CONTENT PAGE ANALYSIS 1

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I analysed the contents page of Zen Magazine Africa (October 2012 edition). This contents page offers a great example of how to organise and present information in a way that is visually appealing, easy to navigate, and relevant to the magazine's style and theme.

Here are the key findings:

  • Visual Hierarchy: The page is designed with a clear visual hierarchy. The month "October" is in large, bold text at the top, immediately informing the reader about the issue. The featured model image on the left dominates the page, helping to capture attention first. For my own project, I plan to use a strong visual anchor on the contents page to make it instantly engaging.

  • Typography: Different font sizes and styles are used effectively to separate headings (e.g., "On the Cover") from the content descriptions. Bold numbers (21, 47, 63, 92) help guide the eye quickly through the key articles. This teaches me that careful use of typography can make a contents page easier to read and more structured.

  • Colour Scheme: The magazine uses a consistent colour palette (purple, orange, black, and white) that matches the cover and overall brand identity. The orange "October" stands out strongly against the white background, and purple boxes organise information. This showed me that consistent colour usage creates a professional and polished feel — something I must plan carefully in my project.

  • Imagery and Layout: Instead of listing articles only, the page includes multiple images (large model photo, smaller fashion shots), giving a visual preview of the content inside. It breaks the text-heavy feel and keeps the page dynamic. This inspires me to include images on my contents page to make it more lively and visual.

  • Content Grouping: The main features are grouped under "On the Cover", which suggests an editorial decision to highlight the biggest stories first. The smaller captions like "Simple is Beautiful" and "The Beauty of Ethical Fashion" guide readers to additional stories. This structure showed me that grouping related articles under subheadings could make navigation easier for readers.

  • Use of Numbers: The page numbers are large and bold, making it very easy for readers to quickly find articles. It’s a reminder that easy navigation is key for a user-friendly magazine, and I should design my project with clear signposting.





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