1. Double Page Spread Research
By Tesfah Watkins-Scott

2. 1st Analysis
The image above is an image of a double page spread from an R&B magazine by the name of 'Ear to the Street'. A wide
range of techniques have been used to make this double page spread appealing to the reader. This double page spread is
quite unique because it has used two headlines to show the audience that there is two articles involved in the double
page spread. This links in well with the layout of this particular double page spread because, on the first page the
magazine is focused on one specific article which has been separated from the following article on the other page by using
columns to structure the text to make it clear to the reader that its separate. Furthermore, the masthead that was used
from the magazine front cover has been linked with the double page spread which is shown on the top right hand side of
the first page, and the top left hand side of the second page. This allows the audience to automatically know that the
double page spread will link with the magazine front cover and also the magazine contents page. Moreover, underneath
both of the headlines in the double page spread a subhead has been used which I feel is a great technique to use to keep
the audience interested. This is because, the specific subhead's used in this double page spread above give a brief
sentence that tells the reader what is about to come up in the article. This will allow the reader to be drawn in into the
text of the whole article. For this specific double page spread a drop cap has not been used at the beginning of any of the
paragraphs shown. However, the first full word of each article has been increased in size; has had a black background
behind the word and also has had the font colour changed. This is quite unique because, a conventional drop cap would
only emphasize the firs letter of the first word that begins the article however, they have inverted this and used the
technique for the actual first word. This technique will attract the reader automatically and will draw the reader into the
actual article that follows. I have decided that I will look into using this very drop cap technique myself although, I will just
use it for the first letter and also make the letter look more stylish, appealing and also link it to the headline that I will be
using in the double page spread.

3. 1st Analysis
Continued..
Also at the bottom of both pages of the double page spread, a folio has been used to link the front page, contents and
the double page spread together. This particular technique works very well because, it will allow you to place your logo
or masthead from the previous front page or contents page in the folio with a page number to allow the reader to know
that all the pages of the magazine are linked together and come from the same magazine. This specific folio used above
for this double page spread I feel is pretty good however, when I create my double page spread, I want the folio to take
up most of the bottom of the page so that it looks like there are no gaps that have not been filled. Furthermore, in this
double page spread the designers have created one pull-quote which is presented in the bottom right hand side on the
first page of the double page spread. This draws out an important section of the article and basically highlights the
specific quote using many creative techniques such as images and colour. This is an excellent technique to use
because, when the reader turns to this page other than the headline they will be drawn to the highlighted quote and
read over it to know a little bit about the article that they are about to read. Moreover, the quotation symbols that have
been used to signal the pull-quote are very effective because the symbols are in a bold colour and have
been maximized in size compared to the actual quote, almost like a drop cap. Another aspect of the double page spread
above that I like and will use for my very own is the use of an image margin for all the images that have been used in the
double page spread. It allows the text to be more structured and also much more organised and tidy which will have a
huge effect on the reader. Also, it allows the columns of the two pages to look much more successful and useful and will
prevent the reader becoming confused when looking at the text and then being drawn into the image that the text
clashes with. Lastly, the gutter technique used also is a similar technique to allow the text to be more neat and organised
because it places an inside margin which prevents the text from running into the edges of the double page spread which
would be a huge problem and cause the double page spread to look very unprofessional.

4. 2nd Analysis
The double page spread shown above I feel is very effective towards the reader and audience for many
reasons. I really like the use of the colour scheme that has been used for this particular double page spread.
The reasons for this is because, the two pages do not go overboard and use too many colours which could
distract the audience from the main articles. However, instead the double page spread uses two main
colours which are white and light blue which are two very bright colours which will be very appealing to the
reader and stand out straight away, especially because of the dark black background which emphasises the
colour of the article that is stated. Furthermore, another technique that I admire from this particular double
page spread, is the use of connecting the front page with the double page spread by involving the masthead
that had been used. I feel that the way it has been used in this double page spread is much more effective to
the reader rather than the first double page spread I have analysed. The reason for this is because, the
masthead that has been placed on the bottom left of the first page is quite bold and eye-catching, although
it is not as big as the actual masthead that has been used on the front cover. This will allow the reader to
know instantly that the double page spread is linked with the front cover and also the contents page of the
whole magazine. However, there is one aspect of this particular double page spread that I feel is a
disadvantage. The disadvantage is that the headline that has been used 'Kitty Pillman exclusive!' is actually
smaller than the pull quote that has been used. This will lead to the audience becoming more interested in
the pull quote rather than the headline which is meant to be much more appealing because its meant to
target the reader straight away.

5. 2nd Analysis
Continued..

6. 3rd Analysis