Cover Page Analysis

1. MARKET RESEARCH -
COVER PAGE ANALYSIS

2. Plain, bright
background.
Studio lighting
Studio shot photograph – Very
simplistic composition. Subject
is in vertical centre third with
face in horizontal centre third –
almost resembling a mug shot.
Large shadow adds a sense of
depth to the photo
Masthead
spaced out
across entire
header of the
cover. Custom
sans serif font
Very minimalist
style –lots of
‘white’ space
No puffs on cover – fits
with the minimalist style
of the magazine
Issue number
in bottom right
hand corner
where the
barcode
would usually
go
No barcode –
free, independent magazine
Only two main
colours – blue
and white – plus
grey, browns, skin
tone colour
CRACK MAGAZINE
Appeals to the audience –
artsy, stylish look
Two
columns of
cover lines,
text centred
within these
columns.
This draws
the reader’s
eye in a
more artistic
way –
vertically
rather than
horizontally
No plugs –
minimalist
style
Nothing in top strip
No tagline, nothing in top
strip. Minimalist.
Everything is arranged in
thirds – very effective
composition. Reader’s eye
is deliberately drawn to
different areas of the cover
All fonts are sans serif – fits
with the house style throughout
the magazine. Adds a sense of
continuity and style
Large article splash looks similar to
masthead (same colour, blocky, sans serif)
but lower case letters and italics show the
difference between the two
Do not need to massively advertise articles and content as not as
concerned with selling copies and making money as a corporate
magazine would be

3. Logo in top left hand
corner – European
convention.
Magazines are
stacked so the left
third is most visible
Plain black
background
of
photograph
Studio shot
photograph –
can tell this
by the plain
background
and studio
lighting
Minimalist
style – only
one article
splash
Issue information
below logo in top
left hand corner.
Draws attention to
the fact that the
magazine is free
No barcode –
free,
independent
magazine
Three main
colours – white,
black, pink
People in photo
wearing black/dark
colours –
compliments
background. Allows
pink to be used as a
feature colour. Use
of flowers and pink
colour could be
representative of
the femininity of the
woman in the band
– very stereotypical
Rack focus photograph –
draws attention to people in
photograph (especially the
woman who is the focus point
of the photo – most attention
drawn to her) whilst still having
depth. One person in each
third with faces to the top of the
centre third. Very simplistic
composition
Main article splash in
bottom third of cover
Lots of ‘white’
space
Flowers in
photo framing
the people –
the flowers
mimic the
positions of the
people. The
central flower,
representing
the woman, is
most focussed.
DIY MAGAZINE
Nothing in top strip
Very small
tagline – ‘set
music free’.
Fits with the
independent
nature of the
magazine,
freeing music
from
corporate
control
Magazine clearly organised into
thirds – draws the reader’s eye
to particular areas of the cover

4. Masthead fills
entire header of
cover
Photograph with
coloured background on
white main background-
unconventional but
visually pleasing.
Four main colours across
background and photograph –
white, black, pink and blue
Small
amount of
yellow –
feature
colour
Minimalist style – appeals to
the aesthetic preferences of
the target audience. This
would not be possible in a
corporate magazine as the
designers are not given full
artistic control
Cover lines
arranged into
columns – very
organised style
No barcode –
free, independent
magazine
Issue information
beneath
masthead, top left
of cover.
Strategically
placed so that the
reader can see
that the magazine
is free when it is
stacked in the
conventional
European way
Studio shot
photograph
– studio
lighting
LOUD AND QUIET
Appeals to the
audience – artsy,
stylish look
Cover lines on
left third for ease
of
viewing/effective
stacking. Very
conventional
Subject of
photograph in
vertical
centre third –
very
conventional
composition.
Small tagline underneath masthead – ‘The alternative
music tabloid’. Appeals to the target audience as it
covers a range of alternative music, as well as the
magazine being an alternative to the more readily
available non-independent music magazines