The document summarizes the research the author did on 4 major fashion magazines - Vogue, Elle, Cosmopolitan, and Glamour - to inform the design of their own fashion magazine and website. They analyzed elements like mastheads, large homepage images, polls/competitions, and social media integration from each publication. The author plans to incorporate successful conventions like simple designs, article previews, and color schemes tailored to featured models.

1. FASHION MAGAZINE
RESEARCH
Chloe Vincent

2. ASSIGNMENT
For this assignment I have been asked to create a front cover for a fashion
magazine of my own creation and a homepage for the corresponding
website. I have chosen to cover female fashion as I am a female myself, this
will be easier and something I can relate to. For research, I will look at 4
major fashion publications; I have chosen: Vogue, Elle, Cosmopolitan and
Glamour. I have chosen these because I believe they are the most popular
publications and largest fashion companies, with many fans each.

3. THE FIRST MAGAZINE I WILL
RESEARCH IS VOGUE

4. LATEST NEWS
On Vogue’s website they have a column on
their website devoted to bringing it’s
readers the latest news; this is something I
will include on my own site. The design is
very simple, with only black font on a white
background; this again, is something I will
follow on my own site. Along with this, they
provide a snippet of the story underneath
the title to attract the reader’s attention; I
will also include this on my own site. The
font used is Tahoma; this is a simple font
and I won’t be using this on my own design.

5. MASTHEAD
This is the title from the top of Vogue’s website; I will, like all others, include this when
creating my own site. Again, the design is simple, white text on a black background with
an advertisement of their magazine subscription. Underneath this, are the links to the
pages throughout Vogue; I will also use this on my own site. The font used on the links is
Ariel, although this font is simple, I will be using this on my own website. I will also be
using the colour scheme as I like the simplistic look of white and black.

6. MAIN PICTURE
On the homepage, there is a series of large
pictures, which change after a few seconds.
You can go back to a previous picture by
clicking the little circles in the bottom right-
hand corner. Each picture takes the viewer to
a different article, as you can see, the one of
the left is “Winter 2011 Skincare And Hair
Saviours”. I will be using large pictures on my
homepage to attract viewers and make it
easy on the eye.

7. VOGUE MAGAZINE
This is Vogue’s magazine front cover, the
colour scheme changes with every model
and subject. The colour scheme I use will
depend on this. Vogue have included the
basic conventions, these include;
date, barcode, masthead, main
picture, price, and articles. The articles
have a snippet underneath the title to draw
the readers in, wanting to know more. I will
include many, if not all of these conventions
on my own publication.

8. THE NEXT MAGAZINE I WILL
RESEARCH IS ELLE

9. MASTHEAD
This is the masthead from Elle’s website, like Vogue, it includes links to the other pages
throughout the website, the title, a search bar and advertisements. The first advertisement
is of Clinique; a make-up and skin-care company and the second is of their December issue.
These are something I will consider for my website. The colour scheme is again simple, the
colours being black font on a white background. The font of the links is “Georgia”, this is a
simple, yet sophisticated font and one I would consider.

10. MAIN PICTURE
Like Vogue, there is a series of large
pictures on the homepage, each leading
to a different article. Instead of them
changing independently, you have to
click on the thumbnails underneath the
current picture. This is something I will
use in my own design, that way, viewers
can browse the articles in their own
time and change them when they
choose.

11. POLL
On the homepage of Elle’s website, there
is an “Opinion Poll”. The keeps viewers
interested and let’s their views be known.
I will strongly consider using a poll for my
front page; this will cause a discussion
and bring out different views. All the
questions will be fashion based and of
recent events.

12. ELLE MAGAZINE
This is Elle’s magazine front cover. Similar
to Vogue, the colour scheme changes with
every model and subject. The colour
scheme I use will depend on this. Also like
Vogue, Elle have included the basic
conventions, these include;
date, barcode, masthead, main
picture, price, and articles. The articles
have a snippet underneath the title to
draw the readers in, wanting to know
more. I will include many, if not all of
these conventions on my own publication.

13. THE NEXT MAGAZINE I WILL
RESEARCH IS COSMOPOLITAN

14. SUGGESTIONS
On Cosmopolitan's masthead, like the other websites, they have a search bar to help
the viewer find their way around the site. What differs this from the rest is
that, under the search bar is suggestions for what they might what to type in. All
subjects suggested are relevant to the interests of the majority of viewers. I think
this is a good idea and something I will consider for my own site.

15. COMMUNITY
On Cosmopolitan's site, they have links to their Twitter and Facebook pages. This is
shown by the logos of both social networking sites in a bar on the right-hand side of
their homepage. Along with this, they have a link to their Email, this is shown through a
pink envelope next to the Twitter and Facebook links. This gives the viewers a chance to
connect, potentially talk and view their ideas to Cosmopolitan. Like the suggestions, I
think this is a good idea and will strongly consider this for my work.

16. HOROSCOPES
On Cosmopolitan's site, they have a
section where you can view your daily
horoscope. There is a drop-down list
where you can select your sign. It then
tells you your daily horoscope
information. Although this is a great
feature, this is something I will not
consider for my own site.

17. COSMOPOLITAN MAGAZINE
This is Cosmopolitan's magazine front
cover. Similar to Vogue and Elle, the colour
scheme changes with every model and
subject. The colour scheme I use will
depend on this. Also like Vogue and
Elle, Cosmopolitan have included the basic
conventions, these include;
date, barcode, masthead, main
picture, price, and articles. The articles
have a snippet underneath the title to
draw the readers in, wanting to know
more. I will include many, if not all of
these conventions on my own publication.

18. THE LAST MAGAZINE I WILL
RESEARCH IS GLAMOUR

19. GLAMOUR TV
On the Glamour website, they have a
Glamour TV section. This is a video on
their homepage that features celebrity
news – this, as you can see, is an interview
with the Harry Potter stars. Everyday this
changes to show a different video and
piece of news. Although this is a great
feature, it’s not one I’m going to use in my
own work.

20. COMPETITION
On Glamour’s homepage, they have their latest competition advertised.
As you can see, this particular one is to win free make-up. The prizes
available are objects that are in the interest of their viewers. For
example.; make-up, clothes, holidays etc. This is something I will include
in my own work.

21. JOIN THE CAMPAIGN
On their homepage, Glamour have advertised a petition that they would
like their viewers to take part in. I think this is a great feature because it
allows the average viewer to join up to help towards a better future. This
particular feature, taken from the magazine, shows that high-street debt
is getting worse and signing this could put an end to it. Although this is a
good idea, this is something I will not include on my own website.

22. GLAMOUR MAGAZINE
This is Glamour's magazine front cover.
Similar to Vogue, Cosmopolitan and
Elle, the colour scheme changes with
every model and subject. The colour
scheme I use will depend on this. Also like
Vogue and Elle, Cosmopolitan have
included the basic conventions, these
include; date, barcode, masthead, main
picture, price, and articles. The articles
have a snippet underneath the title to
draw the readers in, wanting to know
more. I will include many, if not all of
these conventions on my own publication.