Double page spread analysis

A double page spread is unlike a front cover or contents page in the way that there are no huge conventional rules when it comes to creating one. There are many in every magazine, all of which are different to prevent the magazine from becoming repetitively boring. Therefor, in every genre there are many, many different ways to construct a double page spread. For example a Hip-Hop magazine may have a very variable structure when it comes to laying out a spread, but the base conventions remain constant, such as typography, colour etc...
Of the unlimited layouts and styles that can be used, I like the one shown above taken from a rock magazine. If i were to apply Hip-Hop conventions to this style I could use it in my Hip-Hop magazine.
In the above example, we see a black and white picture dominating the left side of the page, the picture shows an artist at work, creating a sense of realism. On the right we see white text on a black background. This contains an interview with the band, it is written in small neat typography and in small neat paragraphs.
I like the use of a separated box in the top left, I think it is a good place to put any additional information.
The banner the spans over both pages is an idea I would like to adapt into the conventional Hip-Hop style. I like the way in which colours and fonts are mixed to create an eye catching effect.
The background contain no gradient effect of any kind and is just plain. I like this as it makes the text clearer the read.
When i create my own double page spread I will use many of these ideas but I will adapt and develop them to fit the Hip-Hop genre. For example, I will use a close up of an expressionless face or and I will use smooth and strong typography, as well as the distorted typography I have used on my front cover.
I will not use multiple pictures on one page as the above example has done but I will use a single picture on the left with a more close up shot. I will use the space that in the above example is pictures on the right to hold my interview.
The long box on the right is another idea I will not use. In the above example the white contrasts the black, making it stand out and act as a place for related information. I like this idea as it not only make the page look more professional but it also makes good use of space. I however, will use this space for my interview.

Contents re-draft plan

I think that my contents draft has not achieved what I was originally trying to do in merging Hip-Hop and Indie conventions. I think that many features are too large and I have left too much empty space in areas. I also think that the page is too bright, and while this may be conventional of Indie contents pages, it is not of Hip-Hop ones. I plan to make the page darker and add some new features, whilst making the existing ones smaller.

Contents page draft

I have used layout techniques seen in indie magazines in order to fit everything on a single page but stuck primarily to the conventions of Hip-Hop when creating the typography, taking the picture and choosing colours.

Contents layout plan

Colour scheme: Red/black/white

Contents page pictures

I have used poses that will allow integration with the page and give the appearance that the model exists with the cover lines. I will pick the one that fits my cover lines best. As with the front cover, I have used a plain expression on the face of my model.

Contents Picture plan

For my contents picture I will not use a large close up shot of an artist like in a conventional Hip-Hop magazine contents, and I will not use an uncut collection of photos like in an Indie magazine contents. Instead I will use my own idea. I will use a full body shot of my artist that will be cut out and placed on the right of the page, the picture will interact with the page as I will make it seem as though his foot is resting on a related cover line. I will however, retain the Hip-Hop convention of using an expressionless face and have the model dressed in casual cloths, to match the casual, Indie like style of the page.

Contents - Single Page layout

As I have failed to find any Hip-Hop contents pages that stick to a single page, and as I and my audience would rather a single paged contents, I have to look at layouts from another genre. I am able to create to contents typography and arrange the colour in a conventional Hip-Hop style due to my research on front covers and other Hip-Hop contents pages, so I do not need to look at any of these things. But to create a layout I must take ideas from another genre. The genre I have chosen look at is Indie as Indie contents pages are usually on a single page and very crowded.


I have looked at many Indie contents pages, two of which are above, and I can see that there are no 'set in stone' conventions of layout. However, every example I looked at had page numbers and a small cover line to accompany them, these were always placed in different areas. They all have a list of artists that are featured in the magazine, usually on the left, and they all have one central picture. In some examples, each section or group of features was in its own little box, giving a tidy looking layout and making the page clearer to navigate through. Some of the examples I looked at had a faded date behind the word 'contents' or a large 'this week' banner. I will take these ideas and utilize them into my magazine whilst following Hip-Hop and my own conventions.

Contents - single or multi page

After giving it some thought, I don't think that such a bland, multi-page contents fits the magazine I am creating, I think that my magazine would look better with a single and more full contents page, such as an indie contents page, but maintaining the Hip-Hop conventions I have researched. To find out if a potential audience would feel the same way, I asked 20 young males if they would rather have a packed contents page that maintained Hip-Hop conventions or if they would rather a 'Vibe' style multi-page content. Of the 20 I asked, 16 said they would prefer a Packed contents page that maintained conventional Hip-Hop style. So I plan to create a Hip-Hop looking contents on a single page.

Hip-Hop Magazine Contents Page

This issue of 'Vibe' magazine contains a generic and conventional Hip-Hop magazine contents page. Like many contents pages in this genre, it contains a very plain background with a smooth colour gradient. The colour used is red, which I have noticed is the most popular colour within Hip-Hop by a clear margin. I will use this colour in my own contents page.
The 'Contents' banner is written in conventional typography, using a clear, bold and smooth looking font in a plain colour, in this case, white.
The banner is written over three lines and placed in the top right, covering much of the area, this broken down effect is common among Hip-Hop contents pages.
The picture used in this instance is of an artist displaying his jewelry and wearing only a a hat in the upper body shot. The picture covers much of the page and is the feature that the audience is immediately drawn to. His expression is plain and shows no obvious emotion, much like pictures on Hip-Hop magazine front covers.
What is unusual about Hip-Hop contents pages, is the way that they display such small and so few features on their contents page, and in a posh looking typography that is nothing like the rest of the typography in the magazine. This usually means that they need to have their contents spread out over several pages.