1. Magazine Cover Graphic Design Project

3. Parts of the Cover

4. GOALS Identify the personality of the magazine Attract an audience
Lure the reader into the magazine
Establish a visual identity
(use consistent format)

5. MASTHEAD Name of your magazine
It’s important, the visual branding of the mag
Choose a unique font, size and color
Often, the photograph and masthead overlap each other

6. MAIN IMAGE Single image photograph
Large enough to make an impact on the newsstand
Photo model must have full eye contact to reader
Drawings don’t sell mags. Use a photo.
NO PATTERNS in the background.

7. Cover Lines What’s inside Don’t detract from main image
Font and Size of letters is very important
Color is very important
Elements must be Light on a dark background or dark on a light background
“READABILITY” is critical

8. Cover Lines Cont’d
Main Cover Line must stand out, bold font and/or different color
“Flashes” Use words New, More or Exclusive!
Use a grid to design cover
You can exaggerate but words have to be made clear and immediately understandable
You can ask a question in a Cover Line but also must give the answer

9. Cover Lines, Cont’d
References to sex sells magazines but you have to be careful. Better to avoid than insult readers.
Use numbers. Example 55 Ways to Make Fast Money. Readers love numbers and lists.
Use descriptive words. Example Simple Scrumptious Supper Recipes
Target your audience. Women like beauty, fashion, diets. Men like cars, fitness, sports.

10. Readability Hot, Hot Brad Pitt Kinda crazy Brad Pitt
Readability is the ease with which a reader can understand a written text.

11. Not much text
Lots and Lots of Text

12. SELLING LINE Who is the target audience
Short, sharp description of main marketing point

13. Dateline
Publication Date
Month and year, often with the price

14. Bar Code
Bottom corner
Some magazines don’t have barcodes on cover

15. MODEL CREDIT Name of person in photo Can add extra word or two
“Hot, Hot Brad Pitt”

16. ARRANGEMENT Generally…. LEFT 1/3 for Cover Lines
RIGHT 2/3 for Photograph
TOP is for Masthead
Cover Lines can surround the photo, too

17. COLOR Red is the most used color Green is the least used color
Don’t use orange. It does not print well.
Small cover lines should be black or white

18. MISCELLANEOUS
In the US, magazines are stacked in a waterfall position (top 1/3 showing)
In Europe, magazines are stacked in rows with left side visible.
The End.