The masthead has been used effectively due to the type of font and colour that has been used. By it being all in lower case makes the magazine come across as informal and different, reflecting its genre and the block colour of white makes the masthead as a whole stand out against the foreground picture.

Underneath the masthead, is the production information containing the issue number, date and price creating the conventional look of a magazine. Moreover the use of a different typeface, signifies its importance to the reader as the sans serif font comes across much more formal as the characters are in upper and lower case.

The use of a pug on the upper right hand corner is effective as it is one of the first things that the reader will see. The use of a transparent background around it, highlights it further as it signifies to the reader its importance: they’re getting something for free.

The image, a wide angle shot, has been used for the entire background of the magazine. By blurring the foreground, the integration of the text comes across very natural and fluid, not blocked. Making the magazine look professional. Furthermore, focus of the image is on the teenage girl which is effective as it is reflecting the magazines target audience and in turn making it known to them that this magazine is directly aimed at them and that the magazine is for a mass audience.

The headline within the bottom third of the magazine is eye catching due to the use of two different typefaces and colours. The first line is in a fairly formal sans-serif white font whereas the topic area of the article is about, is in a natural bright yellow sans-serif font, reflecting how large and powerful teenage stress is for the target audience. Making the mode of address of the magazine personal as the topics talked of directly effect the target audience, hence making the target audience feel as though the magazine is directly aimed at them. Signifying that the target audience is mainly of an age of 15 to 17 possibly 18.

The cover lines/teasers along the right third of the page are effective as they give brief insights into the content of the magazine through the use of buzz phrases which entice the reader to buying the magazine. Furthermore the use of the same typeface throughout aides in presenting and grounding the magazines house style and the use of white against the grey background creates a great contrast, drawing the readers attention to this. Moreover, the cover lines cover a range of topics, encoring a wider target audience and increasing the circulation of the magazine. The use of the banner within the bottom third is effective as it gives credibility to the magazine and validates it. Making the reader more likely to buy the magazine and again increasing circulation as more people will feel the ned to buy it.

The overall colour scheme is effective as it uses complimentary colours throughout, making the colours easily flow into one another. Moreover, it is suitable for its genre, as it reflects the schools emblem shown on the teenagers tie, a range of colours from green to blue, reinforcing the institutions branding and house style.

The overall layout is effective as within each third there is an appropriate amount of content. Meaning that the design comes across clean and clear, not cluttered, making it easy to read just at a glance.

Within the skyline is a unique selling point, highlighting the fact that, “Student Weekly” is “the number one student magazine”. Although the colour of the font, a block black, contrasts greatly against the white background, the characters of the sans-serif font are very close together, making the phrase seem crushed together and in turn making it harder to read.

The masthead is effective due to its colour because again, it creates a contrast to the background of the magazine. However, due to the fact that it’s in the same sans-serif font as the skyline and the rest of the cover lines and tag lines within the magazine, its prominence on the front page isn’t as great as it should be. The masthead almost merges into the rest of the magazine. Making the house style of the magazine not recognisable to the reader. Perhaps next time, the designer could use a different font to ensure that this is not the created effect.

The use of teasers and cover lines within the left third is effective as it meets the conventions of a magazine, bringing familiarity to the reader. Furthermore, the use of the language within he buzz phrases is also effective because it reflects their target audience: teenagers. Hence why the phrases “boring” and “nerves in test” appropriate. Therefore, making it clear that the magazine is geared towards a mass market audience as it targeting teenagers from the ages of 15 to almost 18, both male and female.

Underneath the masthead is the product information. Although this does fit the conventions of a magazine to an extent it is lacking the feature of the issue number and usually the barcode and price are much closer to it. Making the design look slightly disorganised and make their target audience not want to buy the magazine, decreasing their circulation. Although the image used is placed conventionally on the right third of the magazine, a medium shot and of good quality, the woman used does not reflect the target audience the magazine is trying to appeal to. The woman used, is in no way relatable due to her age and makes the reader question whether this magazine is really aimed at them. However, the way that the woman is smiling and giving direct eye contact does make the mode of address seem warm and friendly, combating the pervious issue. Magazine conventions are met by including price and barcode, though these would be preferably closer to the date at the top.

The overall colour scheme is not as effective as it could be. This being because, although the white background does create a brilliant contrast to text laid upon it, the contents use of red and black, plus variations of these colours within the image used except for the notebook, the overall design looks bland. The colours are not vibrant enough in order to draw in their target audience of teenagers who are usually drawn to brightly coloured vibrant magazines. Although the constant use of red and black does aide in its brand identity. Therefore, next time the designer should include more variations of colour to make it more appealing.

Within the skyline of the magazine is the date of publication. Although effective as the colour black stands out against the cream background, it breaks convention of a typical magazine as the date, issue number and price are usually all within the strap line, usually located underneath the masthead.

The typeface used for the masthead, comic sans, is effective as it is recognisable and emulates the genre of the magazine: school/college magazine. This being because comic sans is the typical font used within all schools and has become almost stereotypical. Moreover, the dark red used for the colour of the masthead is also effective as it creates a great contrast against the cream background, meaning it stands out and draws the readers attention.

The use of teasers and cover lines down the right hand third of the magazine is effective as the overall positioning of all cover lines are equally spaced, making the design look clear and easy to read; not crowed. However, the title used for the first cover line “cover story” is not effective as although the blue draws the readers initial attention to the article, the title itself does not include any buzz phrases which would actually keep the reader interested. Making them skim over it. However, the use of pictures and the range of shots displayed, medium long shot and two shot, immediately draw the readers attention and does keep them interested, making up for the lack of content above. Additionally, the last cover line suits the target audience’s interests perfectly, as this is topic which affects their own lives heavily. Yet, the stand first comes across as informal, making the mode of address friendly and therefore more inviting; increasing the circulation of the magazine.

The use of the main image being placed within the left third of the magazine is effective as the image itself is inviting, the teenager is looking directly at the reader. Making the target audience, young, mostly female teenagers, know, just at a glance, that this magazine is aimed at them. However, if taken again, the teenager should have either worn a different top or the designer should change the colour of the background as the teenager does blend into the background to a degree.

The overall colour scheme of the magazine is effective as all text within it and images, to an extent, do stand out as the cream colour sets of the other colours perfectly. Furthermore, the themes of the dark red runs throughout the magazine, not just through the cover lines but also within the central and secondary pictures. The teenager within the central image has a bag which has variations on the colour and a girl in the prom photos has a dress in a similar colour. The constant use of the colours then creates a recognisable house style.

The overall layout is effective as its clear design and use of graphics are eye catching and draw in the viewer.

Within the skyline the designer has placed the date of publication and the price of the magazine, suggesting that they’ve moved their strap line above the masthead, which is effective as it makes not only the date and price stand out more, but the slogan, just underneath it. Furthermore, the different types of font used for the date and price is also effective as the “FREE” draws the readers attention first even though they would naturally read left to right, hence, immediately drawing the readers attention to the most important pice of information in the top third.

The typeface used for the masthead, a type of serif in italics, is effective as it reflects the genre of the magazine and appeals to the target audience. This being because the font connotes that the institution behind the publication is professional and sophisticated because it uses traditional typography, This in turn appeals to its target audience, young, most likely female teenagers, as their main desire is to be older than they truly are. Hence, by looking at the masthead they may immediately want to buy the magazine as this will aide them in making them look older and sophisticated.

The slogan underneath the masthead is effective as it further reinforces the branding of the genre: a school magazine.

The teasers and cover lines alongside the right hand third and left hand third are effective as they do draw the readers attention and hit the variations within their target audience. Meaning that there is something for everyone, from sport to social gossip this magazine has got it. Moreover, the colours used with the coverlids are effective, especially for the core line of “Battle of the house” which quite literally represents article and entices the reader. However, it would more effective if the foreground of the central image was blurred. The overall colour scheme is effective as the light blue compliments the white and black text. However, the image behind it, due to its background being such a bright green, does make it hard to differentiate between the text and image. Therefore, the designer, should have outlined all the text in either a black or even yellow colour, just like they have done for the cover line of “House Music Results Are In!”

Although the use of the banner is eye catching, due to the blocked colour around it, the actual content within is not very positive, making readers pull away from the magazine. Perhaps if the designer had used more buzz phrases and portrayed it more as a scandal, the readers would d instead be drawn to it. Additionally, the block colour behind, ruins the design as it breaks it up, perhaps they could have used a transparent colour instead to make the design more fluid and to fly.

The image overall is effective as it reflects the genre of the magazine. However, due to it being a long shot there is need to blur the foreground or crop the image, in order to make the design come across less busy and easier to read as the cover lines would stand out more in a blurred or block colour background.

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Overall, if the background were to be blurred and the colour scheme altered, the magazine would look very sophisticated.