Concepts

It is common for music videos and even things like album cover designs to have a concept behind them, and this too applies to magazine covers and even contents pages at times.

This is a cover from a 2009 issue of popular US music magazine Billboard which features prominently Jay-Z looking over a river with a cigar. The concept behind this seems to be retrospect with the black and white effect of the photo and the text talking of Jay-Z's past with his old record label. Cigars are usually associated with the older audience so Jay could be seen as being self-aware of his age and looking back on his decorated career as an elderly man would over his own life.

This is another issue of Billboard, this time from November 2010 and features Rihanna staring at the camera provocatively. The concept behind this seems to be reinvention, with the caption itself stating "The re-reinvention of Rihanna". This is potentially a pun as one of Rihanna's many nicknames is "Rhi-Rhi". With the way Rihanna is looking into the camera, it could be that this 'reinvention' is to a more adult, suggestive Rihanna. The line "My fans don't really know who I am" could possibly mean how her record label and pushed this 'good girl' image on her and she is trying to shed it for her real personality.

Magazine covers

XXL - Main Image of Kanye West

The centrepiece of the magazine is an image of rapper Kanye West who claims the cover story. A clever effect mirrors the image below him which coincides with the text "LOVE  HATE". Each side could possibly reflect each one (the top image the Kanye that people love and the bottom the one people hate) despite him being the same person. This connotes how split the public's opinion of him with people loving him for his music and people hating him for arrogance and controversial behaviour. There is an all white background to keep the simplistic style of the cover with the only cover being the red of the magazine logo (which is also mirrored). The unique selling point is how the cover story is focused on Kanye West who is very popular around the world. This is inspirational for my magazine cover as it has introduced me to unique mirror effect and I want something similar and unique for my magazine as well as a simplistic style.

Classic Rock - Main image of Led Zeppelin

The main image of this magazine is the classic rock band Led Zeppelin smiling and looking happy into the camera, which goes along with the positive vibes in the headline and text accompanying it which heavily compliment the band and their possible future. Led Zeppelin are one of the biggest and most influential heavy metal bands in the world and would in any form attract a large audience, but the fact it is talking about a rare reunion makes it a unique selling point on this cover.

The Source - Main Image of Kendrick Lamar

The main image is a close up West Coast rapper Kendrick Lamar who is looking into the camera. He is wearing a crown on the cover. The caption under the headline is 'Compton's Crown Jewel' which obviously fits with the prop used. The unique selling point of this magazine would be the text at the top which says "2012 Year in Review", which is indicating the magazine has a summary of the year 2012 in the hip-hop world. This would attract people who haven't kept up with the genre as well as those who have, hoping to find their favourite artists highly rated. 

Magazine double page spread analysis

Magazine contents analysis

College Magazine front cover

Here is the finished product of my College Magazine front cover

College magazine double page spread

This is a mock-up of what a double page spread in a college magazine would look like

College magazine Contents mock up

This is a mock-up of what the contents page to a College magazine would look like