My Magazine Front Cover Sketch

My Magazine Front Cover Sketch

I wanted to pick a positive topic about college life and so I decided to go with the idea of student cards. These student cards aren't just to be used within the college but you get discounts when spending money. I think this would appeal to the majority of students who like spending or like to save money seeing as money is a big part of teen life. I also picked this theme as its original.

I've kept the headline simple and straightforward: Student Card. It gets straight to the point. The masthead is also obvious as to who this magazine would be aimed at. I thought naming it College Lifestyle would be an easy way to identify what kind of magazine this would be. However, this is a first draft and if I find better/more suitable options of a masthead or headlines, I may change this version. Although I want something simple and straightforward, I also want something that would be catchy and stand out; not something boring. 

Magazine Planning Ideas

Magazine Planning Ideas

The name of my magazine is College Lifestyle. The connotation of the name is that the magazine is meant for those who are starting college and would help them with getting started or find out new things.

My front cover story will be about student cards - many people don’t know that they can be used for discounts when shopping which is useful and beneficial if students knew this. Therefore I visualised this as a student holding up a student card in one hand and some money in the other hand with a big smile, looking happy. A positive-looking front cover seems more encouraging to students who feel they have nothing to look forward too at college.

The target audience is both girls and boys as they all can use their student cards to suit their needs any way they want. However, it’s targeted towards 16-18 year olds (or students still at college), who are interested in saving or making efficient use of their money when spending.

I have decided it will be a mid shot as this will allow for my model to have arms raised and part of a uniform showing to portray the ‘student life’.

I would like the photo to be taken outside in daylight so will use natural lighting. I want the setting to be in a park-like environment; with grass and trees - a lot of greenery, to show they have a little freedom. Although I want to show college life as being independent, I also want to have a building in the image too, so that it links to studying and still having to work. My model will be wearing a uniform to keep with the idea that this is for students.

My headline will be ‘Student Cards’ and this will match the main image as the student would be holding up their student card.

My colour scheme is green as that is sometimes associated with money but also so that it contrasts with the bland black and white of the uniform. I will also use colours that would contrast and stand out against the green for the text.    

   

Magazine Front Cover Analysis

Magazine Front Cover Analysis

This is a music magazine called ‘Kerrang!’ The magazine covers a variety of different types of rock music. All over the front cover are different rock bands e.g. My Chemical Romance, You Me At Six etc. also the main image is a band member of the band ‘Black Veil Brides’ which is also the issues headline; these are all rock bands. It gives an insight of information about the latest bands and who are becoming popular including news, tour dates merchandise etc. 

The connotations of the masthead are that it’s a bright bold yellow which stands out and also has a cracking/breaking effect which catches the readers’ eye. It is positioned at the top of the magazine.

The language techniques used by the headline and sell lines are short so they don’t take up the readers’ time in deciding whether they want to read it or not but they’re also attention-grabbing in the way they used a one-word sentence with the headline: ‘Revealed!’. This might make the reader wonder what was ‘hidden’. Also the sell lines are sharp and get straight to the point e.g. Massive Poster Brodown!

I think the layout is effective because there aren't any blank, empty spaces; every part of the magazine cover is occupied by either text or images. Almost all their fonts are in big sizes and are in capitals which make it eye-catching. The background colour is a light blue which contrasts with the text, which are mostly in whites, yellows and reds so they stand out and are easy to read.      

The use of images around the cover keeps the magazine looking interesting. Also the main image is big and covers the masthead and is a mid shot showing the face and torso. The photo also links with the subtitle where it says ‘Secret Diaries’ and the model is holding an open book.  Also, the pose of the model helps depict the meaning of the subtitle ‘I was drinking, it was a dark time…’ this is because he looks like he’s been through a lot and the reader would want to know what they mean by the ‘dark time’ he’s been through.

The cover also includes some of what is inside the magazine that readers may find interesting e.g. interviews. The articles are based on alternative music and include pictures of the artists that have the articles about them, which gives an idea of what to expect within the magazine.

The target audience is anyone of any age who likes rock music ranging from alternative rock to heavy metal. This because Kerrang! magazine is specifically for rock fans/about rock bands.