Sixth Form Magazine Analysis

Front CoverThe masthead is of to the left of the page, which follows the rule of thirds, in how it is what the eye will be attracted to first when looking at the page and it is the most appropriate place for the title to be.

The background is a light grey shade, which has professional connotations, which relates to how this is a sixth form magazine so needs to look more sophisticated.

The main image shows the model not using direct mode of address which makes the magazine more informal. Her body language also makes the magazine feel more relaxed, which suggests this is what sixth form life is like. She is also smiling which relates to how she is making sixth form life seem to be very enjoyable and fun. Also as she is not in uniform it suggests that in sixth form you are in more control and more independent.

Contents Page The graphical design of the contents page is very aesthetically appealing to the eye due to the layout and colour. But the actual structure of the content page make it very impractical. This is because the pages are not in a clear order and the writing explain what is on the page is at odd angles to the page number along with the pictures. Similarly the large amount of negative space around the outside looks odd. This is because everything is focused in the centre leading to there being large amounts of negative space around the outside.

As there is no clear house style, there is a large variety of font that have been used. This makes it seem as if the front cover is not for the same magazine as this contents page. It also makes the magazine look less professional.

As there are different colours used to the front cover, this makes the front cover and the contents page look too dissimilar. But both the front cover and the contents page use the same pale toned colours.

Front CoverThe main image is green paint brush strokes make the front cover look minimalistic but well thought out, effective and planned. The paint brush strokes connote creativity which relates to how the school is an all girl school and stereotypically girls are more creative and artistic. The green colour relates to how the schools main colour is green. Green also has many connotations of calmness, ambition, and protection. This relates to how they want the sixth form to feel safe and calm but also that they want their students to do well in their a levels. There is also a variety of shades of green, this represents their diversity within the school and how they all come together as one school.

The font is the same throughout the front cover which creates a good continuity. But as there kerning varies throughout set phrases it creates a hierarchy which connotes that the most important part of the magazine is the masthead ‘the common room’. This is because it is the key focus of the magazine as only the sixth form has a common room and this is a sixth form magazine. All the writing is white which makes it look more sophisticated and mature as this magazine is aimed at older teenagers. The masthead is at the bottom of the page which goes against the codes and conventions of it being at the top of the page. This connotes that the magazine is not stereotypical.

Very clear house style of minimalism, this is because it uses the same font and is completely in lower case. This connotes how it is a sophisticated sixth form. The contents page has been separated into sections which show how they are creative as the two main sections are art and music. This relates to the front cover and how it is paint strokes which is creative. The ‘and’ ‘everything’ sections highlight their focus on the creative parts of the magazine. This connotes that they are a very creative sixth form.

This contents page only includes the page number and their corresponding article. This somewhat plain contents page has a more professional, sophisticated and upper class. This links to how the school is a private school and their demographic is As and Bs.The contents page also has a continuity of using a row of dots to separate the sections of the magazine. This is a basic but sophisticated method of separating the magazine. There is also a large amount of negative space on the contents page. This makes the magazine look more professional even though it is designed by sixth formers.

Contents Page

Front CoverThe masthead uses a font that is appropriate to the main image. This makes the front cover look more professional. The front cover is not conventional for a sixth form magazine, as it the main story is not about the school or sixth form. This shows how the magazine is more to inform sixth formers world issues and not about sixth form.

The coverlines are in two separate sections of the front cover. This suggests that the article on feminism is the more important article as it is alone and in a larger font.The colour used relate to the main article instead of the school, which is unconventional for a sixth form magazine. Throughout the cover the same font is used but the weight and kerning changes. This helps to create a brand identity.

Contents PageThere is no clear house style in this magazine. This is because the only thing similar between the front cover and contents page is the font used. Although there is negative space, the contents page looks messy and busy. This makes the magazine look less professional. The layout of the pictures is very unorganised and makes the contents page look very dissimilar to the front cover.

The contents page has been separated into different segments for each article. This makes it easy for the audience to find where the articles are as it is fairly clear what article is on which page. The main coverline on the front page is indicated in the contents by saying ‘on the cover’ and featuring the picture used on the front cover. This allows the audience to easily find the main article of the magazine.