Normally, I do 3 Billboard double page spreads however after looking at 2 in great detail I feel they aren't exactly the type of layout I am hoping to do. I mean don't get me wrong I will use their ideas when it comes to images, colours and fonts however when it comes to layout and style I believe Q do a much better look as its what I am hoping to do when I create my magazine I chose this one as I'm hoping to do an interview format and this specific issue do that and therefore would be a good style model to use when creating my own double page spread.
Layout- This layout is very similar to the Billboard one I have just analysed it separates the image and text which is a common feature when it comes to creating a double page spread as it allows the audience to be drawn to the huge image and then focused on the text after. The interview is set out into 3 columns which is the perfect layout for me as it allows enough text for the audience get a enough information out of the magazine. Each question is followed by a white space to make it look neat and appeal to the audience. Spacing is key when it comes to the layout as a few white spaces can make your magazine look neat and it just adds that extra touch. However too many white spaces can make your magazine look empty and plain. Therefore you need to find the middle, where its the right amount of spacing to enable for your magazine to look well kept. Again, they have the title of the article in bigger font to the rest, this is to grab the audiences attention, in this case its "CEE LO GREEN" It instantly tells the audience what the article will be about and it shows that it will be a person account coming from Cee Lo. It is then followed with a sub heading which gives you a little bit more insight in to what the magazine article will be about, it's a sort of quick over view of what it will entail. These features are very common when it comes to making your magazine and therefore I will use these ideas as it engages the audience and helps them understand the article better.
Style- Q have a personal style and I really like it. One personal style is the first letter of the article often stands out from the rest. Often a drop a drop capital is used to stand out and engage the reader in. Q have used a big letter C in this case to add to the style of the magazine. I believe they used this as Cee Lo Green's first letter in his name is the letter C and this in turn engages the audience. I must note that some letters do not work in this case and only certain ones will have an effect on the audience. The red block is a personal style used by Q to allow consistency throughout the magazine. Another style feature Q use is their magazine name in the bottom right hand corner next to the page number, this is to add consistency throughout and it create a common theme for the reader. When creating my magazine I may use Q's idea and input the magazine name on the double page spread however this would be dependent on the size of my name as if its more than 3 letters its probably best that I just stick to using a website for the magazine rather than the name.
Images- One image used which is very dominant and fills around 50% of the entire article. His image is very unique to his character. It create a cool mysterious image. He already has an established audience and therefore doesn't need to impress them. However he has always been known for wearing his sunglasses and therefore decides to wear them when in this image. His facial expression is very serious to suggest that maybe this article is very serious and personal and all about his life and music career His is wear a top with no sleeves to show off his tattoo this is due to his character as he is often shown as the tough guy and it all adds to the image of the artists. Tattoos are being increasingly common on young adults therefore many of the people reading this magazine will aspire to be like him. Image is very important when it comes to matching the target audience therefore when I create my magazine I think I want a calmer atmosphere and a not so hard image. Possibly to do this I believe a women would be more suitable as she is easier help show the connotations I want to convey.
Colour- These help define genre and mood. However Q always stick to the same colour throughout. Red, white and black (especially red) are the consistent themes running throughout this entire article, this allows the audience to feel engaged and also it creates a house style for this specific magazine. For instance without the magazine logo on this double page spread you instantly know that it's Q due to the colours that run throughout this article. When creating my magazine I don't think I will use red as it's a common used in many magazines however I think I may try a different colour as its important I follow the codes and conventions of a music magazine but its also important that I add my own personal style to the magazine. I will test and play around with a few colours to enable they look good.
Font- The title of the magazine is in serif font which is very unusual as normally that is for a more upper class and older magazine however they have decided to mix it up a little and use a more old fashioned font on a young artists. I like the way they have went against the conventions as it shows the type of magazine Q are, they don't always follow the rules as they like to be different and edgy. Everything is easy read font and certain things stand out by using the bold and colour tool. The questioned asked by the people are in bold font and stand out, this is a technique I will use when creating my magazine and basically it looks good.
Interview- Personally, I love the way this layout. The interview is perfect and looks great and is effective on the audience. An interesting feature that Q use is, they don't ask the questions the audience have got in touch and asked them as underneath the questions are names and places of the people who have asked the questions. They did this as it adds a personal touch to the magazine and engages the audience even more as they feel involved. The questions that were asked are ones like "can you do any impressions?" "what would you have as your last meal?" These are very basic questions and many of the questions asked aren't about the music which conveys the type of magazine Q are and the audience who read it. They aren't really bothered about the music they are more concerned about the personal lives of the artists they want to know funny things that will entertain them. When creating my magazine I will consider my questions very carefully as I'm unsure if I want to focus more on the music or the person or even a mixture of both!
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