The document provides an analysis of the cover design elements of several magazines, including their use of images, fonts, colors and layouts to attract readers. For a Rolling Stone magazine cover featuring Lana Del Rey, it notes the vintage black and white photo contrasts modern and 1960s generations. The large eye-catching masthead and sell lines about exclusive stories aim to increase sales. A Q magazine cover uses a close-up image of Adele looking directly at the reader to convey her confident personality. Bold colors and text emphasize the magazine's brand identity. A Vibe magazine cover pictures Alicia Keys looking rebelliously at the camera against a dark background to intrigue readers about her rule-breaking nature.

1. The main Image is a black and white edgy photo of a
famous, well known artist, who is current. The image
being black and white effected, conveys that Rolling Stone
magazine is aiming to have a vintage ambience and look as
if it is ‘timed’, contrasting between today’s generation and
the 1960’s generation which gives the magazine a unique
touch to it. Also, having someone so new and current like
Lana Del Rey comparing with the vintage feel, also
juxtaposes the different generations. It also shows little
background, captivating her alone as the central, focal
point as a full body, portrait shot of her so we can clearly
see what she is wearing, and how she is holding herself
which will compliment how the audience may perceive
her as, due to the front cover giving the audience insight
of the article it is based on. Lana Del Rey, obviously being
a popular artist with a large fan base, suggesting more
people are going to by this copy of ‘Rolling Stone’. The
image takes up the whole page so we can clearly pay
attention to her and only her. Lana Del Rey is looking
straight at the camera which gives a direct mode of
address to the audience.
The masthead is extremely distinctive. The bold, vibrant,
bright red tone of the masthead ensures that it is eye
catching and can be easily seen on the magazine shelf
amongst others. It has a distinctive outline which stands
out further, especially with the contrasts of the white
background. Furthermore, the masthead is also slightly
hidden, implying people will still notice and recognise it
regardless, which implies that it is a very well-known and
iconic logo and masthead which will intrigue any
audiences and viewers. Additionally, ‘Rolling Stones’ are
an extremely big, illustrious, famous rock band,
suggesting this magazine is more likely to get more
recognition than other magazines, as the Rolling Stones
where massive in an earlier generation after the 1960’s,
this element may also imply that not only does the
masthead attract a younger audience, it may also attract
a secondary audience of an older generation due to the
vintage feel, contrasting new, up to date music
juxtaposing with legendary, fabled music which is slightly
aged.
The Sell Lines are in a California, vintage themed font
which also adds to the retro-esque theme of the
magazine. ‘LANA DEL REY’ being in a larger, bolder font
conveys further, the idea of her being the central point of
the magazine, being big and bold also means that it is eye
catching and will stand out more to viewers. The magazine
have clearly picked out the more important words of each
sell line and put them in bold and in a slightly bigger font
apposed to the rest of the sentence, such as ‘AZEALIA
BANKS on her way to the top’ this clearly exaggerates the
main focal point of the article being advertised so people
can recognise the topic before buying the article. The
other sell lines have outlining to them to make them
further stand out against the main image and also to
clearly standing out to the audience.
The cover line of the magazine is ‘inside story on a
modern day icon’ which isn’t only relating to the
contrasts of generations in the image on the front cover,
but also suggesting there will be exclusive gossip which
the magazine readers will be interested in and so it is
worth buying. ‘inside story’ suggests that it is top secret
and will only be found in this issue. This links with the
‘uses and gratifications theory as the audience are being
informed about her.
The layout and design of the magazine contrasts of a
multiple of difference cover lines places around the
image so that the main image stands out and is the main
focal point. Difference fonts and colours are used for
each sell line to make them each individual and not the
same as each other which may imply that this will be
consistent throughout the magazine as everything is
different and will be a new story each time.
The Barcode is purposely made small, and right in the
corner so it does not detract from the main image in the
magazine.

2. The main image of this magazine uses highly successful,
chart singer ‘Adele’, to instantly grab the reader’s
attention. The full page close up draws the reader in as
the singer stares at the reader from the side, revealing
Adele’s confident and forthright personality. The
expression of her face and position of hand also add a
sense of challenge. This relates back to the singers
personality, as she is often seen as not caring of
people’s views on her appearance. The light in the
picture is quite bright and uses a lot of white in the
picture, representing Adele’s clean image to the reader,
this is also seen through Adele’s immaculate
appearance, (nail varnish, make up, skin and hair).
Adele’s skin tone is very pale which is also similar to the
background colour which may signify purity. The hair
appearing like it is being blow in the wind signifies a
glamorous and perhaps provocative interpretation of
Adele and may further convey her talent being
powerful.
The mast head of the magazine is very big and bold and
isn’t entirely covered by the picture of Adele. The ‘Q’
stands out as it is against the contrasting red, so it is
one of the first things you see when you look at the
magazine- which is a good selling point for the
magazine. The colour red signifies passion and energy,
and white is associated with purity and innocence. The
image of Adele is only slightly covering the text, in
comparison to other magazines, this could suggest that
Adele is proud to be associated with Q, and she is
publicising the magazine. The masthead also being
small and as little as only one letter, portrays that it
may be extremely well known due to shortening
Quieten Richardson. ‘Discover Great Music’ implies that
the content of the magazine is unknown which will
make people believe that there is new information to
find out and also may be new and upcoming music so
the readers can stay up to date.
The Barcode is placed extremely small in the bottom
left hand call so it does not detract from the image
The sell lines of the magazine are mainly on the left hand side
of the which is so it does not detract from the main image too
much due to wanting to emphasize how big, and popular
Adele is. ‘Blows us away’ also links to Adele’s hair as it is being
blown in a wind machine, the 'play on words’ technique is
used often on front covers as it makes the reader look twice
so they make the connection between the image and the text.
A cliché is also used, ‘if you’ve got it ,flaunt it’ which could
come across as quite inspirational for some potential readers
as it is a more emotive comment which again makes Adele
more relatable for the audience. Furthermore there is a
semantic field of exclusivity used within the statement ‘and all
the best bits 'which implies an aspect of secrecy t o the
article; this is a technique that will gain the reader’s attention.
The fonts used down the right side of the article are quite eye
catching as the size grows bigger after every line, emphasizing
the more important and relevant words, which suggests a
build up with a high climax, for example artists performing at
a music festival. In addition to this the fonts used down the
left side are all in straight block lines which gives the cover a
cleaner structure therefore making it look more professional
in the eyes of the reader. Also the main font ‘ADELE’ is
written in block capitals and there is a space between each
letter which suggests a sense of importance and power, but
also dissimilar to the normal article featured on the cover of
Q.
The colour scheme throughout is similar to Q’s usual house
style except, because it is a special edition gold has been used
which connotes a regal theme to the cover, therefore
portraying it as a rare and ‘un-missible’ copy furthermore
implying that Adele carries an important and powerful grace.
The price of the magazine says ‘£3.99’ due to this being a
special 300th issue, they want to make it affordable and seen
by as much people as possible as £3.99 may be considered as
affordable to perhaps the majority of people in the A-C1
social grade. In result to having more people see it, more
people will be aware of the magazine making it more popular
and more world wide. The price may also emphasize getting a
lot for your money.

3. The mast head is extremely big, in a very large font which
is very eye catching to the reader, this may convey the
significance and importance of the magazine due to the
masthead being very large to attract the readers eye.
Furthermore, the white contrasts against the dark
background which gives a slightly edgy feel and
monochrome feel. Alicia Keys’ image is covering the
masthead which signifies how ‘Vibe’ is well known and still
recognisable to the audience. Due to the masthead being
behind the image it may further connotate Alicia
portraying vanity because everything is about her. The title
includes no outline which may convey that ‘Vibe’ has no
limits or restrictions and does not have to be contained.
Due to it being written in a modern text, it may imply that
it is aimed at a perhaps younger, adolescent group of
people. The actual name Vibe is actually also pretty young
and hip sounding which may also emphasize a younger
target audience as it may be a slang word teenagers use in
modern day society.
The main image is of Alicia looking straight, and directly
into the camera which gives a personal effect to the
reader of her looking at them, perhaps persuading them to
buy the magazine. The appearance of Alicia is almost
rebellious and edgy which gives an interpretation of her
being a ‘rule breaker’ which the audience may be intrigued
about and want to read what she has got to say. She is
wearing a retro, black leather jacket and dark lipstick
which she is presenting herself in a perhaps gothic and
mysterious light leaving the reader wanting to know more
about her personality and if she has changed into
someone else. The way she is not smiling conveys that she
is a serious person which may further compliment her
article, making the article seem and be proven true.
Although she appears to look edgy and mature, her
makeup still looks glamorous and flawless which conveys
her being a role model to people as she is coming across as
provocative to the reader, which comes back to my point
of how she is side ways on to the camera conveying a
juxtaposing sense of innocence.
The Barcode is placed in the bottom corner so it does not
detract from the main image due to it not being that
attractive and considered less important.
The sell lines contain some words that are larger than the
others to really emphasize the article they are individually
referring to and making the more important words really
stand out to the audience. ‘Alicia Keys first real interview’
conveys a thought process of Alicia perhaps taking great
consideration to proudly choose vibe as her first interview
debut. Also, ‘Real’ may convey that the story is 100% true
as it is in larger letters and may want to read it more if they
no it is all true. Furthermore, ‘Lil’ and ‘LMFAO’ may further
suggest that the magazine is aimed for a younger
generation due to them being well known terms of slang
that they will understand juxtaposed with older audiences.
‘2ND ANNUAL GLOBE ISSUE’ is in big, white capital letters,
contrasting with the red background behind it in a star
shape, to really present how proud the magazine is, due to
even covering the main image which suggests it may even
be more important than her.
In the colour scheme the colours are limited as there is only
black, red and white. Even though there is only 3 colours
they all work well together. The red catches your eye and
highlights the important parts and may also portray danger
and passion such as in the magazine like ‘Whitney Houston’
and ‘Lil Wayne’ this could indicate what the writers think is
important in the magazine, so it helps the reader choose
and pick that magazine so the red really helps the reader no
what the important bits are. The white stands out on the
black background to covey a monochrome feel, white isn’t
used much on the front cover only the masthead and a plus
sign. The reason it is used very little is because it masthead
needs to stand out from the rest of the text, which it does
due to the juxtaposing differences in colour.
A website is presented under the barcode for further
advertising a knowledge of the magazine and to make it
more recognisable to potential viewers and so people no
the magazine.