The document provides an analysis of various design elements that are commonly found on magazine covers, including: 1) The masthead, which identifies the magazine brand, is typically in a prominent font that stands out against the background. 2) The main image is central to attracting readers, as celebrities or familiar characters create recognition. 3) Additional stories and features are advertised to entice readers to purchase the issue. 4) Standard elements like the barcode and publishing details help readers identify pricing and other details, while complementing the overall layout and design.

1. Magazine Analysis

2. Masthead: The title of the magazine is written in a white uppercase sans serif typeface Main Image: the main image is the
which stands out against the dark background creating a contrast for the magazine’s pivotal marketing tool in the
reader. The capital letter effect does not only make the masthead stand out, but it also consumption of any magazine. Familiarity
shows the audience exactly what they are reading about. Further to this, the style of or recognition are some of the key
typeface for the masthead creates a sense of brand recognition as it is resonant through aspects used when editors are
all Total Film magazines.. considering their choices for the front
covers main image. Using existing
celebrities or personal figures creates an
element of reader recognition. For
example, chances are that this issue
would have sold more copies keeping
actor Mark Wahlberg on the cover than
Buzzwords: The use of the words
say an actor who was not established.
WORLD EXCLUSIVE here
This is because the readers buying the
highlighted in a yellow box has
magazine are familiar with his other
been used as an effective
work.
marketing tool. They are generally
used multiple times throughout
the front cover of magazines in
Subsidiary stories: subsidiary stories are
order to attract the audience to
additional features which are included
the main selling points.
within the magazine. The advertisement of
these subsidiary stories allows the
magazine to advertise further news to their
Barcode: despite always being audience and additional features within
tucked away from the main the particular issue.
images and selling points on a
front cover, barcodes are essential
to both the producers of the
magazine and their audience. The Main cover line: the main cover line of this
barcode helps the audience magazine focuses on the film Max Payne.
establish price, date of issue, and The shattered typefont effect used may help
number of issue as well as the audience establish the genre of film
indicates the publishing house of they are going to be reading about before
the magazine. (in this case Future actually doing so . The lettering is in a white
Publishing). upper case sans serif font which is evident
to readers against the black and grey
background of the magazine.

3. Skyline: the skyline is the banner across the top of a magazine which is what stands out Main image: the main image on this particular
when placed on the shelves of a store. The skyline normally features some form of wording front cover is the only image. By doing this,
used to create an emphasis on a story or to attract the reader into picking up the magazine. the attention of the viewer is only fixated on
one thing, meaning that they cannot help but
notice it. By using the placement of a major
film antagonist, it helps the magazine make a
connection with its consumer as they will be
able to identify the main focus of the issue
Sell Line: without reading any of the words on the
The sell line in this particular case front. The connection between the main
matches the house style of the image and the consumer is also very strong as
magazine. The inclusion of the three the eye contact creates a mode of address.
main colors portrayed by the
character of the Joker are just
additional details which have been Masthead: the masthead for this tis particular
thought out in order to enhance sales issue of Empire magazine has been made to
and improve the quality of the front stand out very clearly in the top third of the
cover. The sell line being ‘The Batman cover. The use of an almost green silhouette
vs. The Joker- summer just got serious once again nicely fits into the color scheme
is a great selling point. People who are chosen for the particular issue.
already familiar with the film would
understand why the creators of the Main Cover Line: The main cover line is
magazine had chosen this sell line as placed straight underneath the masthead
the line “Why so serious?” is the main in the exact same typefont. By the use of
catchphrase of film antagonist The this technique, readers are bound to notice
Joker. the cover line and therefore may be enticed
into buying the issue.
Additional/subsidiary stories: additional
and or subsidiary stories are additional
features which are included within the
magazine. The advertisement of these
subsidiary stories allows the magazine to Barcode: : despite always being tucked away from the main images
advertise further news to their audience and selling points on a front cover, barcodes are essential to both the
and additional features within the producers of the magazine and their audience. The barcode helps the
particular issue. audience establish price, date of issue, and number of issue as well as
indicates the publishing house of the magazine.

4. Masthead: the masthead for this version of Layout: the layout of this particular issue
Vogue magazine is written in their ever of Vogue is fairly simple. The color
familiar uppercase sans serif font. By using a scheme used consists of three basic
typefont which is resonant and or reoccurring colors red, black and white, and the
throughout their magazine, it helps design is set out in a very basic way with
consumers in identifying the brand and the main image being in the center, and
magazine in itself. the side stories being placed on the left
and right.
Main image: the main image of
this front cover is of actress Anne Additional/subsidiary stories: additional
Hathaway. Her upright posture and or subsidiary stories are additional
means she can give a direct mode features which are included within the
of address to her audience, by magazine. The advertisement of these
the use of eye contact. The use of subsidiary stories allows the magazine
this strategy helps to attract the to advertise further news to their
reader into buying the magazine. audience and additional features within
Further to this, the image shows the particular issue.
more flesh than clothing in this
case, which can be seen as a
marketing tool and follows the Buzzwords: buzzwords are used in order
regime of Laura Mulvey’s male to enhance the esteem of the magazine
gaze theory which signifies that and almost seem like a motivational or
the better looking, the more enticing device used to attract the
attention will paid by consumers. viewer of the cover. In this case, the
word ‘CHANGE’ in upper case font
seems to be used as an indication of
metamorphosis for the reader, showing
them that if they buy or read the
magazine, the too can ‘change’.
Barcode: : despite always being tucked away from the main images
and selling points on a front cover, barcodes are essential to both the
producers of the magazine and their audience. The barcode helps the
audience establish price, date of issue, and number of issue as well as
indicates the publishing house of the magazine.

5. Layout: the layout of this particular issue of
Masthead: the masthead for TW magazine is fairly simple. The color
this particular issue of TW scheme used consists of three basic colors
magazine seems to be in the green, black and white, and the design is set
style of a pug. Because of out in a very basic way with the main image
this, some readers may be being in the center, and features just the one
misguided by the pug-shape story beneath it. This layout format is not
masthead and instead think very common in Western world magazines
that ‘ASA’ may be the and does not conform with the same types
magazine title. Because of of layout used. Further to this, the border
this, people unfamiliar with round the outside of the magazine is a non
the magazine may stereotypical feature within Western World
magazines . This border is used as a filler for
details such as a sell line (seen along the
Additional/subsidiary stories: bottom), and the date of issue as well as
additional and or subsidiary price.
stories are additional features
which are included within the Main Image: The main image of this front
magazine. The advertisement cover is of singer Asa. Her upright posture
of these subsidiary stories means she can give a direct mode of
allows the magazine to address to her audience, by the use of eye
advertise further news to contact. The use of this strategy helps to
their audience and additional attract the reader into buying the
features within the particular magazine. Despite her not necessarily
issue. In this particular case, being a known or attractive figure in the
we can see that there is only Western World, she may be a key celebrity
one additional story as figure in her origin, meaning that her image
appose to multiple which is here may still relate to Laura Mulvey’s
the common choice. Because male gaze theory which signifies that the
of these decisions, readers better looking, the more attention will paid
are not fully aware of some of by consumers.
the other content which may
have featured inside the
magazine.