College magazine cover analysis

mFor my preliminary task, I have chosen a college magazine front cover to analyse to then get a better understanding on the typical conventions that are used to design a detailed, immaculate magazine that will help to promote college lifestyles.
 
The main image, positioned central to the magazine has been chosen to suggest the target audience of college students that the magazine is designed for. By using a male student as oppose to the stereotypical female, I feel that this may promote hard working individuals and how hardworking, male students can still look "cool" when holding books.  The clothing that he is wearing is both professional and appropriate for the main subject. By wearing black and white clothes, I feel that this also suggests that he is stereotypically intelligent. Another way that he is shown to be a college student is by holding the many books that he is reading, outlining the subjects he has chosen. As well as proving to be a college magazine, this technique is also promoting the subjects that he has chosen to study.

As oppose to the professional main use of black and white, yellow and pink have both been included to show the audience that the magazine is suited for both gender groups. For the background, it has been completely layered with black. I feel that due to this, the publisher has been able to use striking fonts such as white and yellow that also enabled the writing to overlap the images. There are many different types of fonts used. By doing this, I feel that the magazine shows creativity and clearly outlines the separate pieces of writing for easy reading. All of the writing included is to do with the college “lifestyle”, meaning that it is appropriate and insightful. This magazine has been designed in order to provide nervous, new-comers with the essential information they need about college. Another way that the magazine provides this subtle help is by the model on the front cover and the positive facial expression that he is proving, expressing happiness. This gives the audience a cheerful and positive attitude towards the magazine and will associate happiness with college life.

Other features such as the date, bar-code  price and website are written in more subtle, small writing that shows the lack of relevance but is still there to provide as much information and help towards the student as possible.