Double page spread analysis - Kerrang

 

Typography
In this first double page spread of a Kerrang magazine, they use sans serif font to give the magazine a more modern feel as they are talking about a modern rock band. They may have used serif font if they were talking about an old fashioned rock/metal. In the headline, they have used block capitals which are also considerably larger than the feature. This is to make the reader identify that it is a main article in the issue. In the stand first, they have put they have put the bands’ name “My Chemical Romance” in bold just to emphasise that the whole article is about them. They have included a kicker in the intro. Many magazines do this because it draws more attention to the article.

Layout
This double page spread is a very typical design, on one page, there is a main image which takes up the entire page, and on the other, there is the article and other content. In this case, there is a picture of the band “My Chemical Romance” on the Verso as the article is based on them, and the article is on the Recto. There are also other images of the band along the bottom of the Recto, this is to draw the reader in more as they are a well-known band and they have a lot of fans and it will persuade them to read the article. Also on this page they have 2 sets of news about the same band, they have the feature, and they also have a banner down the side. This is to show that this is a separate piece of news. The reason why they have included 2 sets of news is because, as this is the first double page spread of the magazine, it needs to be persuasive and make the reader want to buy the magazine.

Colours
In this double page spread, Kerrang have changed from their house colours. The reason they have done this is because the colour scheme may become boring and repetitive throughout so they usually change the colours after the front cover and contents page. Some of the colours in this double page spread are very dull, such as the black and grey main images and sub-images. They have done this as a lot of rock/metal bands and fans tend to wear dark clothes, make up etc. Another reason why they have done this is so that the strong red stands out on the pages to make it eye catching. Some people also may signify this red as a blood red which relates to the rock/metal theme of the magazine as some bands sometimes base their songs on death, gore etc.

Images
The main image, which is on the verso, looks as though it has been taken at a gig. This could draw the reader into the article as they may be curious to what the article is about. Many readers are interested articles such as reviews, interviews, upcoming gigs etc, so by using this image, they are persuading their audience to buy this magazine. Other sub-images are of the same band, this is to emphasise that the article is about them, as this band has a lot of fans, it is very persuasive to use a lot of images of them.

Mode of address
The mode of address of this double page spread is informal. This is indicated in the headline. The font is very large which gives you the impression that it is shouting at you and in your face. Another reason that indicates the mode of address is informal is that the font is sans serif, this suggests that they are trying to make it look modern and appeal to teenagers more than adults.

Contents page draft 1

View more documents from Jack Penska

Questionnaire analysis

Questionnaire analysis

View more documents from Jack Penska

Front cover draft

Front cover draft 1

View more documents from Jack Penska

Double page spread draft

Double page spread draft 1

View more documents from Jack Penska.

Colours research

These 3 colours are the regular colour scheme for Kerrang magazine. They don’t very often change as Kerrang is a well-known magazine and most people spot the magazine easily when it is on a shelf. The reason they have used these colours is because the black and white gives you the impression that it is a rock/metal magazine as most rock and metal artists wear dark clothes. The yellow is to make it stand out, they often use the yellow for the masthead and the cover lines as they often have a dark central image. This is so that text stands out from the background which makes it easier for the reader. They have also used the yellow because the black and yellow gives you the impression that is like a hazard sign which people may think is related to the rock/metal genre.

These 3 colours are the regular colours for NME magazine. They are used for the same purpose as the Kerrang magazine colour scheme, the black and white to signify that it is of a rock genre and the strong red to make it stand out. They have used a very strong red to give you the impression that it is kind of like blood
which people may think is related to the metal genre. NME usually mix the colours around for example, one week they will use the red for the masthead and the next week the will use black. But they keep the same colour scheme as it is a well-known magazine so it easily identified when it is in the shop.

These are the regular colours for the magazine “Q”. They are very similar to one of its rival magazines NME. They have used this colour scheme for the very same reason as NME, the black white and grey to make you think it’s a rock genre magazine, and the red to give it some colour and attract the reader but also fits in with genre of the magazine as it is a strong blood red which people may relate to rock.

 

In my magazine, i will attempt to use similar types of colours as these magazines as they seem to be very successful and relate to the genre of their magazine. I am planning to use my house style colours for my front cover and contents page but change the colour scheme for my double page spread as it gives it a bit more variation which appeals to my target audience.