Ideas of magazine hooks

Hooks, teasers and button/ flashes are a variety of ways required to draw the attention of the audience. Button/ flashes are exceptionally used for this specific motive. This is because they are usually brightly coloured and have short statements or facts on what the magazine can offer the reader.

Here are some examples of hooks, teasers and button/ flashes that I am going to consider for my rock magazine:

• Win a trip to Germany to see AC/DC
• Reveal plans for new album
• The return of Slash
• The UK’s biggest GIG guide
• Win the competition and travel to New York
• Plus Slipknot, Green Day and Metallica

All of these hooks, teasers and button/ flashes help draw the audience in and are a very useful technique of attracting viewers in purchasing the magazine.

Freebies are also conventionally used for the same purpose.

For example, I would use in my rock magazine to use free posters, free giant tour posters or a free CD.

I think this will advertise the magazine to the audience and selling to the target market would increase, causing institutions to gain the maximum revenue.

1 Flat plan for front cover

2 Flat plan for front cover

3 Flat plan for front cover

1 Flat plan of contents page

2 Flat plan for contents page

3 Flat plan for contents page

1 Flat plan of double page spread

2 Flat plan for double page spread

3 Flat plan for double page spread

Colour Schemes

The preliminary task has given me a greater understanding of color schemes that are intertwined with codes and conventions. From these rock magazines, all express a very similar colour scheme, which can also be assessed as a rock colour scheme convention.

A dark background is nearly always chosen, mainly black or dark blue. These colours highlight the mastheads that appear to be usually white, showing a great contrast. As a result causing an effect by making the magazine stand out and become eye- catching towards the audience. If the masthead is black, a white background is placed behind it that separates and causes a divide between the rest of the magazine and the masthead.

The main cover/anchor line is conventionally a bright colour, such as yellow, red or white. The colour normally reflects and goes well with the colour of the masthead. If it is a different colour, it will usually complement and go well together with the colour of the masthead, such as white and gold or red and black.

The anchor line is usually a bright colour and almost bounces off the dark cover of the magazine and attracts the target market, also known as the audience. The audience are also conventionally associated with young adults and middle aged people, highlighting the Kerrang magazines, thus using a bright colour scheme to enhance the promotion of the magazine.

Typefaces and fonts

Hard rock is the typeface used to create a strong atmosphere of rock. This font shows features and attracts all people who love to rook to an electric sound, which is being expressed from the thick bold masculine form. This typeface is a strong contender for my magazine. It will possibly be used in my publication as the masthead. A weaker interpretation will be if I would require this font as an anchor/main cover line. This is because this bold, loud and intrepid typeface will attract the audience with its’ large lettering. This typeface has character that is shown from the white out lining and the misty, deteriorated appearance.

Acid label is the typeface that I will be considering to use as a masthead. This font emits a natural and untidy effect from its’ decayed form. As a result, this can be looked upon as following the codes and conventions of rock, particularly by observing the main title, as they usually seem to show a clear distinction between other fonts. This font connotes a tone of death and almost symbolises a tense mood from the lack of colour in the text.

Evil Dead will possibly suit a rock magazine from the small spikes that add a sense of rock element. This typeface would be required for the anchor/main cover line as it is clear and clearly shows a simple understanding of the text from the thick bold letters. This will stand out to the reader who will immediately realise what the main article is about. This font is simple and different to the masthead, as this will show a clear distinction between them and will therefore look presentable and appealing.

Hagane is an even simpler font type compared to evil dead. They both share the same connotation of expressing clarity and portraying a direct point of the main cover line. However, in further detail, Hagane seems to show a lack of uniqueness, as it does not have any kinds of features, such as spikes or distinct lettering. However, due to this, the typeface can also be used for subheadings and text, specifically on a button/flash as well as the anchor line.

Arial Black is a strong bold font that can be used for the main text. This is because it is very readable and can be associated with and any audience. The typeface conveys a normal and neutral tone, which is shown from the formal and structured lettering and also be used for the main cover line as well as the main text.

Sketched Cassius Broken suggests a rock atmosphere from the waved and urban style. This typeface can relate to adults as well as younger individuals and can be used in for sub heading. On the other hand, this may not work as it is not the clearest of fonts and does not show any link between the typefaces chosen for the anchor line and especially with the masthead.

Rock it is another typeface that has a better chance of becoming the typeface of the subheadings. The reason behind this is because rock magazine usually have a similar font style between the masthead and the subheadings. Rock it is the typeface very similar to the font type of hard rock and acid label and shows that the fonts can relate to each other and not randomly chosen.