Q Magazine Analysis

Q Magazine Analysis

Front Cover

Masthead

The masthead of Q magazine is a very well known logo/ masthead. Every issue is kept exactly the same and to the same house-colour theme; red, white and black. They keep it constant and in the same place; top left corner. Which gives a solid statement about the magazines status; respected, popular and well designed. 

Lead Image

In this issue of Q magazine it is an image of the band Muse, which is shot as a medium close up, which is angled low so that they are looking down at it and placed in a stance to help that, which gives them this dominant like status to the readers/observers so readers can expect that they are big in the music industry even if they haven't heard of them. They have also been dressed in dark clothes that are not over the top, which also blend in with the background of the lead image; starry sky, or space, so it makes them seem smart, but with a dark twist to them that helps hint to their music too.
The picture in the background is of space or a starry night, so it makes the picture what it is because it makes them seem quite mysterious and as if they know what they are doing and they do it well (music wise).

General

Along with Muse on the front cover there are a few cover lines and a flash box, these all kept in the house style colour though to keep continuity in the design and are either right to the bottom of the page or placed in a banner along the top right so that the lead image isn't interrupted by lots of other stories/info. They are mostly just in writing with tasteful borders to breakup the stories, not many are actually put into a flash box or a banner, but even the two that are, they are placed in the house colours and kept refined to the top and bottom of the page. 

Although the lead image has taken up most of the page and there is quite a bit of detail about the contents of the magazine, it doesn't look crowded at all which is to do with the colour of the lead image; it is dark but still powerful so it lets the other colours stand out around the side which almost separates it and keeps it spaced and professional. 

Contents Page

With Q magazine the contents page is spread across two pages and has the features and regulars going across both pages. Each feature story has it's own image linked to it to which emphasises that it is a main article/ feature in the magazine. It is presented on a white background and his its house theme colours of red, black and white throughout and uses them selectively with the writing to give it structure. It is all broken up into different sections with borders to that helps with the structure; the images/features are bordered of tastefully with a thin line and there is a completely separate border between the other features and the cover story. At the top of the left page it states that it is the contents page clearly with black writing saying "CONTENTS" and underneath it adds the logo "Q" with the date of the magazine, which also appears at the bottom of each page next to the page number. Also  to keep with the house style it uses the same design of the logo "Q", red background and white writing with the page numbers next to each content. 

Double Page Spread

The double page spread is evidently Muse that is presented with a photograph of them which covers two thirds of the page. The photograph is at a low angle again but is showing them from a long shot so that you can see them from head to toe, looking down at the camera in a stance and spread apart from one another. They are looking down at the camera with confidence so it amplifies their status in music and because of the size of the image it will attract the readers attention compared to the other articles. 

The writing is placed on a black background too so the writing looks bold and courageous, mainly it looks courageous because of the font that was chosen; basic letters with a 3D affect added, so it looks springy. 

Although it is the cover article Q magazine have still stuck to the house theme colours of red, black and white, so all the writing is orientated around it. But they have added unusual fonts and shadowing which links in with the artists (Muse's) music/genre. 

In conclusion to what I have said above, Q magazine keep a very clear house style throughout the magazine and make it tie in with the articles that they have in the issue. The magazine is very well designed and the photography is suiting to the type of artists and style of Q magazine.