1. A clear message and a simple but structured layout make this spread work. The band name and overall image running across the spread is neat and running the main text on the left hand page is either very clever or something the designer had to do to make that particular shot work. The font used for the concert dates is quite large and reflects the style of the band’s name.

2. From a far more recent issue the dps is laid out in a straightforward but striking way with a great posed shot used across the two pages. The typography is simple but classy, not detracting from the excellent shot. A nice big by-line for the author and good size credit for the photographer should have kept them happy too. The only folio on the right hand page completes the subtle tone of the layout.

3. Black white and red, the basic use of these colours is what pulls the pages together. It is a ‘busy’ layout with one overall background image and other shots dropped on top at the base of the pages. The title is a quote from the band that looks as though it is carelessly plonked onto the pages but is carefully positioned to run across the central gutter. I think the ‘World Exclusive” box does do what its supposed to and highlight the uniqueness of the article but it looks a bit tacky and doesn’t seem to sit well with the rest of the type. The white panel on the right hand page is a good way of highlighting main elements of content not easily incorporated into the main article.

4. Great posed studio shot of Madonna reflecting her iconic status – the huge type used for her name seems unnecessary – every reader would know it already. The large dropped capital letter at the start of the text also seems a bit over the top and I am unsure what exactly the hash signs are supposed to represent, they look clumsy. I do like the balance of the red title text at the top of the left hand page and the vertical rule highlighting text at the base of the right hand page.

5. A cleverly composed posed shot makes the spread stunning to look at and the type sits well in the centre of the right hand page as an introduction to the main article on the following pages. The title is two weights of the same font the word ‘Pretty’ is picked out in bold and run in grey to emphasize it. All in neat justified capitals the opposite of the scruffy graffiti in the background.

6. Striking photography blending pictures of Kurt Cobain and Courtenay Love it looks like something from a horror movie because of the font used for the title – especially in red. I don’t think the type running across the two pages really because it bends into the central gutter of the magazine and distorts the words. The alignment of the intro text is intentionally wonky to reflect the content of the story. The first impression is visually good but when you look at the spread as a whole in depth it does not gel together well.

7. The images take up most of the spread but are quite boringly presented in neat boxes onto the plain white pages beneath, aside from the use of white type on the left hand page for the heading and to highlight an element of the text on the photo the overall effect is dull. The two thin columns of type on the right with sub headings in red look neat but again quite boring and the inverted commas running behind the text on the pull quote look clumsy and out of place.

8. Using a double page spread like this with an incredible strong image and type just as an introduction to the main article is unusual, most magazines could not afford to dedicate that kind of space to what is essentially a heading. The only type is the author and photographers’ by-lines and the folio on the left hand page. The type used for ‘Katy” and the photograph complement each other well – both are fun and funky looking. Using only a black and white scheme with just a slice of red under the names adds to the graphic effect of this spread.

9. Very visual the photography is the most important element of this spread with the type and content taking second place. The picture really does say it all. The white out heading is quite small and subtle and the text panel white type out of a grey background sits neatly on the photo if the designer had just run that text as white on top of the photo it would have been hard to read whereas this way it is easy and visually clear. The folio at the bottom of the page only appears on the left so it does not detract or distract from the overall image.

10. A very striking attention catching and brave layout with a great photo taking up 2/3 of the page running and the picture and head line running across the gutter. The type for the headline has to be perfectly positioned to allow the word to be read correctly and reversing out just the last letter of ‘Transformed’ in the red intro panel completes the overall effect. The main text is made more interesting by running one central column above two justified columns so the overall symmetry of the spread works.