Magazine Cover Conventions

My work on this cover helped me understand how magazine conventions are a way to recognize the magazine without directly being stated. They guide how a reader sees the cover before they even read a word. I learned that the masthead has to be bold and easy to see because it sets the identity of the magazine. The cover lines need to be placed in spots that do not distract from the main image and the layout has to lead the reader’s eyes around the page in a smooth manner. I also learned that the main image carries the mood so the way it is framed and the space around it really affects how professional the cover looks.

The genre I chose was a nature and environment magazine which meant the whole cover had to feel calm and outdoor focused. The big tree and the natural lighting in the photo already set that mood and the text choices helped reinforce it. The cover uses topics that relate to the environment like schoolyard ecosystems or reducing your carbon footprint so the reader instantly knows what type of magazine it is.

For conventions I used a large masthead at the top, multiple cover lines placed around the image, a call out circle for the donation message, an issue number, and a small footer that sums up the magazine. Doing all of this made the cover feel more realistic and professional because it follows what people expect from real magazines. The layout choices make the cover look organized which helps the reader find the main ideas fast.

I did have some challenges like trying to balance the text so it did not cover the important parts of the photo. Making sure the colors matched the natural theme was also a bit of a challenge however I figured it out by keeping the text simple and letting the nature background do most of the work. A success was getting the masthead and main image to blend well so nothing felt too crowded.

The main thing I am taking away is that design choices always need a purpose. Every element has to help tell the story of the magazine. Next time I make a cover I will plan the layout earlier so I can avoid overcrowding and I will choose images that give me enough empty space for text. For example in my magazine, in my magazine I felt that the leaves may have conflicted a little bit with the use of the dateline at the top of the cover.

All of this is going to help me in my portfolio project because now I know how to build something that looks real and intentional using the different conventions associated with magazines. Understanding these conventions means I can make my next pieces cleaner and more eye catching which will be very effective in the creation of an actual magazine cover if I so choose to create one. I also got a better grasp of the fundamentals of InDesign which means I will be able to speed up time of production in the future.

Final Product: