NOTEmusic
Content Page Examples
Similar to the front cover layout, I don't want there to be text everyone and in places which wouldn't look professional. As the example contents page shown below, they all have a simple layout which is what attracted me to them. On a few of them, the main colour focus is the model which is a look I wanted to go for on my magazine. The black and white look would fit well, and just have smaller parts, whether that is text or image, to be in a bold colour. I think considering I want my magazine to be 'indie' and 'grunge', I don't want it to look like a copy of an already popular magazine. The layout will be similar to those content pages which are simple, however has a small twist. The twist being the grunge vibe. When I got further into the research of contents pages, I became more certain on what I wanted my layout to look like. Describing from the examples of real contents pages to the right, I would want my design of the page to be like Vogue mixed with the contents of Q. Once I got all of my inspiration examples of content pages on the blog, I had an idea of what I wanted mine to look like. I didn't want to just copy the one I liked most, so I decided to take specific features that interested me. For example, using minimal colour on the content page. By doing this, only particular things stand out more than the rest. I would use this so my images stand out if there is colour on them, as well as headings of what is going to be inside. I liked the idea of having it primarily monochrome as it fits well with the type of music involved.
Although this magazine contents page isn't part of a music magazine, I still wanted to use it as I like the overall image of it. Vogue is a very popular magazine and a lot of people know the name, even if they don't buy their products. It still shows that a variety of people know about them. With this layout, I particularly liked that the model is the main focus, which is a similar idea to what I would desire to have on my magazine. The only colour on the page is the image and only specific areas of text. For example, the sub-headings showing what is going to fit under that specific category. I also like how even though colour is used, it isn't used in areas that aren't needed. For example, the background is plain white which is a good background for other colours to be on. Everything else stands out better with a clear white background as there isn't anything blocking the colours apart from one another. It also lets the minimum used of colour become prominent as it is an alternative used than monochrome on its own. For my own music magazine, I would like to use similar features that Vogue uses themselves; only using colour in specific areas and having an extra/different picture on my contents page.
Mojo magazine is a typical 'indie' music magazine which also includes alternative music. It often uses a monochrome colour scheme and sometimes uses colour to define certain areas. They tend to have a plain background with the model or main article on the contents page. The text and image contrast with the background, especially for this issue. They also rarely use colour, but when it is used, it becomes prominent. An unusual feature that contents pages don't often use to their advantage is the use of text size. However, Mojo do use it to some extent. There is a clear view of size difference from the title at the top of the page and the features in the magazine, compared to the text under the features which include slight information. On my own music magazine, I would try to use a similar feature if I liked the result of it. The features being having the text fit around the image, and not having a set border around the image. I like the look it gives as it uses the room and as if the celebrity is there with the text next to it. I also want to have a similar look by having some of the text a different colour to the rest. It creates a contrast from the rest of the page being monochrome.
Billboard is one of the most popular music magazines ever created and also includes a lot of celebrity news. Many people view their magazine which therefore means that they do something right. It seems a lot of people these days like to keep updated with music alongside the celebrities which is what I want for my magazine to include. Billboard's contents page has the images in a contrast to the text. I like how the text fits around the image of the female. By doing this, it allows more information to be put on the page instead of having to fit the text around a block image. It also looks more creative. I also like that they have music details on the left hand side which is a staple feature they have. By doing this, they can include a whole range of information on the music number ones, without having to use more space then needed. Another feature which compliments the magazine is that it has small images with their pages numbers on the bottom left hand side of them. Even though there is already a small piece of information about what something will be about, images help to bring more of an idea together. A magazine could do this with other important stories, but ones that hadn't made their headlines. I want a similar feature to these mentioned as it will give me a layout that looks professional enough, yet also include features that people would want to see. I won't go overboard on these ideas as this magazine tends to be mainstream, not indie.
Q magazine is there to fulfil music needs of many people. It is one of the most popular magazines out there today. They usually include latest music news, reviews and many more. The magazine tends to use the 'indie' and 'grunge' look of things, as well as what content they put into it. There aren't a lot of mainstream artists in ever issue, on average just a handful but sometimes not even that. I like the overall layout on this particular magazine issue. The images fit with the text well and the layout is simple. Everything has its place and the layout as a whole fits will together. Also, not everything is all crammed together in one area; a lot of the different types of content are separate. For my magazine, I want to use some of these features to some extent. I don't want to fully copy their ideas as then mine wouldn't look original, and I also want to use other features to make it my own. The layout of this magazine is what stood out to me and that is what I will use. I want to have majority of the text to one side of the page so it is out of the way and so my images can fill up the rest of the space. By doing this, it allows me to let my images attract the reader in a different way than using a large text size like what is used on front covers.
