Here are some hints for students to create their own magazine covers following the guidelines and examples of real magazines

1. Project: Creating a
magazine front page
José A. Alcalde López

2. Some general features
A magazine cover is perhaps the most
important part as it will attract people to buy
the magazine or not.
Designing a magazine front is no piece of
cake and there are professionals who
especially do it.
Today there are specific software
programmes to help us with this.

3. Starting out...
First, decide what type of magazine you
are going to have:
● Sports
● Teen
● Music
● Computing
● Nature
● Science
● Fashion …

4. Wording
Next, decide on relevant information you
want to place on the front page to attract
most possible readers.
These headlines must be short, direct
and simple so people can read them at a
glance.
Try to use a lot of adjectives, bombastic
words, catchy phrases, puns...

5. Images
They must be colourful and appealing.
On many occasions these pictures are
digitally retouched. Try different effects with
colour, light, angle...
There is usually a big picture for the
whole page with some possible small ones
for specific headlines.

6. Magazine name
The name of your magazine must be
short and appealing. It should also give an
exact idea of the content of the magazine.
It is also a good idea to include a slogan
to add more information, define, illustrate...
your magazine.
Example: “RADICAL SKATE, The meeting
place for radical skaters like you”

7. Don't forget...
There are other pieces of information
that should be also on the front such as:
● Price
● Edition, number , issue...
● Website or social networks links
● Promotions (special offers, discounts,
coupons, extra contents, gifts...)

8. Some examples...

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?
Yours!!

18. Hands on!!
● Use an A3 format piece of paper
(although most mags use A4)
● Use your printer for more quality in
pictures and texts
● Distribute all the contents for a good
visual effect
● Cut out and paste what you need
● Make it tidy, clean and attractive