1. Salford City College
Eccles Centre
AS Media Studies
Foundation Portfolio
Masthead- This masthead is bold and is positioned
in the primary optical area of which it takes up the
majority of it; it is the first thing the buyer will look
at, using a white, bold ‘Q’ on top of a vibrant red
colour makes it stand out from the rest of the
magazine. As Q is a popular magazine it would
attractive the intended audience.
target audience: Fans of Indie rock, male and female aged 15-30
Colour-Main colours are grey, white and black. Apart
from a strip across the top of the magazine which is
blue. To conclude the colours are generally dull, but
the contrasting colours like the red and the white
over the black stand out. I think the colours are
suitable to the type of magazine as they have
connotations of calmness and relaxation.
Main image- This is a picture of the band The Arctic
Monkeys this is based in the primary optical area
and the strong fallow field and is the centre piece of
the magazine. One the band members Alex turner is
intensely staring into the camera whilst the other
band members are looking in other directions.
Typefaces- The cover lines are a thin grey and white
upper case writing, which is a good combination with
the background of the band member as he is wearing
black and it is in the same font as the model credit.
This gives the magazine a professional yet modern
and down to earth look.
Model credit-Arctic Monkeys and how a ‘strange
voyeurism’ helped them make their ‘best record
yet’ this is based in the weak fallow area.
Photography Lighting- As the bands clothes are dark
this contrasts with their faces as the photography
lighting makes them look like they have a glow. The
lighting is quite bright on their faces this is effective
as it aids in adding detail and expression.
Cover lines- These involve, Richard Branson, Arcade
Fire, Green Day, Nirvana, Hain, Manic Street
Preachers and Rizzle Kicks.
Design Principles Used?-The design principle of
Gutenberg’s design rule is used, the masthead is in
the primary optical area, as the magazine designers
would know this is the first thing the reader would
look at. Also the model credit is based in the weak
fallow area, although this is usually the last place the
reader looks, the writing size and appearance makes
it stand out. In the terminal area, there are cover
lines and a barcode this is because these things are
less important.
Main cover line- ‘the Q interview’ with the Arctic
Monkeys “how broken hands, competing haircuts
and a strange voyeurism helped make their best
record yet”
House Style- The masthead is always placed in the primary optical area which the audience
would recognise as it’s never anywhere else. Bold, big text is used for the model credit,
which is successful as it always attracts the audience