Analysing Contents Page

Contents Pages

As Bodmin college didn't have there own contents page, I have picked two professional covers to analyse so I can understand the common codes and conventions for when I make my own.

My first contents page is about ‘FourFourTwo’ which is a football magazine. I would say the target audience for this magazine is between 16-46 and is strongly aimed at males. The colours and the images on this contents page back me up as they are all males and all related to football. I would say it is more of a formal magazine contents page and would be for more sophisticated males.

The layout of this contents page is very formal. All the stories are in one column going down the left hand side of the contents page and all the images are placed in a neat way. This is also appeals to the target audience because it is neat and sophisticated.  All the text is the same font and is very clear to read by the customer. The layout doesn't have to much colour to put off the sophisticated customers but has enough to catch your eye and draw you in.

The colour scheme of this contents page follows three main colours which are Red, Black and White. The red is mainly used to highlight the main areas of text such as the page numbers. Red is also a very common colour in football as many of the worlds most known football teams wear the colour red. Black and white complement each other really well and they catch the eye of potential customers. Black and white might also represent a football, as the first ever football was black and white.

There is not one clear main image on this contents page as there is many large images but one of the images really stands out. This image shows a manager is a suit which goes back to my point this contents page being for more sophisticated customers. The image is also mainly black which also relates to the colour scheme. If potential customers was not interested in the main image the other images may draw them in as they are also linked to football but showing different events.

In conclusion I think that the contents page is very well laid out and really works well with their target audience. The contents page has some really eye catching features and this is one I can take inspiration from.

My second contents page is 'Fall Line' which is a skiing and snowboarding magazine. I would say the target audience is around the same as the previous magazine, I would say both genders would be invested but probably more males. The magazine is clearly set out for lovers of winter extreme sports of any class.

The layout of this magazine is really powerful. The first thing you notice is the really dominant photo taking up a large amount of space. Just like the last magazine, all of the stories are positioned in the left hand side of the contents page, expect from one story which is in the top right of the double page spread. The page number really stands out to the audience and then you instinctively read the quote below which draws you in to the magazine. The font is in bold writing against the pale white background which really draws your focus in.

There is not to much of a colour scheme to this contents page as it is dominated by the main image. Although The white background piece behind the main stories gives you an icy, cold feeling which works well as its a winter extreme sports magazine. The magazine follows three main colours (Blue, White and Black) this work really well with the type of magazine they are trying to present as none of them colours are really bright or warm. They also catch the audience eye as they all work really well together especially the white on black.

As I have stated before the main image is the main focal point on this contents page. The image itself is very powerful and really draws you in. Whats so good about this image is that it has made the designers jobs easier to work around it and just fill in the 'dead space'. This magazine unlike the other one only has one main image so all the customer will be focused in one place unlike the previous contents page where their attention could be guided anywhere.

In conclusion I really like the way this magazines contents page has tried to draw their customers in with such an appealing contents page. I like the how the one main image takes control of the contents page but there is also enough information for the reader. 

Eleven Contents Page Conventions

1)   Features of what is inside the magazine

2)   Images that link to the magazine

3)   Should have page numbers

4)   Colour is key, it indicates the contents

5)   Features should be in a chronological order

6)   Using someone we recognise and labelling them

7)   Level of formality

8)   Doesn’t have to include people

9)   Font, Bold? Italic? Lexis = Choice of words: Invitations/ Challenges/ Questions/ Informal/ Formal

10)                 Editors message

     11) Shapes/boxes/arrows/splash/colour