Double Page Spreads Evaluation

Within my format research, I researched and analysed three different music magazine double page spreads and their norms and how they defied convention. From the preliminary task, I feel as though I have improved my skills when researching and evaluating different magazines which will help me when designing and creating my final product.

In my format research for three different music magazine double page spreads I researched; Vibe music magazine, BBC Music magazine and NME music magazine. Each of the three double page spreads were similar in one way or another, but as well as this, they did have their differences which set them apart from one another and defied convention by not sharing the common norms used in most double page spreads. All three of the double page spreads that I researched had one large, main image which was used to catch the eyes of the reader's and make the spread more appealing to the reader. One which defied convention to the rest of the double pages spreads was the Vibe magazine. Within the double page spread, it had the large main image which dominated most of the spread, but as well as this it had smaller sub images within it which related to different parts of the text. Taking this into account for when I create my music magazine, I may use this technique as I feel that having these smaller images which relate to parts of the text make a double page spread much more appealing to the reader. The other two magazines; BBC Music magazine and NME magazine does not use this technique, but despite this their spreads are still effective due to the fact that they both have still used a very large main image within their spread.

The Vibe double page spread defies convention in another way as well and does not follow the common norms of the other two double page spreads. This time, I believe that it does not improve the spread, but in fact makes it slightly worse than the other two as in my opinion it does not contain vital features which are essential to a double page spread. The features that the Vibe double page spread is missing are; a by line, a pull quote, an anchor or a caption. BBC Music magazine and NME magazine all have these features in the double page spreads that I researched in my format research and allow their spreads to be much more successful and appealing to their target audiences as it allows them to find out information before actually reading the article and also makes them want to read on. Despite the Vibe double page spread's use of these features, like the other two double page spreads, it does contain the other main features of a double page spread. These are; a drop cap and an article title. Again this allows the reader's of the respective magazine to gain more information about the article and attempts to persuade them to read on. All three of the double page spreads that I researched used these features to good effect and I hope to emulate this when creating my own music magazine.

Taking everything into account from my format research, I will use some of the common norms shared by the three double page spreads that I researched, but as well s this, I will take into account the spreads that defied convention and will consider using some of these features which may help develop my double page spread into a successful one.