This document compares the codes and conventions used on magazine covers and contents pages across different genres. For covers, it examines mastheads, central images, cover lines and other design elements for pop, rock, and acoustic magazines. It finds that acoustic magazines typically feature well-known artists, link the central image and main cover line, and limit additional lines to draw attention. For contents pages, it analyzes how magazines utilize space, color schemes, and central images numbered to relate to articles. The purpose is to identify best practices for designing the covers and contents pages of an acoustic magazine.

1. Magazine Codes and
Conventions

2. Front Cover Codes and Conventions:
Following is a collection of magazine covers from three different
genres:
• Pop
• Rock and Roll
• Acoustic
For our magazine, we intend to choose acoustic, so the following is a
comparison of how the different genres use the different codes and
conventions

3. Masthead – Clearly shown at top of page.
Some letters are filled in with different
colours to form a unique logo. Central image
overlaps the masthead, suggesting that it
belongs to a well known magazine
Main cover line – Relates to the central
image as a way of advertising the
article
Central image – Uses Bruno Mars as a
main focus due to his popularity status
and his link to the main cover line’s article
Barcode and issue number –
Barcode stands out with the
white on blue background as
well as fitting with the colour
scheme. They are both
situated in a visible place,
without interfering with the
layout of the page.
Cover line – smaller than the main cover
lines as an attempt to stand out, but not
take up too much of the page
Puff Pieces - four small points all
placed together. All probably
relevant articles or information that
links together, but isn’t strong
enough to carry the magazine. The
white text for the second point is
used to stand out against the yellow
points as a significant point.

4. Masthead – Rolling stones
is a well known magazine,
yet they opted to keep it in
the foreground instead of
having the image overlap.
The Masthead is a lot
higher than the traditional
layout for a magazine and
may become confused with
the main cover line directly
below it.
Central Image – The central image of
Madonna takes up the entire page and
is practically a background on its own.
The Main Cover line refers to the
specific picture.
Main Cover Line – An equal
sized font to the mast head
which could become
potentially confusing. It’s
clear that the main focus of
the magazine is actually
Madonna so it makes sense
to put a large cover line and
image to promote the topic.
Additional Cover Lines – What
separates this magazine to most
others is the lack of detail on the
front. There are no issue numbers or
bar codes and there is only five
cover lines and the four that aren’t
the main article are squashed into
the bottom corner of the page,
potentially to make the central
image more prominent

5. Masthead – Probably Because of its
specific target audience, Acoustic has
no problems with putting the central
image over the mast head. Seeing as it
is only a small portion of the
masthead covered, it’s still clear what
it says. The white masthead stands
out against the darker background.
The simple design and small character
spacing fits the basic design of the
rest of the magazine and the genre
Central Image – The central image is
of a well known acoustic musician,
meaning that the appeal of the
magazine will increase. A well known
musician will usually sell the magazine
more than an up and coming artist.
The background has been cropped out
so the artist is the main attraction on
a blank background. The mise-en-
scene is typical for an acoustic
magazine, due to the use of an
acoustic guitar and a casual look
typical of an artist
Main Cover Line – Linked
directly to the central
image, the main cover line is
clearly about the artist,
Passenger. As it is more
unique and specific to this
magazine edition than the
masthead, the main cover
line overlaps the image so it
is visible and shown to be
related to the image.
Cover Lines – Besides the main
cover line, all the others are
limited to the bottom right
corner of the page, showing
they are significant, but not as
interesting as the main
headline

7. Contents Page Codes and Conventions
The next few slides are of contents pages from acoustic magazines. To
find the best ways of designing a contents page, we chose to analyse
three contents pages that follow different designs, looking for the
overlapping themes amongst them

8. Masthead – The box
which holds the
masthead also has the
logo and issue number.
Because the contents
page is a double page
spread, it makes sense
to use all the space
provided instead of
leaving it blank. Whilst
the issue number
matches the red and
white colour scheme
being used in the logo,
the heading stands out
with black text on the
red background.
Central Image – The main image is numbered and related to a certain
article