The document discusses magazine cover design elements through analyzing several music magazine covers. It identifies common elements such as the masthead, central image, cover lines, date/price, and graphics. For each magazine cover analyzed, it describes how these elements are used and their purpose. This includes how the masthead is positioned, how the central image dominates the cover, and how graphics and fonts are used to draw attention to key information.

1. Research: Music Magazine Analysis
Masthead – is partially covered by the model,
this thing suggests that the magazine is
already very known as audience will still
recognise what magazine is.
The central image- covers almost all the front
cover,because the main cover line refers to
the artist on the cover. The masthead and the
main cover line stands out against the
background, as the main cover line is the
second biggest text after the masthead.
Cover lines – list of names and bands you will
find in the magazine. The use of “you “in one
of the cover lines , suggests that Vibe
magazine would like the audience to
participate at the magazine and that
audience’s opinion counts.
Date/barcode and price – it is a minor but
important part of the cover as it informs us.
Graphics – on the front cover we can find simple combination of colours, which suggests
sophistication and simplicity at the same time and in a great combination.
Masthead – is partially covered by the artist,
this may suggest that the magazine is known
as the audience will still recognise it without
seeing the entire words. We can also notice
that the masthead stands out comparing to
the articles and the main cover line. The
magazine uses a different font for the
masthead to help the audience recognize their
magazine.
Central image – dominates the entire front
cover. As the main cover line is about the
artist on the front page is normal that the
front page should be dominated by the artist.
Cover lines – the cover lines gives us
information about what we will find in the
magazine, especially the important articles in

2. the magazine are presented on the front cover.
Date/barcode and price- helps the audience know how much they may spend on the magazine, plus
some information about the magazine,which you can find in the barcode and date.
Graphics- on the front cover we can find simple combination of black/white articles in different
fonts. The masthead is different in colour and it uses a totally different font, to make it stand out and
catch the buyer’s eye.
Masthead –is situated over the artist’s head,
in my opinion this thing suggests that the
masthead for this magazine is much more
important as it has the colours inside the
letters. As we can notice the masthead is
using black for the letters but also red, blue,
yellow and green to stand out comparing to
the cover lines.
Central image- the picture of the artist on the
front cover is black and white, because I think
the designer of the magazine thought that the
masthead should be the only one using colours
as we want to see the brand of the magazine
instead of the artist.
Cover lines- the cover lines gives us
information about what important articles we
can find in the magazine.
Date/barcode and price - you can notice that
these elements are not on the front cover. This may mean that this magazine consider all these
elements not that important to be on the front cover but also they consider that the audience
should be attracted by the articles first and then by price.
Graphics - the cover lines are written using red and black and appropriate fonts. The main cover line
is written in white and the artist’s quote in black.

3. Masthead – is partially covered by the artist. We can
notice that the colour of the masthead is not so
different comparing to the artist’s hair,this thing may
suggest that the magazine thinks the artist on the cover
is much more important than the actual masthead.
Central image – the artist on the cover is situated in
the middle. The mise en scene connotes rock music. As
we can notice, Revolver, combines the beauty of the
artist with the dark and unpleasant side of hard rock.
The blood from the artist’s hand connotes death, which
is associated with hard rock.
Cover lines – gives us information about the important
articles we can find in the magazine.
Date/barcode and price - helps the audience know
how much they may spend on the magazine, plus some
information about the magazine,which you can find in
the barcode and date.
Buzz word – the buss word used to catch audience’s eye is ‘’ free ‘’ this is used to inform the buyer
that he can get extra special content.
Graphics – on the front cover we can notice a good combination of red, black and white for the
cover lines. The font for the main cover line is different than the other fonts used for the smallest
cover lines , just to catch our eye on what’s the most important article in this magazine.
Masthead – is partially covered by the artist. The
magazine masthead and the main cover line are the one
that catches the buyer’s eye. The white and red colours
contrasts each other, which makes the magazine
recognisable.
Central image - The magazine used an extreme close up
for the front cover. We can notice that the artist on the
cover is the typical example of a rapper. He is wearing
golden grills on his teeth, this suggest power and money.
Cover lines - the cover lines are written in white on black
which makes a nice effect. The main cover line is obvious
bigger than the others, because that’s most important
article in the magazine.
Date/barcode and price – we can also notice that the
barcode is written using the same effect as the cover
lines.

4. Graphics – on the front cover we can notice a good combination of red, black and white for the
cover lines .