Deconstruction of a magazine front cover

The cover of any magazine is always important as it creates a level of expectation within the reader/buyer. For a magazine cover to be successful the genre, image and attitude of the brand must be made clear.

I have looked closely at empire magazine as I feel that empire has a strong brand identity and that it uses the conventions of a magazine cover in a simple yet effective way. Although I want to create a magazine for people who watch art house films I would like my cover to be similar as:

1. I would also like to appeal to an adult (mature teenager) target audience.
2. I would also like to create the impression that my magazine is for people with a strong interest in film, who purposely follow certain directors and film writers.
3. I would like to create a simple looking cover. I feel it is important that I do not over crowd my page or I do not think it will look very professional and it will look more immature like it is aimed at a younger target audience. I also think an overcrowded page will distract from the emotional and serious feel most art house films have.

THE CONVENTIONS THAT ARE USED EFFECTIVELY IN THIS EXAMPLE

Large bold white font of Empire shows that this is the title of the magazine, with, also how the white font juxtaposed with the dark blue background makes it eye-catching. The red delivers key information to the audience how it stands out more than the white font does. The use of red font enforces the male target audience due to the connotation of red being masculinity. Also, the font links to the main feature image because we see the red seen in the suit worn by Downey Jr. The gold font, also as linking to iron mans suit, shows the high standing of the magazine itself, with the connotation of gold being regal. This font also enforces the expensive of this magazine, with the price being at the higher end of the magazine price bracket, consoling the audience that they are getting the best for their money. The audience is delivered with the information on the feature article due to the main focal image size and the second largest font being “Iron Man 3.” The gaze of Downey JR towards the audience makes the audience feel more included with the magazine and also enforces this as the feature article of the magazine. The front page is not crowded with information and pictures like many magazines are. This makes the focal image more eye-catching because this will stand out on a magazine rack surrounded by competitors. “The world’s largest movie magazine” acts as the tagline for the magazine; this also shows the institution of the magazine which will make the audience want to buy the magazine because it is the best. Institutions are also used to persuade the audience into buying the magazine how they use people such as “Downey JR” and “Danny Boyle” to make their fans buy the magazine. The top banner delivers key information to the audience about other things that will be seen in the magazine to make the audience interested and want to purchase the magazine to read more about it. The price, month and webpage are the smallest font on the front page showing that they are not an important factor in selling the magazine, however, purely being there to deliver information to the audience. 

In my magazine I aim to also use a single focus image to make the magazine more eye-catching and clear to the audience.  I like the use of red and white font for the magazine front cover as this is eye-catching and delivers information clearly to the audience which is a key convention for magazines.  I will also make the pricing and other extra information much smaller than the main information on the cover to make sure the cover is not overly crowded but still providing that information for the consumer. With my magazine being an art house movie magazine it will still have competition from Empire, however, not directly. I will use a tagline such as, “UKs largest art house movie magazine” to enforce its standing in its genre but delivering the information needed when a consumer is choosing a magazine. I also want to make the title of my magazine the biggest font on the page. I feel that Empire looks like a brand you should buy and trust as it is quite bold with its branding. I will also be bold with my branding so people view my magazine as a respected authority on art house.