NME uses its own very bold font
in order to create a good, impacting title to the page which also relates to
the main image, Carl Barat aiming a gun. The use of a large black font connotes
focus and dedication, things which him ‘taking aim’ will need therefore it all
helps to add to the dedication of him in whatever his latest venture may be. In
the same way the use of purple ties in with the main image because his jacket
may be or at least looks purple so therefore this helps everything to sit
better on the page. NME, instead of using a more active font or background
chooses to use plain fonts/backgrounds. This works well because it represents
most NME articles and also gives it a formality to the design because of the
restraint to cluttering the page with un-needed designs. IPC media insures that
this does not happen in the magazines it publishes because they have to look
professional in order for them to be a reputed publishing house and also
because a lot of people would not buy a shoddy piece of workmanship.
A pull out quote is used on the
main image, this type of quote, with explicit language, is conventional to us
as a pull quote in not only NME but most music magazines because this makes a
band/artist more taboo, therefore we seem to like the more. Also swearing has a
certain casual and colloquial language about it therefore it works because it
means that this person, your idol, is being more relaxed in conversation,
therefore a connection is made, thus more magazines are bought with people who
are liked in.
The ideology of the magazine is
to ensure that new music is covered, Carl Barat, a former member of The
Libertines is a pull for readers because they were a band almost legendary to
NME and the indie genre. Because they were highly regarded then, band members
like Carl are always well regarded and will get a good rep by the magazine. An
interview like this will be either the main one that week, or part of the main
2 -3 articles which are of more famous artists therefore pull more of an
audience. The rest of the magazine is full with new music, or shorter pieces
which are about bigger bands so therefore they need articles like this to give
to magazine a metaphorical backbone.
This page has to represent NME
well, and does so fore mostly because of the use of the same or similar font as
on the masthead therefore keeping a solid design template the whole way through
the magazine. This helps because even if the magazine is open you can
immediately be recognised by anyone. It could be argued also that this is a
means of extra advertising, for example in London where it has a huge
readership if someone sees someone else reading about an artist or band that
they like then they instantaneously know what magazine it is therefore they can
immediately go and buy it afterwards, therefore this could be labelled as a
type of indirect advertising.
As well as representing NME well,
the page also has to represent the artist well too. It does this by the bold
letter fonts (mentioned earlier) and the use of colour to create a focused,
refined image and piece about Carl Barat which has matured a lot since the last
time he was in the magazine with another band. It does this with the plain;
however not dull font and background, which also helps NME to retain its own
image. This works because it is simplistic, minimalistic and very
professionally designed, which helps IPC media by giving it a good reputation
for design.
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