DESIGNING A MAGAZINE COVER

Intro to Comms

Introduction

When you walk past a magazine rack, what makes you pick up a magazine to read it?

Objectives

By doing this lesson, students will: Describe 3 design elements that should be

considered when designing for a specific audience

Design a proper logo for a magazine cover Choose an appropriate color scheme for a

stated audience Design a magazine cover for a specific

audience

3 Design Elements

Font Color Layout

Fonts

Don’t overuse fonts Never more than 3-4 fonts

Readable

Size, size, Size Bold instead of italics

Common Fonts

Times New Roman – best for large blocks of text

Arial – Good for titles: very clean

Comic Sans MS – whimsical and informalScript – Small and ElegantGeorgia – classyTrebuchet – Very clean

New York

What does this font say?

How about Bernie Madoff, Monster?

Why do these two fonts work well together? CONTRAST!

What audience is this trying to attract?

Tattoo

What does this font say?

How about the other fonts?

Colors

Use a color scheme Stereotypical colors work

Gender (Pink, blue, gray, pastels) Industry Standards (Cat Yellow, John Deere

Green) Age Groups Country Colors

Industry Standard

Why would Oprah’s magazine use John Deere’s colors?

Gender-Based

Is the color scheme easily recognizable?

Layout

Decide what you want to stand out Pictures Titles of articles Key Words

Pictures

Why are there so few words on the cover?

What do you think the majority of this magazine contains?

Titles of Articles

Notice the title of the article is centered – WHY???

Key Words

What words stand out?

Who would this attract?

Mimicry

Check out other magazines – what do you like about them?

Mimic features of other magazines that you like – discard the ones you don’t.