Nicki Minaj NME double page spread

Q issue 307 contents page analysis

This is quite a clear and concise contents page used by Q. It is simple but effective; its simplicity makes it look classier and doesn't need to be crammed and busy looking.

I think I prefer this simple minimalistic approach; it is very keeping with the vibe of Q magazine. Q after all standing for ‘Quality’. I am going to make my contents page similar to this one as I think it is more effective than a more busy looking contents page. The purpose of a contents page is to inform – and this one is easy to read, thus serving its purpose.

 The layout of the page is important it can either be blocky or more image dominant. However this contents page seems to follow both. Majority of the page is taken up by one dominating picture of Lana Del Rey (also the front cover star). But at the same time the general effect of the page is organised with a blocky layout. It is also left justified all of the text on the left side of the page and all of the images on the right.

At first I wanted to create a contents page more like the 50cent one where it was more image dominated and had barely any writing. But after seeing this contents page I may have changed my mind as I really like the simplicity of it.

A house colour is used throughout Q magazine, this is the red. Q is known of its red Q logo, connotations of the colour red are passion and lust. This makes it look like something the reader desires.

For my magazine I may use a house colour. However because Q is so well known for being red I wouldn’t want to use this colour as my magazine would look to be a copy of Q – this is bad for my magazine as it would always be in the shadow of Q. Instead I am going to conduct some research into finding out what colours my target audience like.

Finally it is important to pick up on small details on the page, details like the page number and the small arrows pointing off the page. These minor details are easily overlooked nut without them the page wouldn’t be the same. Also the numbers are all of different sizes – this would have been very thought-out. It would be imminently noticeable if something was out of shape.

I will be taking good care when adding these details to my work as they are an important feature that adds up to making my magazine look more professional.