The document provides an analysis of various design elements of the weekly music magazine 'NME'. It examines features of the front cover such as the masthead, images of artists, and use of color. It also analyzes the contents page, looking at section headings, images, and navigational elements like the band index. A double page spread is discussed in terms of layout, fonts, and relationship of images to articles. In conclusion, the author notes several 'NME' design aspects they intend to imitate in their own magazine, such as the band index, page flip puffs, and subscription advertisement.

1. Case Study Magazines
‘NME’ Magazine

2. ‘NME’ Magazine
‘The ultimate guide to the week in music’
Associated with people who have an interest in the punk rock genre
It includes interviews with artists, the first ever chart list, gossip on latest music artists and tour dates.

3. ‘NME’ Magazine: The Facts
Publishing Company: IPC Media (Time Inc.)
Editors Name: Mike Williams
Date Of First Publication: 7th March 1952
Frequency Of Publication: Weekly
Price: £2.20
Distribution: WHSmith, HMV, Paper-shops, Online Newsletter, Music shops.

4. The masthead is placed in the top left
hand corner of the cover. The
plain, bold red font shows an
element of a rock genre of music. .
The masthead is partially hidden by
the main image; this is common to
‘NME’ Magazine: Front Cover Analysis
Certain headings are highlighted to
most magazine and shows the house make them stand out more, including
style because features like this prove a more bolder font which shows the
that the magazine is popular and importance of that piece of text and
recognisable. makes them stand out more.
A banner is used in the top left hand
corner as an alternate way of making A puff is used at the top right hand
a title stand out. Thus overlaps the corner, which is a way of making
masthead as well which makes it something stand out. It also makes
stand out more and makes the cover the cover look less repetitive and
look quite good, rather than simple gives it a bit of edginess and also
and boring. adds more colour to it.
‘Paramore’ is highlighted in a bigger
bolder coloured font and is the same The main image is of Paramore and
size to the actual masthead which they are the only image on the front
shows its importance. This shows that cover. This shows that they s the
they are the main selling point of this main feature of the magazine and
individual magazine and are the most shows that they are quite popular.
interesting feature of the magazine They are all showing direct contact
which will encourage people to buy with the reader which is a way of
it. communicating with the reader and
luring you in to buy it. There are
many other headlines surrounding
The white background makes the
them but the one with the biggest
cover look less messy and crowded
font relates to them.
and makes it easier to read each
heading. The main focus is on the
band so a plain background makes
them stand out more and also makes A barcode is used in the bottom right
it look more tidy. hand corner which is another
common convention of magazine
Paramore are dressed all in black, so covers.
they are all matching. The black
connotes quite a dark, rock genre
theme which fits in well with the
main genre of the magazine. The main colours scheme is red, white, pink and black. These are colours that look
good together and are consistent on the cover of this magazine. They fit well with the
rock-punk genre of the magazine as a whole

5. There is branding at the top of the The contents page is separated into
magazine, which names the ‘NME’ Magazine: Contents Page Analysis different sections depending on
magazine again, this will be relevance. All of these have
consistent in every NME magazine separate sub-headings which stand
that you buy. out on the black background in a
bold font.
‘NME THIS WEEK’ is the name of this
page, which basically means the Although it looks like a lot of
contents page of that individual writing, it is a pretty simple writing
magazine. style, with a page number and a
title, with a brief description of it.
The larger image at the top of the
page, shows an article that may be The text is written in relation to its
the most popular, most interesting image. A bigger description is written
feature in the magazine. This often under the main image and main
links to the front cover as well, with title., which shows the importance of
the main heading on there, again the feature. Other small articles are
showing the unique selling point of written next to their subheading and
that individual magazine. page numbers to give a little more
information about what is on that
The title linked to this is also written page.
in a larger font showing a clear
relation to the topic and also the Page numbers are commonly found
importance of that feature within the next to each title of the page, to
individual magazine. show you which page to go to. This
makes navigation easier.
There is only one image on this
page, proving that this is what the
A puff is used at the bottom right
attention should be focused most on.
hand corner, in an arrow shape. This
is showing what is on the next page
A ‘Band index’ is used on the left and also advertising it an
hand corner of every NME contents emphasised , eye catching way. It
page. This has a list of the artists in also sticks to the colour scheme, so
this magazine and also what page it does not look out of place.
number they are on. This is useful to
the reader as it is easy to navigate to
the artists that they most like. The main colours scheme is
An advertisement is used at the bottom of this page, to
white, black and red, which
subscribe to getting the monthly magazine. This includes
links to the front cover of the
a price in a large font which makes it stand out as a great
magazine so is consistent
offer that people should be interested in.
throughout.

6. ‘NME’ Magazine: Double Page Spread Analysis
There is a main image on the top left
hand side, which is significantly
bigger than the other images.
The images appear quite organised
There is a heading below this on this page and sit next to the
image, that is also significantly bigger article they relate to. One image has
than other writing on this page. This a border around it and is tilted
shows that it is the most interesting slightly, this makes it look more
feature as it stands out more. It also creating. The fact that it overlaps
connects the picture and article another image as well makes it look
together, to show they are all related. better on the page.
Articles below the images are written To begin an article, the first letter of
in a small, easily readable font. It is the first word are typed in a
written in columns which spreads it larger, bolder font. This is a common
out across the page more evenly and convention found on all pages within
makes it easier to look at. the magazine. This helps you
recognise the start and end of an
A section at the bottom has a blue individual article.
background. This sticks to the
consistent colour scheme throughout
the magazine. It also makes it look The name of the magazine is
more organised. The blue box stands mentioned on this page as well.
out on the page. It advertises gigs
which is a common feature found in
music magazines. At the end of each article, in a
smaller font, it gives the source or
Quotes within the article are sometimes Another block is used down the left person to which this article came
Smaller images are being used next
emphasised by repeating them using a hand side of this mage. Again this makes from.
to each article that relate to that
certain feature. This adds colour and bigger font. The reader could look at this to it more organised and helps it to stand
also makes it appear more get an idea of what the article is about and out a little. Here, there is a
interesting, rather than having block whether it is worth reading. subheading, mini article and image all of
which are linked together within similar
writing all the time.
content.

7. ‘NME’ Magazine: What I Intend To Use Imitate In My Magazine
I like the idea of the ‘Band Index’ written down the left hand side of the contents page, which is used
consistently in every NME magazine.
I like the puff arrow on the contents page that tells you to flick the page with a brief
heading/description of what is going to be on it.
I am going to use the ‘subscribe to the magazine’ advertisement as well on my contents page
The puffs used on the cover page also stand out, and look good and professional so i will use some of
these on my final design as well.
On my contents page, i will use a darker background to determine the separation between each
category. This makes it easier for navigation and also looks quite effective when matching with the colour
scheme.
I like the ‘NME This Week’ as a title rather than ‘contents’ as it seems more appropriate and well-
fitting.