Mixmag Analysis

The MastheadThe masthead is bold and stands out very clearly against the lighter background. It uses a very informal font which appeals to it’s target audience of majority males in their 20’s.

Date and PriceThis is small in the corner of the magazine as the magazine won’t want to advertise this very much. Also, The cost at £4.95 represents the target audience it’s appealing to, which is more the upper class.

Sub-HeadingThis appeals to personal readers who are interested in techno music as it has devoted the full magazine to it. It also givers the reader a sense of what is inside and entices them in.

PlugHere the plug engages the reader. By using the phrase ‘PLAYdifferently with’ it addresses the reader personally as it directly communicates with them and also engages them with the artists on the front cover as it lists their names and shows their picture.

LayoutThe background is very plain and bright to draw attention to the artists and contrasts very will with the artists’ outfits. The plain and tidy layout may also appeal more to the upper-class male reader as it is uncluttered and effective. The use of whitespace also allows the reader to really focus on the main subject and makes it the main focus.

Main ImageThe main image with the artists really contrasts with the background and the use of the light on the men’s faces draws in the colour scheme of the writing and borders of the cover. Also, the makeup used is very plain with dark lip which reflects the cover of the magazine on the whole.

Buzz WordThe word ‘plus’ intrigues the reader and makes them feel like they’re getting more and a personal exclusive to draw them in to buying the magazine.

Main ImageThe main image used may appeal to the target audience of males in their early 20’s as it uses a famous brand logo and a commonly known artist. Also the colours used really contrast with the background colour to make it stand out more.

PuffThe puff emphasises the magazines importance and encourages the reader to buy it because it suggests that it is the best and you cant get better elsewhere.

Colour SchemeThe colour scheme is very contrasting and uses primary colours that contrast with each other to make the most important factors stand out.

MastheadThe masthead stands out against the background as is it a contrasting colour but also having ‘major lazer’ covering the ‘g’ may appeal to the audience as it insinuates that the artist and content have more importance than the magazine itself.

LayoutThe magazine has kept the usual uncluttered and simplistic style with its use of whitespace for the layout and has made the main image the main subject of the cover, allowing you to focus of the main subjects. It has also again used very contrasting colours to make everything of importance stand out.

Date and PriceThis is small in the corner of the magazine as the magazine won’t want to advertise this very much. Also, The cost at £4.95 represents the target audience it’s appealing to, which is more the upper class.

MastheadThe masthead here stands out very strongly against the black background with white writing and the use of informal writing appeals to the younger reader. Also, it covers part of the main image which asserts its importance.

LayoutThe use of whitespace again keeps the magazine looking very uncluttered and simplistic and pulls focus to the main image. The colour scheme of black and white also makes the writing stand out and keeps it simplistic and stylish to appeal to it’s upper-class young reader. Also, the pop of colour using the green banner draws attention to the writing and content.

Buzz WordThe word ‘plus’ suggests to the reader that they are getting more for their money as it makes them feel like they’re getting a personal and exclusive/additional element of the magazine.

Main ImageThe main image and lighting used really contrasts and stands out against the black background, establishing the main focus and importance of the artist on the cover. Also, due to the fact he’s staring directly at the camera the audience feels more personal and engaged with the magazine as it looks like he’s staring right out at them. His black top also blends in with the background, suggesting the only part the has importance is him and nothing else.

Date and PriceThis again is kept very small at the bottom to keep the high price a small factor to try and appeal to all classes. However as it is quite a high price it becomes more evident that it has a higher class audience.

Sub-HeadingThis pulls focus to the main content of the magazine and stands out against the smaller writing, asserting its importance.

LayoutThere is lots of whitespace to keep the contents looking tidy and uncluttered, a theme that also runs in the front covers. Also, the writing contrasts with the black background yet it is kept small and simple with the most important parts of the magazine in bold. Since it is a technology issue the technology elements are outlined to pull focus to them. The columns are also used to separate the sections and make it easy for the reader to navigate around the magazine. The ‘Z’ formation and rule of thirds also shows that the reader will initially be focused on the main image and then into the middle of the page, which here is the technology sections in the magazine. The other text will then be read afterwards as it is not as emphasised and expressed as the other parts.

Main ImageThe main image used here appeals to the reader as it looks like people having a good time, dressed in clothes presumably worn to go out. This may appeal to the reader because they can relate to it and enjoy it. The clothing also uses a mixture of colours and contrasts with the black background to pull focus on to it and make it stand out. The image is also very relaxed and more than achievable for the reader, making the magazine feel personal to them.

Colour SchemeThe black background keeps the magazine mysterious yet the white writing it very bright and open, suggesting the good information is the whit writing and the black is used to emphasise this. The image in colour also stands out strongly and focus is moved onto this.

LayoutThe ‘Z’ formation here shows that the reader will be focused mainly on the image with the text coming a secondary information. The rule of thirds also shows the image takes up almost two thirds of the page, showing it is the main focus and that the writing is not as important or exciting for the reader. There isn’t much whitespace in this page which suggests the edition may be more full of content, however there is still the theme that the magazine is kept tidy and uncluttered to appeal to the reader as it is easy to focus on and read. There is also only one column to read which keeps the page tidy and simplistic, even the bar at the bottom about the free CD is kept simple and in neat columns.

Main ImageThe main image used here is very colourful and vibrant and really stands out against the black background. It shows people having a good time partying which would appeal to the reader as it is what they would also be interested in doing. The picture also brings energy to an otherwise rather dull page and the water creates movement and mood within the page. Also, the image is not that easily achievable to a reader yet it is quite exciting and enticing and as they look like they’re having a good time the reader may also desire to be involved in this type of activity and may appeal to them more.

Colour SchemeThe black and white colour scheme keeps the magazine looking professional and simplistic to appeal to its reader, with the black background being mysterious and the white writing really contrasting with hits and standing out as being the main and most important factors. The image also stands out dramatically as it is very vibrant and colourful compared to the otherwise plain and simple background.

LayoutThe ‘Z’ formation on this page shows the reader’s main focuses will be on both the images and then to the information, a theme that runs through most of the magazine contents pages. The rule of thirds also shows that the image takes up almost two thirds of the page and the writing takes up less that a third, showing the attention wants to be drawn to the main image and the main story rather than the other parts of the magazine. There is also little whitespace yet the page is kept tidy and simplistic which appeals to the reader. The writing is also in a column which makes it easy for the reader to see and navigate around the magazine.

Main ImageThe main image here shows a girl dancing and looking like she’s having a good time partying. This appeals to the reader as it is something they may be familiar with/want to be a part of and is very achievable for them so it feels personal to them. The colours and lighting effects used also stand out against the black background to pull focus on the image and the girl’s white t-shirt really pulls focus to her as the rest of the page is fairly dark. The girl dancing also creates energy and movement in the page again as it appears she’s caught at a moment of movement so it brings life to the page.

Colour SchemeThe black and white colour scheme keeps the magazine looking professional and simplistic to appeal to its reader, with the black background being mysterious and the white writing really contrasting with hits and standing out as being the main and most important factors. The image also stands out dramatically as it is very vibrant and colourful compared to the otherwise plain and simple background.

LayoutThere is a lot of whitespace on this page which is usual for mixmag’s style as they keep the magazine looking tidy and simplistic. Also, they play with the look of the header and columns here because typically it would be at the top of the page yet on here it is at the top and the bottom, creating an effective look. Also, the columns they use here are unconventional in the way that the text starts on the image which is very unusual and would appeal to the reader as it is very effective. The strapline also would usually go with start of the text yet here it goes at the top but halfway through the text, showing the edgy and different way of doing things.

Main ImageThe image used here has lots of depth as there are elements of the pictures at many levels and the reader can see far it to the picture but also quite shallow parts, making it quite mysterious and edgy. The picture is also divided up by the columns and shadows which matches the style of the article and it’s columns and appeals to the reader as it is appealing to the eye. Using black and white also keeps the magazine looking plain and simplistic and stylish, appealing to the reader further.

Colour SchemeThe colours here are kept black and white with a vibrant title to keep the layout looking stylish and simplistic so it appeals to the reader.

LayoutThe double page spread here uses columns to make the article easy to read, yet the strapline is to the right of the article which is unconventional as usually it would be at the top of the article as a sort of introduction. The header is similar in this way because it is in an unusual place as usually it would be at the top of the page yet here it is in a completely different area. There is also a fair bit of whitespace which keeps the magazine looking stylish and tidy to appeal to it’s target audience.

Main ImageThe main image here takes up the whole of the two pages with the article over the top which emphasises the artist’s importance. The woman is also staring directly at the camera which makes the reader feel engaged with the magazine and makes it feel personal to them as it looks as if she’s looking directly at her.

Colour SchemeThe colour scheme here is kept black and white for the writing but the colours used in the pictures are earthy which may appeal to the reader because it is natural and usual colours that they can relate to as they see them normally.

LayoutThe use of columns here is unconventional and edgy as the columns are separated. Also, the strapline and title are in unusual places and which may appeal to the reader as it is different and in unusual places. There is also a lot of whitespace that keeps the pages looking mysterious and the dark colours add to this view.

Main ImageThe main image used here is a perspective view from the back of a stage as the artist is playing at the front which would appeal to the reader as it acts as a ‘behind the scenes’ view and would make them feel like they are getting more for their money. Also, there is no border to the picture and it blends into the background which makes the picture feel more open and like an actual view. Also, the vibrant colours stand out from the background and make it the main focus.

Colour SchemeThe colour scheme used matches the main image and the colours in the title to make it appeal more and make it seem relevant. Also, the black and white writing keeps up the usual simplistic style.