Evaluation of XXL front cover

1. XXL MAGAZINE FRONT
COVER ANALYSIS

2. Conventional or unconventional?
The magazine front
cover is generally
conventional
through the use of
a colour scheme,
minimal if not at all
any negative
space, the logo of
the magazine and
a large cover
image.
However it is also
unconventional through
the use of no plugs in
columns. This creates a
laid back tone and
suggests that the
magazine typically isn’t
the same as others and
that it is original.
Its font used has a very cartoon-like
vibe and suggests to the reader that
this magazine isn’t very serious and
that it is purposely to provide
entertainment for its reader. This
simply shows to the reader that the
magazine is very unconventional.
The way that the font is shaped around
the image is very unconventional in the
way that it frames the image and also
looks hand written suggesting that its
demographic is teenagers/young adults.

3. Layout
The use of minimal
negative space creates
the impression that this
magazine is informative.
By doing this it suggests
to the reader that this
magazine fulfils its
purpose to inform.
The use of no columns creates
the vibe of chaos and suggests to
the reader that this magazine is
chaotic throughout and full of
information.
The way the cover line is written across
the base of the page shows the magazine
to be unconventional. The use of a paint
splattered background to the cover line
creates the impression that this
magazines demographic is for teenagers
or young adults. It suggests to the reader
that this magazine has the tone of being
laid back and provides the reader with the
joy of entertainment.
The cover image is
covering the whole of the
front cover except for
minimal space around the
image which is filled with
plugs containing names of
artists included within the
magazine. By doing so it
creates the impression of
the cover image including
those artists as feature
articles.

4. Colour Scheme
XXL sticks to the colour scheme of red,
white and blue. This colour scheme is later
continued onto the contents page of the
magazine. By doing this it creates the
impression that the magazine is very
professional and creates a sense of
organisation.
The use of blue, white
and red links to
magazines origin being
the United States.
Therefore by using
those three colours it
suggests to the reader
that the publisher is
patriotic about its
country and wanted to
create that impression
through the use of the
colour scheme. This
impression is also
continue onto the
contents page
suggesting to the reader
that they are very
patriotic.
Black is used within
the plugs however
has no significance
to the magazine
except to create
the impression that
this magazine is
organised and
clean.

5. Text
The text used is very cartoon-like
suggesting to the reader that XXL’s
demographic is for teenagers or
young adults. It is also used in
different font sizes suggesting that
those with bigger font are more
significant to the magazine and also
that they have more fame than
others involved within the
magazine. By doing this to the text it
would suggest to reader who
doesn’t regularly read the magazine
that this is very chaotic and messy.
The way that the font is
very scribbled enhances
the impression of the
magazines demographic.
It also suggests to the
reader that this magazine
has a very chilled tone
but also aims to inform
the reader. By doing this
it also makes the
magazine seem very
unorganised that they
couldn’t use a typical
conventional font or
place the text into
columns to enhance the
impression of
organisation and
cleanness.
This also allows the reader to create a negative
impression of the magazine as it doesn’t fulfil its
purpose of informing the reader in an organised
fashion, therefore leading to a lower profit of the
magazine as people may not want to necessarily
pay for a magazine which doesn’t look eye-
catching for the right reasons.