Double Page Spread Deconstructions

To gain ideas on how to design my own double page spread I have deconstructed three from existing magazines in 3 areas: layout, images and language.

Firstly, I deconstructed a double page spread from Q magazine which features an interview with Jay-Z.

Layout	The first element which stood out to me when looking at this double page spread is the initial ‘J’ behind the article. This is a recurring element which Q uses when they feature an article with an artist and it makes them stand out from the rest. The font used is very professional and almost patriotic which makes the article appear important and interesting before the reader has read it. As a result, this would subconsciously attract their attention and make them want to read on. Furthermore, page number 51 is simply an image of Jay-Z displaying a caption and pull quote where as the 52 features the article. The caption beneath the image of Jay-Z states ‘Better red than dead: Jay-Z shot exclusively for Q, New York, July 2010’. This mention of the colour red is conveyed throughout as there appears to be a red light shining on Jay-Z’s face and the pull quote and his name at the top of page 52 are also printed in red. As previously mentioned, the initial ‘J’ is also in red text and I believe that this recurring colour is not only reference to the caption, but to the Q magazine logo. Continuing this colour scheme portrays the idea that this interview is exclusive to Q magazine. At the top of page 52 the text states ‘the most exciting people in music’ followed by ‘Jay-Z’. In every issue Q creates a ‘the most exciting people in music’ article of which the double page spread features the same layout and has the artists initial behind the article. This creates a sense of structure to the magazine and allows regular readers or subscribers to know they are going to find an article featuring a big name artist in the next issue. Although it is important for magazines to include new and exciting stories within every issue to attract the reader I believe keeping a similar format from issue to issue allows magazines to be distinguished from the rest. Therefore within the double page spread I create for my main task I will consider doing this in a way which could be altered slightly to accommodate a different band are artist if there were to be another issue. Another element I plan to take from this double page spread and incorporate into my own is the fact that is it laid out in columns. This is a typical convention of a magazine and as I want my own to appear as professional as possible I will be using this in my main task. However, this article simply as two large columns where as many others have multiple smaller ones. I believe the use of a smaller number of columns keeps the page looking neat and makes the volume of text appear less daunting to read. Despite this, there appears to be more to this article than that of this double page spread as at the end of the text on page 52 there are 3 arrows ('>>>') to indicate that it is continued on the next page.
Images	There is one large image of Jay-Z which takes up the whole of the page. As a result it is instantly recognisable to the reader who this article is going to be about and consequently would allow them to know whether this is something that would be of interest to them or not. Not only  this, but this image features Jay-Z in his trademark sunglasses and serious face which is discussed within the article. Furthermore, the red light shining on one side of his face makes the image fit in with the colour scheme and consequently ties the double page spread together.
Language	Where as many magazines simply print interviews as questions and answers, this has been written in a format where by quotes are simply an extra in the ‘story’ of the interviewer meeting Jay-Z. Due to this, the article has been written very formally and almost like what you would expect to see in a newspaper. Using this format also allows the journalist to include background information on Jay-Z such as where he grew up and his living conditions which therefore expands upon information he reveals himself through the quotations. The font used is also very similar to that of a newspaper which reinforces the professionalism and ‘importance’ of the article. To continue, additional pieces of information are situated in brackets and I would like to attempt to include this in my own magazine as it gives the reader an even greater insight into the life of the artist. In this article, brackets are used in cases such as ‘… a business portfolio that includes a basketball team (the New Jersey Nets)’. A further feature of this double page spread which I would like to include in my main task is the inclusion of drop capitals. What is interesting about this article is that there is not a drop capital at the beginning of the whole article, however they are situated at the beginning of the following two. I believe the magazine has decided to do this simply because having a drop capital at the beginning of the first paragraph may have made the page look too crowded. However, the use of the drop capitals further reinforce the sense of professionalism which I would like my double page spread to convey.

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Next, I decided to analyse a double page spread from NME magazine which focuses on Darwin Deez.

Layout	The layout of this double page spread differs greatly to the previous one as the text and images spread across both pages. However, in a similar way to the Q double page spread, the one above also features a pull quote on top of the images in capital letters. Due to the fact that this has been a recurring feature across both of the double page spreads I have deconstructed so far I will attempt to incorporate this convention into my own magazine. Although the text on this NME double page spread is also organised into columns, they are smaller columns than those in Q as there are 3 per page. Furthermore, an evident difference between the two is the fact that the spread featured above contains a pull quote within the text as well as on the main image. I personally believe this is aesthetically pleasing as the text falls around it neatly. Finally, the colour scheme simply consists of black, white and blue and this is further conveyed through the fact that Deer is wearing a white top and blue jeans. This simple colour scheme keeps the pages looking neat despite the fact that there is a lot going on due to the multiple images. Due to this I will use a simple colour scheme when creating my own double page spread as I believe it looks professional and prevents the pages from looking crowded.
Images	The images are spread over more than half of the double page spread and feature 8 photographs of Darwin Deer in different poses which have been Photoshopped to make it look as though he has been cloned multiple times. The images are fun, energetic and link to the heading ‘LET’S DANCE’ as they appear to catch Deer in various different dance moves. Similarly to the Q magazine double page spread, these pages are very much image led. The images are the main focus of the page which prevents the reader from looking at the pages then skipping past it because it appears as though there is too much for them to read. Consequently, I will take this into consideration when creating my own double page spread and will attempt to make mine image led.
Language	These pages include two different fonts, one of which is used for the heading and pull quotes where as the other is used for the subheading and the article as a whole. As a result, the heading and pull quotes stand out from the article. This variation adds life to the page and prevents it from appearing as dull or boring. I would like to ensure that my double page spread does not look dull and therefore would like to include more than one font. An interesting element of this DPS is the fact that ‘Darwin Deez’ and the interviewer ‘Dan Martin’ are both typed in blue text. Although this fits in with the colour scheme they stand out from the rest of the line which is printed in black. As a result, the reader would know straight away who the article is about and it also gives credit to the journalist. In the same way to the previously deconstructed double page spread, this article is also written in a narrative format, with the journalist taking on a first person approach. This allows the reader to grasp a real idea of the setting as it begins describing the scene before going on to the conversation which took place between them. Another similarity is the fact that it is written in a relatively formal format which I believe is necessary when writing in this narrative style and so if I choose to write in a similar style I may also adapt this approach.

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Finally, I deconstructed a double page spread on Justin Bieber from Top of The Pops magazine.

Layout	In a similar way to the first double page spread I looked at, this TOTP dps features one page which consists of a full size image of the artist which is the topic of the article – in this case Justin Bieber. However, in this case the image is found on the right hand page where as that of Jay-Z in Q was on the left. On the other hand, a layout feature which differs greatly from the previous double page spreads is the fact that this interview is set out in question and answer format as opposed to a narrative style. This would appeal to a younger audience, many of whom would be Justin Bieber fans, as the text appears less daunting to read. This also obliterates input from the interviewer/journalist and focuses on what the reader is really interested in, what the artist has to say. Conversely, in the same way as the Q and NME double page spreads, the interview within this dps is organised into columns. It is very clear that having the main body of text structured into columns is a very major and almost necessary convention of a magazine and therefore I will definitely be using this in my main task. In contrast to the previous dps the heading on this one is a pull quote. I believe this is very effective because a quotation taken out of context can be very intriguing and therefore make people want to read on. As a result, I am going to consider using a pull quote as my heading when creating my own double page spread. In a similar way to the Q magazine I deconstructed, this appears to be a recurring feature within every issue of TOTP magazines. I gathered this impression from the text ‘EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW’ at the top of the page which is reminiscent of ‘THE MOST EXCITING PEOPLE IN MUSIC’ within Q magazine. As a result, when creating my own double page spread I may make it look like this is an article which could keep the same format but change the images and text issue to issue while featuring different artists. Another similarity between this double page spread and that in Q is that they have the same simple colour scheme (red, white and black). As all three of these double page spreads possess simple colour schemes I will use this convention within my main task. Finally, this double page spread also contains a list of Bieber’s backstage requests. This would interest people who enjoy celebrity gossip as well as the music they create and so extra information like this is something I will consider including when I create my double page spread.
Images	The main image shows Justin Bieber sitting on a clear plastic chair backwards. The use of a clear chair ensures that the prop does not ruin the image by taking any attention away from Bieber. However, the utilisation of this prop has allowed him to sit in a seductive manner which would appeal to the main target audience of his music, young females. To continue, the fact that the main image shows Bieber looking directly at the camera would further entice his fans into reading the interview as it looks as though he is looking directly at him. Many music fans display posters and images of their favourite artists and bands on their bedroom walls and the fact that the main image is A4 size means that many young girls would rip this out and stick it on their wall, in the same way people may with the previous image of Jay-Z. Not only this, but there is an arrow pointing to the following page which states ‘Turn over for a swoontastic Biebs poster’. There is another smaller image embedded within the main body of the interview which shows Bieber and his girlfriend at the time Selena Gomez and features the caption ‘Biebs takes an easy stroll with Selena’. This would be particularly intriguing to people flicking through the magazine as he appears very loved up and happy in this image which is a direct contrast to the heading “Girls give me a headache!”.
Language	The language used throughout is informal and conversational as it depicts the conversation between the interviewer and Bieber including non-fluency features such as ‘Oh’ and ‘Well’. This would appeal to a younger target audience such as the target audience of my own magazine and consequently I may use this question and answer format within my own double page spread.

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My Magazine

Following the above deconstructions of double page spreads, I have gathered some ideas and conventions I would like to include within my main task.

- Organise the text into columns

- Include a pull quote either as the heading or within the text

- Include drop capitals

- Put a heading at the top which indicates that this would be a recurring feature in every issue as Q and TOTP did with 'THE MOST EXCITING PEOPLE IN MUSIC' and 'EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW'