Image Analysis

Institution: Grimsby Institute of further and higher education.

Audience: Students aged 16-18 years old.

Cover

Masthead:
'GX Magazine' is written on the top right of the text. I think that this gives the masthead a bit of a modern twist as it isn't in the centre, although it isn't a huge change to usual college magazine mastheads I think it makes it look a bit more young and funky- A component I may consider using myself. The masthead is the largest thing on the cover other than the main image which instantly draws attention just because it's so large. Block font has been used which seems quite striking and in your face, which I like. The block font connotates high energy, excitment and gives an element of fun which is perfect to attract the target audience. It does this whilst still maintaining a professional feel and in no way looks cheap or tacky. Similar to the East Riding College Magazine I analysed, a white colour has been used for the masthead. Like I've said in a previous blog, white connotes innocence or purity. However in this case I think that it is used to connote coolness and crispness in a simple yet effective way. This component has been superimposed on the image, which I am thinking of doing on my magazine also. The actual title of the magazine draws the audience in as it is called 'GX' it connotates youth as it is almost text slang and teenage students will relate to this.

Main Image:
The main image has been edited to a degree I don't really like. The image looks cartoon-like and although it sticks to the fun, funky image the magazine has been created; I think it's almost too childish and looks a bit crude. The colours used are bright and appealing to will definately attract the target audience to the image. As well as this the colours of the main image match well together, mainly blue, grey, white and an orange colour is used which connotates cool, high-energy, intelligence and vibrance which are things that most students are. The image is essentially the cover and everything else is superimposed on to it, I like this idea as it makes everything seem put together and thought about. This idea also makes everything seem inter-related and not at all random or spontaneous.

Slogan:
Most college magazines don't have a slogan as they tend to maintain a more educated, proffesional look, however this one does. 'The word on the street' the slogan makes the magazine seem exclusive and secretive, which will make students more attracted to the magazine as it creates the idea that you will be the 'in-crowd' or 'in-the-know' if you read this magazine. Slogans are essentially snappy titles and give emphasis to the magazine. They are usually seen in celebrity weekly magazines or in music magazines. I will consider using a slogan on my magazine as I think this text has proved that you can create a fun, high energy theme whilst still communicating an educational and appropiate college magazine feel.


Logo:
The logo on this magazine cover is very small is placed towards the bottom of the page. I think this is a good idea as it doesn't take any emphasis or attention away from the main image, masthead or any relevant information on the cover.

Website:
The website has been placed on the magazine to give the target audience a place for extra information if they need or want it. I will put the institutes website on my college magazine as I think it's a good idea to do so.

House Style:
The house style uses a variety of colours but still looks put-together and organised. It uses blues,greys,whites and an orange colour which connotates cool, high-energy, intelligence and vibrance which are things that most students are.I think that the way the cover is laid out is easily understandable and simple yet fun and youthful. I like the anchorage at the bottom of the page with the main article titles. They give the audience a preview of what is in the magazine and relate to the target audience as they are current issues students are faced by- which is a good thing as it is a student aimed magazine. The fonts used on the text are all very similar. They are quite straight cut which connotates professionalism without being too formal or high-class. Although they're similar there are subtle differences in the font of the slogan, the font of the masthead and the font of the article titles, which I intend to do for my magazine.

I really like this cover as it's young, fun, funky and will attract to the target audience because of the colour and style used. This has been my favourite cover I have analysed so far although I really dislike the main image as it seems too childish and cartoon-like. I will not consider doing this as I think it makes the original seem unrecognisable also.

Contents Page

House style:

The colour scheme reflects the colours used on the cover a little, but not as much as I would have liked to see. The bright, vibrant colours are still maintianed however with a pink colour too, which like the East Riding College makes it seem quite random and spontaneous. The images look really professional and impressive. They are superimposed on the page, which reflects the anchorage on the cover. The font used is similar to the font used on the cover which creates a house style. This makes the spread recogniseable and associative to the cover. I really like the font used 'Contents' I like the way the pink outlines the white as it makes it look bold and creates a high-energy feel to it. I will consider using something like this on my magazine.

Layout:

I like the way the contents box fills most of the page as it's the most relevant information on the page. I really like the way the creator has made the contents box sort of tranparent allowing the audience to still see the images underneath it, This idea has really inspired me for my college magazine and I think I may use it on my text.

I really like this magazine as a whole, it looks professionally finished and quite impressive. I think the main image on the cover let's it down but I love how it doesn't seem like a really formal, boring and plain college magazine. Instead it creates a fun, hip, modern and young feel to it which obviously really relates to the target audience. This college magazine has really inspired me and I hope to create my magazine to this standard and communicate the same vibe.