This cover uses interesting shapes to appeal to the reader and also to make the components of the cover easier to see and read.
The colour scheme of this magazine is obvious - claret, blue and white. The masthead and shapes used are maroon, which is the same colour as the PE kit that the children are wearing in the image. The pupils are also wearing white, which reflects in the white text used. There are some shadows on the white shirts worn which look slightly blue. The majority of the picture is of a blue sky with a few white clouds. Blue and claret compliment each other well because claret is close to orange, so the colours are pleasing to the reader's eye.
The image has been chosen carefully to represent the school and to link with the main features article. The beautiful blue sky represents the summer. The ball in the image is yellow which stands out against the blue. This might also symbolise a bright yellow sun. When we think of summer, we usually associate it with happiness and joy. This is exaggerated further in the children's smiles. A sense of enjoyment and happiness makes for a good school reputation. The summery image also links to the time the magazine was produced - 'Summer' - this is placed above the image, under the masthead.
The camera shot is a low angle to give a sense of power and to show the importance of the students. The low angle shot exaggerates the girl's action ( jumping for the ball) - the children are playing a game of netball.
The fact that they are playing sport links to the name of the features article - "Sports Overview, a Successful Year..." which is the only text layered over the image to show a direct link. Under the name of the article is "...see back page sports news" which tells the reader exactly where to find the article so that they may turn to this first.
The masthead is separated from the image by a thick, claret coloured, line which curves at the end (almost like a tick). The masthead is placed over a white background inside the shape created. White is used so that the cover looks professional; sometimes too many colours can make a cover look tacky.
Over the masthead is the school motto "ACHIEVINGSUCCESSTOGETHER" which is written with no spaces in between each word. Instead, the words look separate from each other because they are written in slightly different shades of maroon. This is unusual and interesting.
Underneath the mast head is "FURTHERFASTERHIGHER | The news magazine of Fearns Community Sports College". This has been written in the same way as the motto, but tells readers what the magazine name stands for. Separated by the word "faster" being in bold, this is made to look the same as the motto to link the two together; insinuating that success means being further ahead, faster and higher up than everybody else. These words have also been carefully chosen to link to sports, and the fact that the school specialises in sport. The name of the school is also included because the name of the magazine does not directly link to it. By including the name, the magazine is given an identity.
At the bottom of the page is another interesting shape with a 'mini contents page' inside. The text "in this issue" is placed at a 90 degree angle to add dimension and effect. To the right of this are three small pictures which overlap each other. Each one links to an article listed and are used, again, to add interest.
This magazine cover also has no barcode like 'High Profile'. Therefore, my magazine will not have a barcode.
