Spin magazine uses a classic black, red and white color scheme for its covers. The masthead is placed in the top left corner as usual. Lady Gaga's brightly colored hair contrasts with the grey backdrop on her issue's cover. NME magazine features a vintage-style black and white image of Arctic Monkeys filling half the page, with text on the other half. Q magazine's contents page shows images and quotes from live gigs on the left side in a rock and roll color scheme of black, red and white.

1. Magazine analysis
COVERS
DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD
CONTENTS

2. The masthead is placed in the top left
I-D have used a
corner. Which is normally where you stripped back and quite
Spin magazine uses the classic black, simple cover. I like the
find the masthead, either in the top
red and white colour scheme that is well suited colours,
corner or across the whole top of the
effective for rock/pop music compared to other
magazine. However the title of the
magazines. magazines that use
magazine is only two letters, therefore
These cover lines are also no need to stretch it across. contrasting colours.
known as ‘lures’ or plugs’ that
advertise what is inside the
magazine. How many cover
lines are used is completely
up to the magazine.
I like the
domineering
pose of the
model/artist
Paramore.
The strong and dramatic The pose
pose of the model would reflects the
really make this cover stand theme of
out from the rest. the music.
The main
cover
line acts
as the
main
selling
point for
the
magazin
e.
Strap lines are normally displayed in a
The barcode is placed at the
smaller text. They too could be a method of
bottom right hand corner of the
enticing the reader, with famous bands, free
page to simply make it easier to
downloads or exclusive information about
purchase.
what could be inside the magazine.

3. ‘The song is
mine’ The brightness of Lady gaga’s hair on the cover of this
issue matches with the bright colours in the lettering.
The stylists have also used a slightly darker lip colour
to highlight her suggestive open mouth expression.
The main image is Lady
Gaga. Takes up the There is a simplicity about the masthead
majority of the cover and (being black and not as bold as some
her brightly coloured hair other magazines). However the bright
contrasts with the grey colours inside the letters give it a slight
backdrop but suits the edge. The colours also contrast from the
colours in the masthead. black and white scheme.
The plus symbol links the
cover lines. This plus
symbol is not used in
every magazine, it’s a
One of the cover
choice.
lines is giving us
The barcode is exclusive
placed on the information
bottom left hand ‘how she writes
corner of the her pop hits’.
magazine for the This
reason that it is exclusiveness
easier to purchase. entices the
reader and fans
of Lady Gaga.
Consciously exposing her chest area,
playing up to the male gaze and the idea
that she is dressed in a dark blazer that has
been tweaked to her individual style.

4. The masthead is stretched across both The two tone colour pallet highlights
pages. I like how the orange fades out to important information e.g names
white to break down the title and links to and bands that are going to be
the ‘best of both world’ by having two features in the text below.
different colours.
Alex Turner
facing away
Minimalisti could have
c DSP with been a
a short conscious
introductio decision to
n and the show a
article. The slight
text isn’t conflict
between
really
the two.
broken
The
down. placement
on the page
also shows
The them at
smudged two
hand print different
on the wall ends. Again
gives a this could
ghostly show a
divide
theme . between
them or
simply to
add to the
The black and white image gives ides of two
the double page spread a vintage Buy lines: introducing the worlds.
look and is a nice background for photographer and writer of the
the white text. article.

5. The image of the band fills the upper half of the page drawing the
reader into the image first, and then the text. This double page NME magazine: Artic Monkeys
spread is different to those magazines that use the image to fill the
Black and white vintage Fans of the band like to see pictures of the
whole page and drop the text on top of the image. NME was
style image of the band band backstage at gigs and signings. Show
originally a newspaper. Here they have stuck to that theme by
contrasts to the playful more personality rather than just having the
having the text and image separate.
photo’s opposite in professional shot for the double page spread.
colour.
Drop
capitals
used to
show
where
the text is
beginning
Quote from one of the band members that
NME have claimed 5*. This larger font This banner shows a short Q&A of casual questions. It breaks the
stands out and gives the reader a glimpse Text arranged in four columns text down and doesn’t overwhelm the reader. Also the reader
of what the text is all about. using a small font. can pick out specific things they want to find out/read.

6. DSP Analysis: Taken from Q magazine. (Friendly fires)
By having this page without any writing on it Minimalistic page with
could be used for multiple reasons, one being a hardly any text. Could The photo seems to be the main focus point of this double page
poster for fans. It also shortend’s the amount of continue on to the next spread and the image almost speaks for itself.
reading and doesn’t overwhelm the reader. page. Play’s up to the idea of ‘friendly fire’ and criminals.
Making the magazine more interesting to look at.
The upside-down suspect boards and
masks add a humour to the text/image . The lead uses drop capitals to show where Cover line introduces the artist and text.
the text is beginning. Grabs the readers attention and draws them
Gives the band a Quirky look . in to a specific text/band.

7. Contents page taken from NME magazine.
Page numbers are
clearly bold and visible
A bold headline style so reader’s can flick to
title is used to simply a certain page/article
assure the readers
they have reached the
that interests them .
contents page and can
see what is ‘inside’ the The date on the
magazine ‘this week’. contents page
can be used for
readers to keep
The layout of the left a record of the
hand side of the page is
made up of images issue .
from live gigs with
It’s interesting to note that
quotes from the artists .
it’s predominantly men on
this contents page with
‘Smashing boundaries
only one female artist.
right now’ using
emotive language to
draw the reader in and ‘The perfect christmas gift’ will
create a sense be subscribing to NME. The
‘breaking news’ small red box filled with
celebrity faces with Santa hats
on, stands out from the rest of
the page but also matches the
colours scheme of NME. Being
black, white and red.
The text layout is
broken up into
small
paragraphs/quote
s. This layout
doesn’t
overwhelm the
reader with a
block of text.

8. Stamp symbol showing
the issue number. This
Contents page: Taken from Q. issue is number 306
showing readers it has
been in business for a
long time and well
Black, red and
recognized. Regular
white colour
readers can also refer
scheme, iconic to
back to the magazine
.
NME and Q It’s a by the issue number.
bold statement rock
and roll style,
however this style
is common with
many other music
magazines,
therefore it might The large image of the main
not stand out. feature in the issue of the
magazine attracts the fans of
‘The best thing I’ve the artist. The red of her hair
heard all year’ this fits in nicely with the colour
emotive language scheme.
draws the reader in
and they want to find
out more and read
on.
Smaller images are
Features listed to
used to break up the
the left side of the
text and also show
page, easy to find
who is featuring in
and readers can pick
the magazine. You’ll
out specific pages
find Q’s logo in the
they’re interested
corner of every
in. Simplistic layout
page. This is a
yet effective.
The contents of conscious decision
a magazine is and adds to Q’s
normally found colour scheme and
3 or three pages style.
in, after
advertisements.

9. The top strap line tells readers that
the magazine is also available in Mojo is using green tones
The ‘mojo’ masthead other countries. in this issue’s contents.
is relatively simple The light and dark greens
and bold. Mojo has are fairly neutral and set
used stylish circular the tone of the magazine.
leters, possibly to
resemble the shape
of a CD.
A high angled shot is used to
The page number’s are also create the contents image.
green. Fitting with the colour This makes the subject look
scheme the magazine have small and unimportant.
chosen. Mojo’s page number’s However his domineering
do not stand out as much as Q’s facial stare straight into the
and almost fade into the camera insinuates a danger.
background.
Cover lines are bold and
black to make sure the
bands in the magazine
can be recognised and
the reader can flick The layout is
through to their minimalistic
favourite. A smaller text with the text
is used underneath to commonly
explain a little about why down the left
the band are in the hand side of
magazine and what the the contents
article will be about. page fitted
The red suit contrasts to the green
tones and stands out. The around the
model/artist would be lost if he image on the
was to wear neutral colours, left.
therefor the red works well and
again is suggestive of romance or
danger.