This contents page does

not really have a main

Images – direct address images. It has a few images
in which the artists are
roughly featured at the
same size. The image of
The target audience of Charice has no background
Billboard magazine is and so the focus does fall
primarily females aged upon her undoubtedly,
between 16 – 25. This is though she is not giving the
reflected with their choice of readers direct address. In
featured artists (Charice fact that’s the marginally
featured here – who is smaller images that do
currently growing in have backgrounds. As there
popularity within the is more than one artist
demographic that this giving you direct address on
magazine is aimed at). this cover, it creates a
bigger connection between
The magazine’s contents you and the artists.
page differs in this issue of
Billboard magazine as it The layout of this article fits
includes a list of the current together well. The overall
music charts. Usually the look and colours used our
contents page just contains consistent. The main colour
the contents but for Billboard used is clearly blue and
magazine it works. It works they have kept to this within
because Billboard magazine their text and text
covers pretty much all the backgrounds on the page.
different music genres out The consistency makes the
there and so do the charts. magazine look much better
So therefore showing the than if it was all just lots of
current charts there will most different colours (though
probably be something in that could work if arranged
there for every reader (who’s properly – but would not
preferred genre will work if any colours were
obviously differ). just thrown on randomly).
 Main image This particular issue of Billboard
is very colourful, this will definitely
attract the attention of someone
flicking through the magazine.
The target audience are those Especially since the colour is from
who are interested in the artists the featured artist rather than the
that feature on the cover of background. Chances are the
Billboard magazine. This is why artist wearing bright colours here
they use these artists, they know is the main feature of this
what demographic they need to magazine and so – having seen
appeal to and catch the eye of her on the cover – the potential
and so they do so with their buyer flicking through is a fan of
contents pages as well as their hers and so this will doubly attract
front covers as usually when their attention.
someone picks up a magazine in
a store, they don’t just look at the The colours don’t exactly
cover and judge the magazine by coordinate however. The main
that – usually the potential buyer colours here are black, blue, red,
will have a quick flick through the white and green. Which will make
magazine to determine whether this page stand out more too. The
they think they should buy it or artist here has no background.
not. They flick through in order to Though it is likely the artist had
see if anything else in the her photo taken in front of a white
magazine takes their fancy. As the background, the background has
contents page is the first page probably still been photo shopped
inside the magazine it needs to out. This works because of the
catch their eye and get them such bright colours that the artist
interested and ultimately will play is wearing.
in a part in the potential buyer
deciding whether or not they The mode of address of Billboard
should buy the magazine. This is magazine is on the same level of
why the contents page can play a it’s readers. It is another way in
bigger part than just being a which it will appeal to the
directory and this magazine has demographic. It is not very formal
certainly accounted for this. but also not particularly informal.
 Vibe magazine is based around RnB artists, rap artists, occasionally the odd pop singer
(such as Lady Gaga) and the like. They often have such artists on the cover dressed to
grab your attention. The colours of Vibe magazine are generally quite dull. This fits with
the theme of the magazine well, and is well received by the target audience.

The language used on this contents In this issue Vibe has decided to
page reflects that of a typical reader keep the main image of the artist
of this magazine and other in colour (as opposed to the
magazines similar to this in genre. other issue I analysed). In my
opinion this makes it much
This layout is the standard layout for better. For my magazine I will
Vibe magazine, with the outline of a keep my main images in colour,
capital ‘V’ in the background behind as the theme of my magazine is
the particular featured artist and the Country music and so the
word ‘CONTENTS’ arranged like magazine needs to look natural
that (broken up) and in capitals, that and colourful.
font. Though with different issues
the ‘CONTENTS’ varies in colour The direct address the artist in
and the ‘V’ varies in colour too – the main image gives you
sometimes it is just an outline (like establishes the connection
on this particular contents page) or between you and her. Notice
sometimes it is filled in. It all again she is not smiling –
depends on the particular featured another way in which this
artist in that issue. Vibe also keeps it magazine establishes it’s overall
layout of the actual text reasonably theme. The theme being kept
similar. With the main directory very modern (a lot of space is
shown on the right of the main plain and unused – makes the
image. This same layout each time page look almost minimalistic
keeps the magazine’s layout which is a very modern take).
consistent. Consistency is good for This differs to other magazines
a magazine, or the magazine can in the way that a lot of other
end up looking bad. Keeping it the magazines pack in as much as
same, gives the magazine more of they can to their pages.
an identity and as a result also
makes the magazine nicer to look at Main image – direct
and read overall. address
 The target audience of Vibe magazine is primarily males aged between 16 – 25. It uses
swear words (with asterisks) and often shows images of women barely dressed over the
pages. This magazine knows who it’s demographic is and so appeals to it accordingly
through their text and images.

The overall colours of this

Main image – direct contents page are all very dark
address and grey. This connotes
unhappiness and depression. It
The language used on this contents
makes the magazine look a lot
page is on the same level as that of
more serious than you would
the readers of this magazine.
expect a music magazine to be.
This in the end makes the
The reason why I am analysing Vibe
magazine leave a bigger impact
contents pages it to gain a wider
and impression on the reader. If
range of magazines. Vibe magazine
this page was in full colour, the
is nothing like the kind of magazine I
artist was wearing yellow and
aim to create. But with these
smiling this image would not
different layouts and designs I can
have the same connotations as it
broaden my knowledge of layouts
does now. The magazine would
and understand about different
also look as if it was aimed at a
styles of setting the pages out rather
much younger audience also.
than just looking at magazines
Which is definitely not what they
similar to mine. I could use the
want to do, as magazines
styles used in Vibe magazine by
always need to be designed for
interpreting them into a way that
people a few years above their
would work for my magazine. For
target audience. This is because
example the way in which the heart
the audience – especially teens
in this image is a different colour
– always want to be older than
and the rest is black and white.
they are. So things that appear
Though I do not think that’s
aimed at those older than
appropriate.
The artist on this contents page is themselves will appeal far more
giving you direct address. He is to them. This is why you see
establishing the relationship magazines aimed at 10 year
between you and him. This makes olds with the word ‘sexy’ on it
you pay attention and take notice. rather than ‘cute’.