Elements of A Magazine Cover
As mentioned in Blog Post #1 "Codes and Conventions: Travel Magazines," all magazines, including travel magazines, have the same basic elements on their front covers. The following are the basic parts of a magazine cover.
1. Masthead. The name of the magazine, in its typical font, on the front cover.
2. Selling Line. The short description of the "identity" or the magazine under the masthead. It gives the readers an idea of what the magazine is about.
3. Issue Information. This is the issue number and includes the month and year of the publication. This is often placed with the price of the magazine.
4. Barcode/Misc. Barcodes are on all magazine covers and are there to help readers keep track of the issues and sell them. They are usually placed on the corners of magazine covers, but at times can be seen on the side of the cover.
5. Main Image. The image which fills the cover - a model, celebrity, animal, artifact, or, in the case of a travel magazine, a destination.
6. Coverlines. A headline on the front cover of a magazine advertising a story or feature inside. "Teasers" for the contents of the magazine on the cover.
7. Typography/Font. The shape, style, size, and color of the letters used. They are more often than not designed to match the theme of the main image or the topics of the coverlines.
Technology Used to Make Cover Drafts
To make my cover drafts, I used Canva, a graphic design platform used to make documents, presentations, posters, and other visual content. This website/app includes templates for a variety of things for people o use.
Process
For my covers, I clicked "Create a design" and searched up "magazine cover" for a digital piece of paper that is the same size as a typical magazine cover.
Then I searched up an image of a landscape or a travel destination using Google, clicked "save image as" and then uploaded it onto the paper. I stretched it and adjusted its position until it was where I wanted it and then started adding the text.
I clicked on the "Text" option on the sidebar and clicked "Add a heading" for the masthead and then made it as big or small as I liked. I did the same thing for the main coverlines but I clicked "Add a subheading" this time, and I used the "Add a little bit of body text" button for the sell line and issue information.
After positioning everything the way I wanted, I clicked on a body of text and changed the font and size.
When I was done with the main parts of the cover, I searched up a picture of a barcode, but instead of using Google, I used the Canva tool "Photos" on the sidebar. I then picked a barcode picture and resized and repositioned it. Then I placed it where I wanted it to go.
My Drafts
Draft #1
Placement of Cover Elements
This first draft has a masthead at the top of the page, a selling line and the issue information under it, just like a typical magazine cover. Most travel magazines do not have selling lines as their mastheads are usually very clear as to what the magazine is about. I chose to include one because the name I am thinking of for my magazine, Trouvaille, is not a commonly used word and so most people do not know what it means (a lucky find), or how it relates to travel. The main coverline is the biggest and the next highest text on the page to emphasize that it is the main topic talked about in the magazine. The other coverlines are arranged on the page to maximize the amount of the main image shown and to also give each coverline enough space so it does not look cluttered. The barcode is placed on the bottom left corner to make it clear and visible while also not letting it take away the beauty from the main image to draw readers in.
Fonts Used
The font for all of the text on the cover are all in the serif typeface because as mentioned in Blog Post #2 "Font Psychology," serif fonts stand for tradition and formality. The font of the masthead is Bree Serif because this specific font is also slightly bolded which, along with the size, adds to the idea that the masthead is the title of the entire magazine as a whole. However, this serif font is softer to match the feeling of the image which is a peaceful view of the sun in front of a lake. The font for the main coverline is also Bree Serif but it is set at a smaller size to differentiate it from the masthead as just being the main topic inside the magazine. The two supporting coverlines are in Roboto Slab Regular. This font is not inherently bolded or thick and so it matches the idea that the two coverlines are supporting topics and are not as focused on in the magazine.
Colors Used
The color of the masthead and the main coverline are the same and match an element of the main image. The research in Blog Post #3 "Color Theory" indicates that matching the color of the masthead to a part of the image is a typical technique used in travel magazines to make the cover look more unified. The basic colors of the main image in this draft are brown, orange, yellow, green, and blue. As the sky (top of the cover) has blue and a little bit of yellow and white, none of these colors would have been visible against that part of the image. This is why I chose brown as it would have included some of the image and made it easy to see and read. Since white is used sparingly in the photo, I used this color for the supporting coverlines and placed them against the darker parts of the image to make them more visible. This is a tip that I found when researching Blog Post #4 "Magazine Design and Layout Tips/Guide."
Reference Travel Magazine Cover
This is the 55th issue of Sevenseas Travel magazine. Their main image is of a sunrise above clouds with mountains in the foreground. Many people want to go to places where they have a good view of the sunrise or sunset, and this magazine cover reminded me that it would be a good way to attract readers to my magazine. Like this cover, my masthead is in the middle of the page and my selling line and issue information are under the masthead. Unlike this magazine though, my information is to the left of the page, not the right. Sevenseas used an image that allowed for lighter colors to be used for all of the text. My image did not allow this so I had to arrange them in a way that makes everything visible, and I used a darker color for the main coverline and a lighter color for the supporting coverlines.
Draft #2
Placement of Cover Elements
Like the previous draft, this cover has a masthead at the very top of the page, and a selling line and issue information under it. Unlike the first draft, however, the selling line and issue information are not perfectly aligned with the masthead, nor is the masthead in the middle of the cover. I did this to see what this layout looks like against the other one. Very few travel magazine covers are designed like this. This layout has the benefit of allowing the buildings to be seen a little more at the top instead of being covered by most of the words. The main coverline is to the left like in most travel magazines, and the two supporting coverlines are spread throughout the page to have some space for themselves while also making the cover look clean. The barcode is placed on the bottom left corner to take up as little space as possible while also being visible.
Fonts Used
The fonts used on this cover are all in the serif typeface. Tall buildings and a lot of lights imply a city setting. Cities are seen as fancy or luxurious as many well-off people live in the city and own property. To match the feeling of intellect and formality given off by the image, I used Playfair Display SC for the masthead as it is fancy and formal at the same time. I used Inria Serif for the selling line and issue information to make it more obviously serif, unlike the first draft, which just has a little bit of serif in the font. For the main coverline, I used Martini Thai Neue Slab as it is not as thick as the masthead but still looks professional. The supporting coverlines are in Source Serif Pro because their serif elements (the tips of the letters) are not as obvious as the masthead and main coverline so it emphasizes that they are not the main part of the cover.
Colors Used
The setting of the main image is a city at night and its basic colors are black, different shades of grey, a rust color, and white. As most of the image is dark, many of the colors in the image will not be visible if set against the picture. To follow the dark-on-light technique, I used white for all of the text on the cover to make them easy to read, but also to make the page look organized and as if they are a part of each other.
Reference Travel Magazine Cover
This magazine is issue 36 of Let's Travel. The main image is of a city from a distance and there is water present in the foreground of the picture. I got the idea to make the main image of one of my covers a city setting from this magazine cover. I realized that many travel destinations are cities, or are located inside cities so it would be a good idea to cover that part of traveling in one of my covers. Like this cover, I used white for my text to make it pop against the background. I took creative liberty and changed the layout and placement of my text to accommodate the parts of the picture the words might cover if designed like this Let's Travel magazine cover. One thing we do have in common is the barcode. Our placement and position are the same.
Draft #3
Placement of Cover Elements
In this draft, the masthead is in the middle of the page so it is symmetrical, and the selling line and issue information are left aligned under it. This is so the reader does not think that the information is all over the place. The main coverline is on the left side of the page and supporting coverlines are placed so that the image is shown as much as possible. In this draft, I placed the barcode on the bottom right corner instead of the left because the coverline on the left side will take up space once it has a title and a description. If I put the barcode there, it would look cluttered so I switched sides this time.
Fonts Used
The fonts on this cover go against the conventions of a typical travel magazine cover. The research in Blog Post #1 "Codes and Conventions: Travel Magazines" state that travel magazines usually use serif fonts for their mastheads and main coverlines. I decided to go in a different direction with this cover to match the main image more. The picture on this cover is of the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights. This natural phenomenon is seen as fascinating as not everyone has seen this event in person, and it happens only in the polar regions. To match the mysteriousness and adventurous feelings of the location, I used Cinzel Decorative, a decorative font which, as talked about in Blog Post #2 "Font Psychology," are mixes of other typefaces. They exude a feeling of uniqueness which is fitting for this image. The font for the main coverline is Kaushan Script. Script fonts stand for fun which is how I want to talk about the main topic, the Aurora Borealis, and it helps attract the reader's attention. The selling line, issue information, and supporting coverlines are all in sans serif fonts. This is to give off a feeling of comfort and security to encourage the reader to turn the page and look at the rest of the magazine.
Colors Used
The main colors in the image are green, blue-green, and blue. However, as these colors are used everywhere in the image, using any one of them in one part of the image is not possible as it is either already there, or very close to where the text will be placed. This would have made the color, and any shade of the color I used, look weak and washed out. To solve this problem, I used white for all of the text to make it look brighter and to add contrast to the dark parts of the image, and balance it out. The end result is a fun and creative cover that also looks like it would be sold at a store.
Reference Travel Magazine Cover
This is issue 76 of Luxury Travel Magazine. Their masthead is in the top middle of the page and their selling line and issue information is under the masthead just like mine, though my information is left aligned, instead of right. The main coverline is on the left side of the page and the supporting coverline is on the right side. Where I have three coverlines in total, Luxury Travel has two. This barcode is on the left side of the cover and mine is on the right side, but they are positioned the same way. To contrast against the colors of their image, they used white and black for text color.
Draft #4
Placement of Cover Elements
The masthead is not in the center of the page, but instead placed slightly to the right. This is done so the words do not obscure the top of the building and make sure everything is visible. As usual, the selling line and issue information are placed under the masthead, and the barcode is on the bottom left corner. The part of this cover that is different from the others, is that this one has the main coverline and all of the supporting coverlines on one side of the page and not spread out across the cover. This is actually a common design/layout used on travel magazine covers. I decided to try this layout so I can have an idea of how most magazine covers in my genre are designed.
Fonts Used
All of the text on this cover are different fonts in the sans serif typeface. The feeling this image gives off is serenity as the picture depicts an old-school building, a field of flowers, and a boat off the side of the port. Sans serif fonts stand for informality, openness, and friendliness. This increases the effect of the image itself. To make it easy for the readers to differentiate the masthead and main coverline from the rest of the text, they have been made bigger. The masthead is also bolded.
Colors Used
The main colors of the image on this cover are shades of pink, green, blue, brown, and white. The blue of the sky gets slightly darker the higher you go on the cover, so a dark color for the text would not look as good as a bright color against a dark background will. This ruled out the brown. Green, and blue would just match the background or look very similar to it to be very visible or aesthetically pleasing. I did not want to put too much white for all of the text as that will overwhelm the reader, so I decided to make the masthead a shade of pink that is close to the color of the flowers at the bottom. Since the flowers and the masthead are far apart but are the same color, the cover looks unified and brought together. I used white for the rest of the text because the contrast goes well with the sky and it matches the clouds in the image.
Reference Travel Magazine Cover
This Afar magazine cover depicts a city next to a body of water. The image on my magazine cover does not relate to this one at all because all I got from this cover is a city with water. I searched on my own a place with a city or a house next to water and I picked my image. My picture has a lot space in the sky so instead of spacing my words apart like Afar did, I put everything but the last coverline together on one side of the page. I also incorporated a color from the image into my text whereas Afar went with white for their masthead.
Draft #5
Placement of Cover Elements
This cover does not follow the usual conventions used in a travel magazine cover. They do not usually use so many fonts that are obviously different from each other. Though some do it, travel magazines are less likely to put their masthead on the side of the page. I changed the order of the selling line and issue information on this cover to accommodate the spire of the skyscraper in the image. I also used the building as a divider between the masthead and coverlines. Like the last cover, all of the coverlines are on one side of the page, but the barcode is on the right side this time.
Fonts Used
The text on this cover are in a combination of script and sans serif fonts. The picture depicts the tallest skyscraper in the world, located in Dubai. The overall feeling Dubai gives off is one of wealth and luxury. To match this, I used a script font called Amsterdam Two for the masthead. The main coverline is written in the Satisfy script font to maintain the theme of the main topic (Dubai's skyscraper), but it is less intense and smaller so it is not mistaken for the masthead. Both supporting coverlines are in a sans serif font called Open Sauce Light. This is so that the amount of script font on the cover does not overwhelm the reader. For the amount of space the script font takes up on the page, there is an equal amount of sans serif font as well to balance the look of the cover.
Colors Used
The main colors in this image are blue, grey, and white. The blue text would match the background and would not be visible. The grey would look weak against the dark blue background even if I used a lighter tint by adding white to the color, (Blog Post #3 "Color Theory"). That leaves white to be used as the text color for easy legibility while also incorporating part of the image as well. As the background was already pretty dark and just kept getting darker, I used white for all of the text on the cover.
Reference Travel Magazine
This travel magazine depicting Dubai reminded me that this is a place many people want to visit. The city is known for luxury, wealth, and its skyscrapers. I searched up a picture of one of Dubai's skyscrapers and used it for one of my magazine covers. To maintain the theme of the location, I used script fonts to make the cover look fancy and high-end. I used sans serif fonts for my supporting coverlines just like this magazine used it for the descriptions of their coverlines. This is one of the examples of travel magazines using script or decorative fonts for their mastheads which I included in my own design.
Wrap Up
The main elements in a magazine cover are masthead, selling line, issue information, main image, coverlines, barcode, and typography. All of these except the selling line are typically seen in travel magazines. I chose to include a selling line because the name I am thinking of for my magazine is not a commonly used word and so I need a description to tell people what my magazine will be about and how my title relates to my genre. I used Canva, a graphic design platform, to create my cover drafts. A few of my covers do not follow the usual conventions of a travel magazine, or they have elements that do not follow the typical look of a travel magazine. This is because the images I used allowed me some space for creative liberty to go in a different direction, but I still managed to make everything look organized and put together. Out of my five cover drafts, I like the third (Aurora Borealis) and the fourth (building with water) the best. I like the fonts I used on the third cover and how they went with the image I used. I liked the layout of the fourth cover and how the colors went with each other to make the cover look unified. I will most likely be using these two drafts as templates for my final magazine cover.
Works Cited
- “Travel Magazine Codes and Conventions.” Prezi.com, https://prezi.com/p/p__p013k5erz/travel-magazine-codes-and-conventions/.
- Gert Svaiko Gert is a professional copywriter. “Font Psychology: Here's Everything You Need to Know about Fonts.” Designmodo, 22 June 2021, https://designmodo.com/font-psychology/#serif.
- Vallaure, Christine. “Ultimate Guide to Color in UX/Ui Design.” Medium, UX Planet, 1 July 2021, https://uxplanet.org/ultimate-guide-to-color-in-ux-ui-design-de8eb104b5d3.
- Bigman, Alex. “This Is How You Rock a Magazine Cover Design.” 99designs, 99designs, 24 Jan. 2018, https://99designs.com/blog/tips/how-you-rock-a-magazine-cover-design/.
- Fussell, Grace. “10 Tips for Designing High-Impact Magazines.” Design & Illustration Envato Tuts+, Envato Tuts, 15 June 2020, https://design.tutsplus.com/articles/10-tips-for-designing-high-impact-magazines--cms-25956.
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