Analysis of Q magazine - Lucy Marshall

(Was uploaded previously but for some reason, dissapeared off the blog.)

I am analysing the May 2008 issue of ‘Q’ magazine. The masthead for this particular magazine stands out as more of a logo than anything else. The letter ‘Q’ is always in the same font, (with a serif) same font size and same colour, and this creates an effective logo which people and fans will immediately recognise. The colour scheme is mainly made up of reds, blacks and whites; these colours are loud and they scream out to the potential buyers ‘buy me!’ which is of course the aim of the overall colour scheme. 

                The main lead fits in really well with the main photograph on the front and acts as a good anchorage. The picture of Madonna is highlighted with the large red letters and the lead up to it (how seven popular groups of people interview her). There are a few other leads, the names of different popular artists included in the magazine, just to get the reader interested but it is obvious that the one focusing on Madonna is the main lead.

                This front cover has hardly any white space; there is more text than picture taking up the space and this makes it look very busy and, I think, glamorous which also fits in with the photograph on the front as she is wearing silver which is a glamorous colour. So we now know that the mode of address is glam, fashionable, pop, beauty etc… this is what the magazine says to the audience. The sell line of ‘Britain’s biggest music magazine’ also talks to the buyers saying ‘buy me’.

                The house style is the same simple layout of the masthead in the top, left corner, the photograph more to the right and text surrounding it. The same colours used regularly. There isn’t much of a border visible as the designer would obviously want to fit as much of the text and information as possible.  The price of the magazine is £3.90 which is an ideal price for such a good magazine with so much information in it. There are also a few puffs, expressing more important parts of the magazine, such as the ‘196 page bumper issue’ because that’s what they want the potential buyers to look at first.

                There is an overlay and a wraparound which makes sure that the white space is made to good use.

By Lucy Marshall