Target audience

The target audience for Vibe magazine people aged 18-

35+ who like to listen to the hip hop, R&B and rap music.

We can see this from the advertisement inside the

magazine. One example of the advertisement used is

Belvedere vodka and an expensive Lexus car. This shows

us that this magazine is aimed at older people with a lot

more money to spend. This also relates to the genre of

music as rap and R&B are quite money orientated. Also I

think the main target audience for this magazine is people

of a black origin as the genre of music is closely related to

them. Also the advertisements link well to this. One

example of this is a black women’s hair styling product.

House style

The house style of this product is done well. I think this as

the cover lines and the masthead are mainly done in big

bold red font. This instantly catches the reader’s attention.

Then there is the other colours used such as black and

white. These give the magazine a bit of a calmer feel and

tone it down within contrast to the red. Also a gold colour

is used; this goes well with the genre of music as a lot of

the music is about money, wealth and fame. The colour

gold represents this well.

Design principle used?

I think that The Guttenberg Design Principle is used on the

front cover of this magazine. I think this because if the

Guttenberg Design Principle says that the strong fallow area is

on the right top corner. This is where the cover line reads

‘THE BIG GAY DEBATE’ this will grab the reader’s attention as

soon as they look at the magazine. Also the bottom right

corner is the terminal area. This is where you look last this is

why the barcode and usually the price are placed. Although

the left side of the magazine does contradict this as usually

the primary optical area is the top left corner. This is where

the most eye catching piece of information on the cover is

held. Where are there is nothing in this top left corner. Also

the bottom left is seen to be the weak fallow area and this

has the main cover line in it.

Main image/images

The main picture is an image of the rapper Eminem. It is

very large and is in the centre of the page, this is done to

catch the attention of the customer so they can see what

will be inside the magazine before they start to read. The

photograph shows Eminem with a serious expression on

his face a hat on and a chain around his neck. This is one

way of people knowing he is a rapper and clearly linked to

this magazine as he has all the stereotypical features of a

rap star. It also gives us a good insight as to what the

magazine is going to be about before we read it.

Masthead

The masthead is large red and in a bold font. This is so that

you can see it very clear. Another reason in why they have

done it like this is to make it recognisable to customers

when it is on the shelves in a shop. In this particular one

the picture on the front is covering some of the writing.

One reason in why they have done this is because the

magazine will be recognised whether you can see the full

masthead or not. This will be because the target audience

will already have purchased a Vibe magazine before and

know what they look like.

Lead article/ model credit/cover lines.

The lead article reads “EMINEM reunited 8 mile cast for

10th

anniversary” this shows us what the main story is

inside of the magazine. This is in a large red font. This is

done to attract the reader’s attention when they are on

the shelves in a shop so that anyone who likes Eminem as

an artist may want to buy it. The model credit is the same

caption of “EMINEMreunites 8 mile cast for 10th

anniversary” this is also to enhance the customers so that

they come and read the magazine. Then the cover lines

read “the big gay debate” this is to attract the attention of

maybe a wider audience who would not normally read

the magazine. The next one then reads “ke$ha hip- hop’s

guilty pleasure” which could also could intrigue ke$has

fans. Then there is one more which lists

Typefaces

The typeface used throughout is consistent throughout.

The fonts are mainly the same but some coversines are

done bolder than others. Also they are different colours,

either white or red. The only typeface that is different is

the masthead. This has been done differently so that is

stands out as it is one of the most important features on

the magazine.

VIBE MAGAZINE

Target audience

The target audience for this magazine is mainly young

people 15-30. I can see this as the music represented is

mainly chart music, for example Florence and the Machine.

Also as one of the cover lines reads ’16 page GIG blow out’

this implies that the people who read this magazine will be

interested in going to gigs. One reason I think this magazine

could also be aimed at 20+ is because people such as Simon

Cowell which means the target audience must have some

sort of an interest into people like that. I think the older

people who read this magazine will be more interested in

articles like that rather than the younger people. Also one

of the cover lines reads ‘SKRILLEX dance genius or noisy

git?’ this also is questioning what type of target audience Q

magazine has as depending on how that question could

have been answered will determine the age of the target

audience. I think this as the older people are more likely to

think that it is just noise rather than good dance music.

House style

The house style on this magazine is done well. The main

colours used are red and white which go together well and

look good on the page. Also the fonts are all the same but

different sizes which many show the importance of each.

Design principle used?

I think that The Guttenberg Design Principle is used on the

front cover of this magazine. I think this because if the

Guttenberg Design Principle says that the primary optical

area is in the top left corner. This is where the mast head

is. This is placed here to grab the reader’s attention first so

they can see what magazine they are going to read. Then

the next area they will look at is the top right corner which

is the strong fallow area. This is where the main cover line

and model credit is placed. This is so the reader then knows

what is inside the magazine. Then in the right bottom

corner which is known as the terminal area there is not a lot

just one cover line that will not be that important to the

readers. Then in the bottom left which is known as the

weak fallow aread and this is where the barcode and the

price are normally kept so people look at this last.

Typefaces

On this front cover there is only one typeface used.

The font it quite thin and very easy to read and it is

quite big and fits around the main image well. Also

the colour of white against the orange of the models

hair works well as it is very easy to see and it is clear.

Main image/images

the main image is a picture of Florence and the machine.

She is placed in the middle of the page. This is so that it is

eye catching and makes people look at the magazine. Her

eye make-up is bright blue and her eyes are green and her

skin is very pale. This is so that her eyes stand out and also

match the colour of the blue used to separate the cover

lines. This is effective and brings the whole magazine

together. Also her hair is covering either side of the

magazine. It is big, bright and stands out and makes the

magazine look eye catching. Also the colour of her nails is

the same colour as her hair and they contrast well against

her pale skin.

Masthead

the masthead is a little bit different in Q magazine than any

other. Instead of going all the way along the top it is just in

the top left corner of the magazine. The masthead is a

white Q inside a red box with the words ‘discover great

music’ underneath. This has been done for two reasons. It

is in the top corner because that is where the primary

optical area is. This means that it is the first place you look

when looking at a magazine. Q magazine may have done

this to catch the reader’s attention and so that they

remember it as being unique and different to any other.

Lead article/ model credit/cover lines.

The lead article is placed where the masthead would

normally be., but as the masthead is placed in a slightly

different place they have put the lead article there. This

has been done so that it catches the attention of the

readers so that they know what the main article is inside.

The model credit is also the same cover line as it reads ‘”I

feel so alone” Florence woman on the edge’ this is showing

the reader who the model on the front was in case they did

not recognise her. On this front cover there are many cover

lines used. One of them being ‘Meet the new Simon

Cowell’ this is done in a white font which contrasts well

with the orange of the models hair. This makes it stand out

so that it is read. Also the word ‘GIG’ is in a larger font than

the rest of the writing. This is also to catch the reader’s

attention.

Q MAGAZINE

Target audience

The target audience for this magazine is rock and role fans

from ages from 18-30+. I can tell this from the front cover

as the cover lines have artist names in such as the rolling

stones. This helps us identify the genre of the music

magazine as well as the target audience. Also with Alex

turner and Miles Kane on the front helps us to identify the

target audience well because of the type of music they

represent.

House style

The house style of this magazine is done well. The

cover lines are placed in an orderly fashion around

the page. Also because the magazine is quite full with

cover lines and the main image it makes it look busy

and helps identify the genre of the magazine.

Design principle used?

i think that the design principle used on this magazine

front cover is Guttenberg’s Design Principle. I think this as

in the top left corner which is the primary optical areas is

the mast head. This is placed here so the reader sees this

before anything, as then they will know what magazine it

is before they start to read it. Also it is recognisable to any

people that read it regularly. Then in the top right corner

which is the strong fallow area. This is where the models

heads are placed. They will have done this so that the

readers can see the recognisable faces and will want to

read the magazine as they recognise the people on the

front and will want to read about them. Then there is the

right bottom corner which is known as the terminal area.

This is one of the last places you look on the magazine

which is why the barcode and price is placed there.

Typefaces

The type face for this magazine is mainly red and

white it is also done in the same text so it looks all

neat and tidy together throughout the magazine.

Also the rest of the colours go with the magazine.

Main image/images

The main image is a picture of Alex Turner and Miles Kane

stood back to back to each other. They are wearing the

same jacket and have the same haircut. This could suggest

something about the genre of music that they are

associated with. This also helps us understand what type

of music genre this magazine could be. Also there pose and

facial expression could suggest what type of music they are

associated with, for example as they have a serious look on

their faces I do not think they would be associated with

dance music which is happy loud and cheerful. Both of the

males have the same haircut and are wearing the same

type of clothes. This represents the type of music they are

involved in.

Masthead

The masthead of this cover is ‘NME’. It is done in a bold red

font with white and red border around it all. This makes it

look bright and bold and makes it stand out as much as

possible. It is placed in the top left corner which is the

primary optical area. They have done this so that people

can see what it is called before they start to read the

magazine. Also it Is very recognisable to people who may

regularly read the magazine.

Lead article/ model credit/cover lines.

The lead article says ‘Alex Turner & Miles Kane The last

shadow puppets’ This is also the model credit as there is a

picture of Alex Turner and Miles Kane in the background.

The different cover lines read ‘Rolling Stones Exclusive’

this is to show people what is included in the magazine

and could also make some rolling stones fans buy the

magazine. Also ‘panic at the disco album’ this is so that

people who like them can see it and buy the magazine.

NME MAGAZINE