1. Front cover Research
• By Tesfah Watkins-Scott

2. 1st Analysis
The Reggae magazine front cover above overall, I feel that it is quite effective in many ways. One reason for
this is the actual colour scheme of the magazine. As I have stated above the colour scheme relates to the
Rastafarian heritage. Also, as you can see the colour scheme has also had effect on the main image which
will be very effective to the audience, due to the fact that the target audience would be able to instantly tell
that the magazine will be to do with the genre reggae and the Caribbean culture. Furthermore, the main
image used for the magazine front cover uses the technique called direct address which means that the
image is looking directly towards the reader. This gives the effect to the reader that the magazine will speak
out to them. Also, this makes the reader feel that the image used is actually interested in the audience and
instead of looking away which would make him seem unfocused and un-interested. The strokes used for the
mast head used make the font used for the mast head ‘RAGGA’ stand out from the main image and the
background of the music magazine front cover. This is a good technique to use for a magazine because it
doesn’t allow the mast head to become unseen by the colours of the other aspects in the music magazine.

3. 2nd Analysis
The Front cover design shown in this slide I feel is much more effective than the first front cover I have
analysed. The reason for this is because the layout of this particular magazine breaks conventions and uses a
unique layout to give a nice effect on the audience. For instance the main cover line that has been used has
not been structure conventionally so that all the letters are positioned straight like a normal font; instead the
letters are quite wobbly and look a bit unstable. However, this brings a great effect on the particular target
audience because; the cover line used is almost shaped like the tropical Caribbean environment.
Furthermore, another unconventional technique that has been used for one of the cover lines is that it has
been placed to actually run over the main image that has been used for the front cover. Normally if a cover
line was to collide with the main image it would make the magazine look very unstructured and unorganised
however, with this specific magazine it will have a great effect on the reader because the whole layout
seems to be unstructured but the layout actually works well with this particular genre due to the main cover
lines being placed in awkward positions which could symbolise the free will that is shared through Reggae
Music.

4. 2nd Analysis
Continued..
Furthermore, this front cover does not use too many colours which would distract the reader and
cause them to not read the actual text. Instead, the front cover just uses red for the
masthead, green for the major cover line, and a sandy yellow colour for the background which all
sink into the particular genre’s and cultures main three colours red, gold and green. The sub
headings that have been used for the cover lines on the front cover I feel will work extremely well
with my contents page when I begin to develop it. This is because it will allow the reader to know
exactly what type of topic the particular pages will be about so that they get a little insight to what
my magazine will be about. And also because my magazine is aimed at the older generation but
also the younger generation of today, the target audience would not want to have to look all the
way through the magazine to find one specific article therefore the sub heading technique for the
contents page will work very well.