MAGAZINE

COVER
A N A LY S I S
PURPOSE
• Magazine covers are used to
attract their target audience and
persuade them to buy the
magazine. When designing a
magazine, designer ensure that
their magazine cover has these
key features:
 • The Four Fs of magazine design are Format, Formula, Frame and
Functions. magazine designers use this when creating their magazine
to ensure that the magazine has a consistent house style and achieves
the aims of the publisher.

Format: the format is the design choices that can be found on every

edition of magazine, this is also known as the house style. The format

THE FOUR Fs OF includes aspects of the magazine such as the logo, size of the
magazine and the font. magazine designers ensure that the house
style is consistent throughout all editions of the magazine so that is it

MAGAZINE
easily recognisable for the reader.

Formula: the formula is also known as the editorial content, this

DESIGN
means what is actually in the magazine. the formula includes the
length and type of article used in the magazine as well as the sections
in the magazine from front to back.

Frame: the frame is the standard size of the magazine including the

outer page margins and gutters. the rule of using magazine margins
establishes the consistency from issue to issue.

Function: the function is what the magazine is trying to achieve and

the message the magazine is trying to put forward.
F E AT U R E S
O F A
M A G A Z I N E
C O V E R
 • Master head (title/logo)
The master head is displayed on every edition of the magazine in
the same typeface and position on the magazine to ensure
consistency throughout their magazines. The typeface is often in a
specific font that is unique to the magazine, this is done for
advertising purposes for make sure that the magazine is easily
recognisable.

Date line
The month and price is often written on the magazine,but

FEATURES OF A magazines usually come onto shelves a month before the date on
the magazine.

MAGAZINE COVER Cover lines

Cover lines are used to give the reader an insight into the
magazine. The cover lines are written around the edge of the
magazine but not in front of the main image to take the focus
away from it. The cover lines are written in a bold colour so that
they are easily visible but are written in a smaller font so not to
take away from the main focus of the magazine (the main image
and main cover line)
FEATURES CONTINUED
• Main cover line
The main cover line is the largest cover line on the magazine
cover and is in a bold font to draw the readers eye towards it.
The main cover line is usually short and gives an insight of
the main story within the issue of the magazine.

Main image
The main image gives the reader an idea of what the
magazine is based on. It is usually a simple images, for
example the image used in the magazine above is a simple
mid shot image with not too much going on around it to
distract the reader.

Model credit
Model credit are sometimes written on the front cover in
some fashion magazines, for example the magazine above
where it says 'Model of the year Cara Delevingne'.
 A headline is the line appearing at the top of
the ad that catchily summarises the product
benefit or unique point of diference
 What’s The
Difference A strapline appears at the bottom of
Between A an ad and sums up the essence of the brand
or company
Headline,
Strapline, A tagline is another word for strapline,
more commonly used in the USA
Tagline And
Slogan?
A slogan is a catchy phrase used to enter
competitions.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
• https://www.carolinegibson.co.uk/headline-slogan-strapline-differe
nce/
• Media Studies: Features of a magazine cover
• https://www.slideshare.net/natashaellis/magazine-deconstruction-
37168151
• https://philpot.education/mod/page/view.php?id=348