Magazine layout & design

from Shun Kawakami

Newspaper or Magazine

Newspaper and magazine are two different style of reading, especially on their marketing targeting while newspaper are aim to the age between 30-60 and magazine would like to attract more young reader.

Newspaper: pieces of all sizes, but especially under 900 words

Magazines: 500-3500 words

Newspaper: Punchy short informative

Magazine: Gratifying, longer

Newspaper: Extremely correct grammar and punctuation

Magazines: More relaxed grammar and punctuation

Newspaper: Anything that is news

Magazine: Anything that makes you feel good, informed

Newspaper: Highly competitive

Magazines: Just say something old in a new way and you will get it

 



Therefore, a magazine designer have to become more inspired, more creative to design a successful one. Walsh(2006) suggest that in the western culture, people usually read from the top left corner to the bottom right corner. Parker and Berry (1998) have also suggested that reader should encounter a logical sequence of event when they are reading your publication. Therefor Shun arranged her magazine layout by putting the title on the top left cornet and other information below in logical sequence in order to create a guide line for readers to read efficiently, logically and comfortably.



from google



Also, according to Reep(2006), using design elements in design can increase the overall impression of the layout, for example eye catching graphics can keep readers focus on information that they need. This Simpson take almost one page large size on the cover which can attract not only child reader but also adult people. Morever, Reep(2006) argued that the use of whitespace and typography could guide readers through the text by directing attention and highlighter section. Therefore, in the magazine, the designers have used different font size, colour, space between each paragraphs and also white wpace to guide the readers to read teh article.



Also, 30 Awesome Magazine provied some good magazine cover design 

References:

Parker, RC & Berry, P 1998, Looking good in print, 4th edn, Coriolis Group Books, Albany, NY

Reep, DC 2006, Technical Writing, 6th edn, Pearon, NY

Walsh, M 2006, the 'textual swiff' : Examining the reading process with print, visual and multi model texts, Australian Journal of Language and Literacy,vol29, no.1, pp.24-37


Image sources:
http://www.buttercupindustries.com/portfolio/magazine.jpg

http://www.sandravuong.com/d/shun.jpg