Contents Page: Research

Now that I have completed my Front cover it's time to get cracking on my contents page. I have decided that before I even start to think of ideas of what is going to go on the page, I should first look at contents pages other magazines have already made. Just so I can get an idea of a decent layout that complies with normal magazine conventions. The first magazine I have chosen to analyse is Q

Q Magazine- Contents Page:

Design and Layout:

The design Q have used is extremely simple however I think it is quite effective the top of the page lists features that change every month. However at the bottom of the page there are features that will be familiar to avid readers as they remain the same every month. The layout used is very plain however I do think for this particular magazine it works really well and doesn’t detract from the content of the magazine.

Font Style:

The words in Q magazine are very easy to read as they are all the same font. A good use of a vibrant red is used to make the page numbers stand out. The main colours used in the layout are red, black and white. I honestly think it is extremely effective as they all really complement each other.

Language:

The language used in this article articulate yet it isn’t over complicated.

Image Layout

For the layout of the page, Q have used a very popular male music artist, James blunt, to dominate the entire right hand side of the page. I think this is very effective as It immediately draws a readers attention and makes them want to read them article on James blunt.

Appearence of Model

For the main image the model is wearing a serious expression on his face. This could be because the magazine is targeted at older readers who are really interested in music. Also the model looks directly at the camera. This is a very effective method ad it makes the reader feel like the model is look directly at them therefore engages them further.

Magazine Title

The title of the magazine is right at the top of the page and is placed strategically so that it is the first thing when reading an audience see’s.

The next magazine I am going to analyse is Kerrang

Kerrang Contents Page:

Design and Layout :

The layout Kerrang have used is a lot more complicated than Q however I do think it is equally effective. They still have all of their features listed however their features take up a whole half of the page. I do think this is very effective as it makes the contents much more prominant than just having them down the side. However I do think they could of made the contents features even more prominant if it had been in the top half of the page instead of the bottom.

Font Style
The font Kerrang have used is mostly all the same size, which is very effective as it makes it very simple to read and understand the text.

Language: Just like Q the language uses isn't complicated at all. However as Kerrang is targeted at a different age group the lanuguage isn't as articulate as Q either.

Image Layout: For the main image Kerrang have used an image of a rock band. The image dominates the whole top half of the page, making the image the first thing a reader will see. This is very effective in engaging the audience because the image that is presented gives an out of control atmosphere. They have also used box images. This is also a really effective way of getting an audience to read on, because it gives them options as to what else is in the magazine visually.

Appearence of Model
The model in the main image is a popular rock band artist. The artist isnt looking at the camera and he is in a hunched position and looks to be screaming into a microphone. The rockers comes across as being very into his music which fits really well with the audience who will be reading the magazine.

Magazine Title

Unlike Q the magazine title of Kerrang is embedded in the text. Personally I like where Q have placed their magazine title in comparison to where Kerrnag have placed it. I personally think that Kerrnags location of their title isn't prominant enough. The heading reading Contents is more prominant and thats no how it should be. So when I create my contents page I am going to place my title as near the top and in the centre as possible.