2. Colour-Bright white lettering on a red
background for the main article/ cover line which
matches the masthead creates a nice refreshing
impression and suggests it’s professional.
There are clear tones and colours (white on red/ white
on Black). Because this makes it easier to read. It’s also
very eye-catching. It creates a mood of excitement and
fascination and urges the consumer to buy the product.
A 1990’s Mancunian indie/pop group are being
represented in a modern, slightly nostalgic way because
music is very important to the target audience of this
magazine and this band in particular are very important
and very popular to the readers of NME. The artwork
has been printed in full colour which suggests it’s
modern.
Design-The images and words on this front cover
fit really well. The words stand out well and are clear and
informative. The masthead, banner and main cover line
in particular glide gently over the artwork suggesting
importance. The font used is Helvetica. This suggests
popularity. It also suggests a slightly nostalgic mood and
connotes importance.
Image-There are 4 almost separate images of the band
here. Ian Brown (Vocals) is placed the largest and most
central here. This is might be because he has become more
famous than the rest of the band . Additionally, the
audience of this magazine want to know more about him.
John Squire (guitarist) is the second largest and placed
slightly smaller and slightly right of the singer. Gary
Mournfeild and Alan Wren (bass and drums) are placed next
to each other but have smaller portraits and are below the
two frontmen. Because the designer wanted the whole
band on the front cover. As a whole this front cover
represents the band and is connoting their success as a
group.
Pose, Style, Hair, make up-These create the impressions of
beauty and idolisation. On this front cover- it appeals to young men
and fans who will now aspire to be like them and look like them.
The Cover lines are very clear and tells the reader
exactly what’s in the magazine. There are no puffs or
buzz sections. The front cover immediately suggests it’s
a music magazine by having an album sleeve and artists
names on it. Also by having a well known band which
addresses the target audiences interests. You can
identify the contents at a glance by the main story
being in big lettering and gliding across the artwork.
You can read the main features from a distance
because they are in white lettering on a red
background which makes them stand out.
With Language, there is big white lettering
on a red background which grabs the reader
straight away. It says “The making of the
most important debut album in history”.
This intrigues the reader and persuades
them to buy the magazine.
Overall impression and effectiveness- It’s very
effective. It does give a good introduction to
what's inside. It’s designed to appeal to 16-45
year olds because it has the nostalgic element
to appeal to the older generation( 25th
anniversary special) as well as appealing to
the younger generations by exciting them
with ‘The making of the most important
debut album in history’. It represents the
readers interests by having an album cover on
the front. People who read NME are into
music. 0-12 year olds are not addressed
because they are too young and will not be
interested.
Institution and distribution- NME. This magazines is both
available as Print or online download.
3. Image- There isn’t a lot of colour
here. It’s mostly black and white
backgrounds and texts which suggests
it’s easy to read. There is red in the logo
at the top and on the panel at the top
left. This connotes importance.
Additionally the page numbers are in red
which makes them stand out. Red as a
colour is often used for alerting people
and connotes danger.
Design- The words and images fit
really well together. They are clear and
easy to read. Bigger, BOLDER titles grab
the readers attention. The artwork fits
nicely next to the text.
Images-There are 4 main images. The
three cover line stories all have a small
picture relating to the artist in their
panel. There is also a sidebar which has a
picture of the double page spread which
emphasises the importance of the main
article.
Words are used really effectively. In
particular ‘Is this the real Damon at last?’
intrigues fans and persuades them to buy
the magazine. The contents is clear which
readers can identify at a glance. You can
also read the main stories from a distance
because they have a big font. This connotes
that they are important and that they are
intended to be quickly and easily read.
Language is used effectively by having a
question to start the main cover stories. This
strikes the readers interests and gets them to
look through the magazine.
The institution/distribution of this magazine is
NME. The magazine is available for print and
digital download purchase.
The overall impression of this contents page is
that it’s very clear and has a very effective
layout. The contents page makes it really clear
as to what's inside with main cover stories in
big fonts running down the centre of the page
as well as a list of all the bands appearing
inside the magazine running along the right
hand side. The design will appeal to
adolescents. Because there are lots of
different articles and stories, the contents
page addresses a wider range of readers
interests. For example it addresses the
interests of readers who like Damon Albarn
and Kurt Cobain as well as people who are
interested in The Stone Rosses.
4. The use of strong, bright colour addresses the reader straight
away. Red and blue lettering draws the attention of the reader
connoting their interests. The large bright font helps it to stand
out over the artwork which creates the impression that the
band are important. The artwork connotes that the band are
inspirational and represents them as being popular. It also
suggests that the group are important to the reader.
DESIGN-The words fit
really well with the artwork.
The title glides over the
artwork and through the
white space across the
double page spread. The font
used is the same font used
on the tickets to Spike Island
which was a big outdoor gig
in 1990 the band played. This
connotes nostalgia and will
appeal to the older readers.
Images of the band are
representing what the
target audience want
to aspire to as well as
relating directly to the
main story.
The pose ,style, hair and make-up create the
impression that the band look nice. It
connotes that the readers will aspire to look
like them.
The words used suggest the interest of the readers
both young and old. It’s not heavily worded which
makes it easier to read. The older readers will find the
nostalgic features such as the font and the images
appealing.
The Language used
here speaks directly to
the reader and
demands their
attention. The strapline
encourages and
persuades the reader
to purchase the
magazine.
My overall impression of
the double page spread
is that it’s designed to
appeal to it’s target
audience and their
interests which it does
really well. It also looks
professional.
The institution/distribution
of this magazine is NME.
The magazine is available
for print and digital
download purchase.
