The magazine Hunger Pains aims to attract college students by relating to their constant hunger and playing on the idea that students need to be "hungry for success" to achieve qualifications. The magazine uses a black and blue color scheme that was popular in student surveys. Its comedic cover image features a relatable scenario to draw in readers and match the name and slogan. Articles focus only on topics students showed most interest in, such as job listings or staff interviews, to keep readers engaged.