The magazine uses simple design elements like bold colors, large images and informal text to appeal to its target audience of college students. Notable design choices include an eye-catching red masthead, a comical main image of books representing student work, and punny article titles and quotes to grab attention. The overall presentation aims to seem familiar and relatable to readers through a casual, easy to navigate style.

1. Magazine Analysis
By
Dan Martin

2. 9. Colour is a 1.Main image hides the 2.Puff uses different
neutral lime to masthead colour so it is out of
appeal to all place and draws
audiences attention
10. Target of college
5.Website address: students and
www.collegelifestyle.com indicates language is
friendly and
optimistic
3.Cover lines like ‘make
money on campus’ seem 6.Dark background
to lean towards a guide connotes masculine
like magazine for the ideology and places
reader emphasis on the main
image
4.Barcode and
price indicate 7.Main image of
that it is a young guy in dark
monthly issue clothing, smiling,
$4.99 US 8. Books of law, business and jewellery item ties in
society show responsibility for with skyline article.
studies

3. 1. The main image hides part of the title which implies
consumer loyalty as the audience can identify the
masthead without seeing all of it.
2. The colour of the puff about paintballing is in a
completely different colour scheme to the rest of the
magazine cover which grabs the attention to it and
also reflects the paint of paintballing that the puff
mentions.
3. The cover lines use titles such as ‘make money on
campus’ which show it is a guide to how to live on
campus, as American college is like a university.
4. The high price of $4.99 connotes a monthly issue and
that the magazine is a good quality to have such a high
price. Plus shows international success as they also
sell copies in Canada.

4. 5. The online address is used to get their target
demographic online and maybe include digital copies as
the younger generation are more technological savvy.
6.The dark background places emphasis on the main
image as there is not much to draw your attention away
from it. It is also a cliché colour as most male images are
dark to reflect a tragic hero of mysterious which indicates
a more male dominant approach and maybe target
audience.
7.The main image is of a young male wearing dark
clothing and a chain which shows a stereotype of what
the male should be and attractive to get female audiences
engaged with the magazine. The clothing reflects the
fashion and jewellery reflects the skyline story.

5. 8. The books symbolise wisdom and responsibility, the
title of the books are law, business and society
symbolise, which shows that students take their
subjects seriously and are not the careless stereotype.
9. The colour of the titles are lime and therefore are a
neutral colour in order to appeal to both genders and
the mass market.
10. The pull quotes, such as ‘thank god it’s Friday’ and
‘the ultimate spring break escape’ are friendly and
optimistic for the audience if they need help of
escapism. It attempts similar language to appeal to
their target demographic and to seem a similar age
for the audience to relate to and understand.

6. 1.Masthead is big
bold and in a dark
blue
5.Issue 11 fall
indicates monthly
2.Pull quote of magazine and D.C
articles inside the edition shows
magazine suited for specific location
target audience
6.Main image of
3.Main colours young male in
are dark blue dark clothing and
and wax yellow stylish jewellery
7. Text is similar
4.Use of buzz word and associated
‘exclusive’ with their
audience

7. 1. The masthead is in a big bold font to be eye-
catching and the dark blue colour reflects a male
audience
2. The pull quotes and plugs like ‘I slept with my
professor’ maybe more suited to the target
audience of college students as it is interesting and
scandalous. Also other stories which affects the
lives around them.
3. Main colour scheme is dark blue and wax yellow
which are stereotypical colours for males as wax
yellow is used in male sports.
4. Buzz word ‘exclusive’ intrigues the audience and
makes the story unique to the magazine.

8. 5. ‘issue 11 fall 2011’ indicates that it is a monthly
issue and the ‘D.C edition’ connotes that the
particular issue is specific to Washington DC which
may imply altering it to suit this specific region.
6. The main image is of a young male wearing dark
clothing and a chain which shows a stereotype of
what the male should be and attractive to get female
audiences engaged with the magazine. The clothing
reflects and jewellery may reflect current trends and
fashions.
6. Text like ‘411’ implies an attempt to use similar
language of their target audience which they can
associate with.

9. 6.Headings that have main articles
1.Title which is show opinions in magazine 5.Head hides part
identifiable with of the title.
the reader big
bold red colour
7.Plain 4. Light blue text used
background to in a fun font
keep focus on
main image and
cover lines
8.Main image is of 3.Cover lines suited
young male in a to target audience
smart suit but as they are fun and
wearing trainers. helpful
9.Slogan at the 2.Sept 2010 shows
bottom of the page that it is a monthly
makes it seem best issue.
suited for audience

10. 1. Big bold red title to catch the audiences
attention, also identifiable with the target
audience as they are most likely in university. The
colours scheme is red and blue which is suitable to
both genders and appealing to the mass market.
2. The use of the ‘Sep 2010’ connotes to a monthly
issue.
3. Cover lines, such as ‘fashion on 40 dollars’ and
‘Sexercise’ are fun and helpful to the audience as it
is about that effects them in their lives and
provides escapism from the real world.
4. Text is in a light blue and in a fun text which reflect
the fun, young and energetic qualities of youth

11. 5. The main image hides part of the title which
implies consumer loyalty as the audience can identify
the masthead without seeing all of it.
6. Cover lines at the top show main articles ‘Goo Goo
Dolls: great since 1986’ which also uses their opinions
which may connote that the audience hold the
magazine’s opinions as important and key.
7. The background is plain white as to place emphasis
on the main image and on the cover lines. To keep
attention on that and not for the audience to get
distracted.

12. 8. The main image is of a young male in a suit which
symbolises many thing from responsibility to wealth
and money. From smart and Sauvé to
cool, professional and business like. However the
male is wearing trainers which reveal his young age
and that reflects us going out in the world but still
remaining young. It also reflect the article with it
‘fashion on 40 dollars’
9. The slogan at the bottom ‘For college students by
college students’ imply that they are the same as their
target demographic and more reliable/trustworthy
sources so they audience should buy the magazine as
it is better than any other college magazine.

13. 1.Main heading in
2.Issue date and bright red with
number black background
and white outline is
colour scheme
3.List of main
features in the
article 5. Main image
reflects student life.
4. Page number is
bold and in red to
highlight it
6.Simplistic design
7. Plugs and
cover lines are 8. Text is informal
bold and eye and similar to
catching target audience

14. 1. The main title is in a bright red in bold which is
eye-catching and simple. The colour scheme is red,
white and black which seem like neutral colours
but the way the magazine is presented seems to be
more leaning towards the male demographic
2. Issue date and number, are just there to remind
the audience
3. The main features and stories fall under the topic
and are placed easily for the audience to find.
4. The page numbers are big, bold and in red to
highlight the page and stands out to the audience
5. Main image of large amount of books is a little
cliché and comical for the audience but it also does
reflect the amount of work students do.

15. 6. The design is simplistic so it is easy to follow. Plus
the best designs are the most simple ones, like the
McDonalds double arches.
7. Plugs and cover lines are simple quotes to catch the
attention of the audience and may contain a pun.
8. The text is informal and similar to the audience so
they can associate with it and it appears friendly and
chatty.

16. 2. Simple layout
7. Advertising and colour
consumers to
subscribe 3. Funny pun as title.
5. Simple
headings with
topics
1. Use of pictures
as illustrations
6.Simple
cover lines 4. Name of
with page advertising brands
number and recycling

17. 1. The use of pictures are to illustrate the article and
draw attention to the articles as shown when it as
the page number alongside it.
2. A simple layout without coloured background to
draw attention to the content. The green colour on
the bar, the colour of the pictures, puffs and cover
lines to draw attention to them.
3. Funny puns as titles like ‘what’s inside?’ for
comedy for the audience which may indicate a
young age.
4. The name of advertises at the bottom of the page
and also recycling symbol to show magazine is eco-
friendly.

18. 5. Use of simple headings like features and regulars,
used to identify topics and is easy for the audience.
6. The magazine states the cover line as well as
highlight the page number along side it for the
audience understand easily
7. Some messages like ‘welcome’ as well as
persuading the reader to subscribe for consumer
loyalty and also for the best deal for the audience.

19. Thanks for watching