The document compares the contents pages of two music magazines, NME and Q. It finds that while NME uses large colorful text and Q uses simple capitalized text, both effectively notify readers of the contents. The magazines also similarly use a column structure and vertical balance to organize information, though NME relies more on text and Q more on large images. Overall, the document analyzes how the magazines employ different design styles but achieve readable layouts through balanced structures.

1. Salford City College
Eccles Centre
AS Media Studies
Foundation Portfolio
Dominic Hayes Contents Page Comparison
Both magazines have used different styles of the way that they display their contents page although
both display it at the top and in the first third of the page. NME has made it more interesting with
theirs saying ‘NME THIS WEEK’ in huge block capitals your eyes are instantly drawn to this as it is
highlighted around by a block border whereas Q magazine simply just says ‘CONTENTS’ in capitals, it
is more formal than the way that NME uses theirs, his is effective though as they can both notify the
reader what they are about to exhibit.
Q magazine seems to have taken a much
Both magazines have displayed their features simpler design than NME does as it is very
in a column style for their design principles of image heavy as the image covers over half the
the page like for example in the first third, this page. This is attractive to the audience that
is able to frame out the image and make it they are aiming to draw in as they will see the
easier for the viewer to understand and image and automatically be attracted to it.
communicate with the magazine, this in which Whereas on the other hand NME is a very text
also assists the balance of the page heavy page design, in which the text almost
works as a decoration for the page layout as it
is as specific colours highlight out specific
areas of the page. The text on the NME
magazine also frames the image of it which
can highlight that and draw the reader’s
attention to it.
I think both of the two magazines NME and Q are both vertically balanced, although they both differ with one
being image heavy and the other being text heavy, they both appeal by being vertically balanced and this can be
seen as the clear design layout of the magazine page.