Analysis of First Magazine

College Magazine Research and Analysis

I shall construct a college magazine’s front cover and contents page, I shall try and make this an effective and professional looking magazine, I shall do this by researching existing college magazines and by planning my magazine and making different initial samples of the styles that I could use.

Research Sample 1:

Grimsby Institute GX Magazine:

http://www.grimsby.ac.uk/documents/GX_mag/GX1.pdf

The front cover of the GX magazine uses several different colours, these are used in block colours and have no tone to them. This works effectively to make the cover look stylized and to make it look like a poster effect.

I think that the strong parts of the magazine cover are the use of colour, the use of the text and the arrangement and alignment of the text. I think that the colours used are good because they compliment each other, and give the cover a cool feeling rather than using warmer colours such as red or brown. I think that the use of text and font is effective as the designer has used a large seriffed font style that is clearly visible and contrasts from the background that is used. I think that the alignment of the text is good because it follows the male figure and doesn’t cut into him.

LIIAR Analysis

Language – The language used on the front cover of the magazine is informal, short and to the point. I think that this is effective because when looking at a magazine cover you don’t display articles or bodies of text, it is short effective phrases or headlines that attract the readers view. The use of informal language works in the magazines favour as it allows the reader to connect with the magazine on a more comfortable social level. I think that the use of informal language on the contents page is effective as it also allows the reader to connect with it on a more comfortable level.  I think that the use of short and sharp titles on the contents page is very effective as it allows the reader to scan the headings and chose which magazine article they want to read.

Institution – The magazine cover represents the institution to be a new place, this is because of the denotations taken from the fact that the magazine uses modern graphics and the use of colours. I think that the magazine also implies the institution is a relaxed and welcoming place, I think this because of all of the images of people that are happy and social, and also because of the fact that the magazine uses informal language which suggests it is also an informal and welcoming setting.

Ideology – The magazine suggests that the ideology is that the Grimsby institute is a educational yet fun and welcoming place to be, and that there are a wide variety of help, guidance and things to do. I think that this is a helpful ideology to have as it will make the reader feel as if they can connect with the college on a personal level, just by reading the content of the contents.

Audience – This magazine is aimed at Grimsby institute pupils mostly, although there are a lot of broader subjects advertised by the magazine that could suggest that it would be useful to other audiences of a similar position or at a different college.

Representation – I think that this magazine represents the college to be a very positive place and it represents that the college is a educational place in which help and support is readily available, it also advertises the college to be proactive and that it offers the students things which other institutions may not be able to.