Final Front Cover - College Magazine



This is my final front cover for my own college magazine, underneath is an annotated version.



Mock-Up Cover Page - College Magazine

Mock-Up Contents Page - College Magazine

Magazine Contents Page Analysis #2

Magazine Contents Page Analysis #2

This contents page is very informative and offers a lot to the reader. There is a highlighted welcome note wrote by the editor who also offers an e-mail address for suggestions. This is a brilliant contribution towards a contents page as it gives reassurance and warmth to the reader, making them feel more involved.

The page headings featured on this contents page are bigger than the descriptions to emphasize the most significant text to the audience. A short summary is included to describe what the title about without giving away too much information to tease the reader into suspension about the topic. Some of the page headings are also randomly red. This may be to highlight the most imperative articles, since the color red is used to denote importance; the audience will be drawn to the colored titles instantly because they project more.

Page numbers are clearly indicated, using white to contrast against a colored background, making it easier for the audience to discover. It also gives the contents page an organized finish, helping the reader find a page they’re looking for quickly and easy. These contributing factors also reflect on the college, giving it a positive outlook.

Three pictures are located on the contents page. They’re bright and denote the college as a smart, worthy organization to the audience. They attract the readers first instead of the text, because they’re bigger and more obvious. It helps the audience understand and enjoy the articles more. At the bottom of the magazine, the recycle logo is utilized. This is to promote environmental awareness to the readers and to show they support that company, making the magazine seem caring and reliable.

Lastly, instead of possessing the normal “Contents” title, this magazine differentiates by using “what’s inside?” to create a more friendly approach to the audience. It follows the color scheme of the magazine and fits in well so it doesn’t confuse readers or make it appear confusing. 

By looking at this contents page, it appears to be targeted at a varied audience because of the diversity in colors. However, the pictures clearly show young children and teenagers of both genders so it could possibly be aimed at children of all genders from 10 years old and onwards. The secondary audience for this contents page could include teachers and staff since it has articles featured about them.

Magazine Contents Page Analysis #1

Magazine Contents Page Analysis #1

This content page is very informative and clear for the reader. It has obvious guidelines, directions and page numbers to find a page they’re looking for without confusion. This will make the audience feel assured and rely on the magazine, possibly ensuring a greater chance of future purchases. The typical conventions of a contents page are applied to this page, such as page numbers, feature headings in a bold text, captions and images relating to the magazine.

The sub-titles used are bold to make the article more obvious of what it’s about; it makes it easier for the reader to identify the title to the description. The descriptions/sub-titles are not bold and are in a smaller font, not giving too much away about the content, but pulling the reader in and urging them to read further.

The images are in an organized shape and layout to represent the mood. This shows the reader it’s a stylish, professional magazine. There’s also page numbers clearly marked in a contrasting color on the each picture to direct the audience to more knowledge on that frame.This reassures the readers that everything they need to know is clearly marked so they're not on their own.The images are also there for variety; to keep a reader entertained instead of having too much text.

The title of the "contents" itself is small, yet it's on a different coloured block, contrasting from the white background to make it appear more significant.The font is also different from the rest of the contents so it further emphasizes the title for the readers to know what specific page they're on.

College Magazine Analysis #3

College Magazine Analysis #3

This college magazine appears simple, yet sophisticated. They’re using their own location to advertise the college. Featured in their location is water, a symbol of purity and cleansing; often water is involved with washing away the old and bringing in the new which would attract the audience to this magazine as they’re offering a sense of a new beginning. Additionally, there are rose bushes; there are many variations of pink roses and all uses of pink communicate sweetness and elegance. Light pink roses show happiness, joy and admiration. If you want to send an expression of gratitude, deep pink roses are perfect because they symbolize appreciation and thankfulness. The audience will receive this message, making them feel flattered into buying the magazine.

Along the bottom of the magazine is a strap line; however this usually located at the top of a magazine in most cases which may portray an unorganized cover, but could also represent originality. Featured in the strap line is sell lines to attract the audience, such as the “$2.5 million gift” they received. Presenting this information will impress the readers and intrigue them into finding out more on that topic. They also exhibit their success with the “baseball team winning conference.” This is another pull factor that will further impress the audience into purchasing the magazine.

The masthead on this cover is in the colors brown and yellow. The font is big and easy to read, located at the top of the magazine. Brown connotes warmth, comfort and natural substances, which makes the audience feel welcomed. Yellow also has the connotations of warmth and happiness, further emphasizing the friendliness towards the audience. For years yellow was worn as a sign of hope when women waited for their men to come home from war, today they’re still worn to welcome home loved ones; anyone reading his magazine with knowledge of that will be made to feel more significant and appreciated. The date and issue is positioned underneath the masthead in a small text as if to symbolize it’s not important in contrast to the rest of content. This will emphasize where the readers eyes will meet first, in this case the main image because it’s most significant, beautiful scenery which will represent the college with a positive outlook.

This magazine is directed towards a mature audience of inspiring students. The age range could be various as there are no child-like features on the cover, suggesting it’s targeted for people aged 25 years and over.

College Magazine Analysis #2

College Magazine Analysis #2

Featured on this college magazine cover is a pretty, young, active female, smiling with a direct mode of address. Her eye contact involves the audience as if she’s sending a warm welcome; influencing them to buy the magazine. Her representation reflects on the college, giving them a moral reputation – it manipulates the audience into attending or purchasing the magazine, since it gives them the mindset that if she appears so proficient and happy, so can they. Moreover, the mis-en-scene is blurred out behind her, emphasizing her significance.

Part of the females' head is covering the masthead, suggesting that the magazine is popular enough to be known without revealing the whole of it; it also makes the female seem as if she’s the main subject on the cover, making it the first thing that the audience set eyes on. The masthead is a simple, red, bold text at the top of the magazine. The connotation of the color red is a symbol of passion, ambition and power which informs the audience of the traits the college includes. However, another connotation for the color red is danger, blood and anger which may signify the wrong representation of the college to the audience. Along with the color of the masthead, the rest of the magazine uses a color scheme of red and blue. The majority of the audience will see this as a symbol of royalty or a symbol of strength and unity, because they’re liberal colors; therefore holding a good impression of the magazine. Another reason the color scheme has been chosen is because both red and blue are primary colors, making the magazine look more simple yet professional.

Furthermore, a range of sell lines are mentioned around the main image. Shocking facts that nobody knew about before such as “saliva being a drug” make the audience intrigued; a popular factor of getting an audience to purchase a magazine. They follow the same house style to maintain familiarity for the readers. The font style, size and color are sustained also, to make it easier to read. The title of a topic is usually bigger than the remaining information underneath it to highlight the most significant part to the readers. Buzz words are also used such as “exclusive” to make the magazine appear original and fashionable; the audience would see this as a chance to “get with it.”

Lastly, the main audience this magazine is attempting to appeal to is young (17-25), aspiring students, possibly of both genders because of the red and blue color scheme. A secondary audience for this magazine would be teachers of both genders or younger teenagers who are planning their future.