summarizes the results of focus group questions asked about sample magazine cover, contents page, and two-page spread designs. For the cover, participants generally liked the color scheme but suggested alternative colors. They also wanted to see more of the guitar and additional taglines. For the contents page, most felt the cover and interior styles should differ. They preferred a balanced mixture of images and content information. For the two-page spread, participants liked the layout but wanted the text consolidated to one page. They also felt the dark theme needed brighter contrasting colors.

1. Focus Group Analysis
This is one of the magazine covers I annotated for my
research and planning. I used this cover as an example for my
focus group.
I asked specific questions about it,
hoping the audience’s responses would
help me make the best possible
magazine cover I can.
1) Do you like the colour scheme of this
magazine cover? If not, what two or
more colours would you prefer it to be?
- On an average, most people who
answered this question said they liked
this cover’s colour scheme, but other
popular colours suggested were blue and
green.
2) Do you like the cover’s layout? If not,
how else would you prefer the layout?
-Popular answers were being able to see
most of the guitar, rather than half of it
being blocked by coverlines, etc. They
also said they would prefer a few more
taglines rather than just pictures of band
members.
3) What particular member of a band would you prefer to see on
the cover most of all? (e.g. Guitarist, Lead singer, Drummer, etc.)
- The answer to this question was just about unanimous; Guitarist
was the most popular answer.
4) Name 3 rock bands that you would like to appear in
taglines/coverlines on the front cover of a rock magazine such as
this one.
- Popular answers included Rage Against The Machine, Muse and 30
Seconds To Mars.
5) Do you like the Camerawork used on this front cover? (In this
case a low angle shot) If not, state another shot that you would like
to be used.
- Low angle shot was a popular choice, followed by mid-shots and
high angles.

2. This is the contents page I chose from my analysis work for
my research and planning.
Like for the magazine cover, I asked questions about this contents
page hoping for enough feedback to help me make my own
contents page.
1) The contents page for this
magazine has a different style to
its cover page. Do you think
they should have different house
styles, or should they be the
same?
- Most people said the house
styles between cover and
contents page should be
different/mixture.
2) What do you think about the
layout? Do you think there
should be more images, more
information about the magazines
contents or a balance mixture of
both?
- On an average, the most
popular answer was “a balanced
amount of both” and “more
information than images”.
3) Which appeals more?
A. A contents page with
article information from
top of the page to the
bottom with content
images (a mixture).
B. Half the contents page dedicated to photos and half dedicated
to article information.
- Most people went for A, so I will lay my contents page out in that
way.
4) Should the photos in my contents page be of the band that I’m
going to make up together or each member individually playing
their specific instrument?
- A high majority of people said they would rather see the individual
members of the band playing instruments.

3. 5) What is the ideal amount of pages you would like to see in a
music magazine?
- The most popular answers came between 25 and 30.

4. This is one of the 3 “2 page spread” that I annotated and have
chosen to be in my focus group.
Just like the cover and contents page, I asked the audience
questions about this 3 page spread; whether they liked it or thought
it needs improvement, and a few other questions that will hopefully
allow me to produce the best 2 page spread possible.
1) Do you like the layout of this two page spread; with a band
member on the right and the text more to the left/middle?
- Most people who answered this question liked the layout but said
they would prefer the text to be mainly on one page rather than
spread across it.
2) What do you think of the colour scheme of this 2 page spread for
a rock magazine? E.g. too dark, too bright, etc.
- Most people liked the darker look to the page but agreed that it
should be contrasted with brighter colours/font around the 2 page
spread.
3) Choose three colours that you think would go well together (or
contrast well) for a dark themed 2 page spread.
- Black, red and yellow were the most popular answers given.