Practical - Study of Current Popular Magazines

The City Talking

The City Talking is a free magazine that celebrates cities based in Leeds. Although it can't be considered a feminist magazine, it uses an interesting and relevant aesthetic that engages readers and is a good example of a successful, local publication.

The magazine uses pastel pink pages throughout the magazine, creating a soft, minimalist aesthetic. This is something that could be experimented with as a typical approach to feminist design - taking ownership of the colour pink.

Another page I thought was interesting was the second below, modelling a concept of beauty and filtering, the image is placed within a black frame. This really emphasises the image and lets it speak for itself. It attracts more attention that the simple image on a white page tradition. This is something I have experimented with by putting illustrations within black frames. This approach hopefully creates something more visually intriguing and stimulating.

Headstrong experiment with black frame

Another thing I found interesting about the magazine was the use of stretched typography for this issue. Every title has an elongated letter within the title. This feels incredibly playful and does create something more experimental and interesting than communication of information online. However, Pender, editor of Riposte, suggests that 'typographic tricks' can sometimes detract from information. Sometimes it is better to design something that is legible and traditional in order to make the information and imagery stand out more than the magazine aesthetic/design. In fact, Self, editor of the alternative magazine Real Review, has said that their magazine is purely a vessel for the information they're trying to convey. That being said, these titles do make the magazine stand out against others, creating themselves a visual identity - which in some ways might be equally important.


Another element I found interesting was the penultimate page which had an information box, styled like something you might see online, suggesting the reader should get in contact with the magazine. It uses a 'username' box and underneath it has boxes for 'remember me' and 'remember my password'. Since my essay is exploring the rise of digital communication over magazines, it feels like an interesting exploration of a digital method of communication, in a print setting. However, in some ways, this might negate from the authenticity and value of a print publication. People are turning to print because it offers a break from digital media, so it possible magazines need to push aesthetics that are far from digital design. One of my first initial sketches was to make a magazine that uses a digital designs and layouts in a print setting; but through research I realised that print still exists because it offers something entirely different to digital media.

Vice: The Power and Privilege Issue

Vice is a Canadian-American print magazine that focuses on arts, culture and news, this particular issue felt relevant for my research as its content is focusing on power and privilege, an important theme in feminist work. The cover immediately demonstrates this chaotic typographic style that is seen throughout the magazine. Although I have discussed previously about how experimental type in magazines can detract from the content of the magazine, this typography feels part of the content - more than 'decoration'. This is not something I want to adopt for Headstrong, as my aim is for it be organised and clear, with the information being formatted for the best possible readability. But in many ways perhaps Vice are attracting more attention to their information by making it in this unusual, intensive way.

Another thing I thought was interesting, similar to The City Talking, many of the pages adopt this pastel pink for backgrounds. Vice also uses a pastel green and blue intermittently. Rather than using white pages throughout, this alternation in colour means that the reader's attention is held better. This is something I want to experiment with in Headstrong, especially as these pastel tones seem to be a common aesthetic for current art magazines. 

Another interesting feature was the fact it included images on top of images, this felt like an interesting way of backing the pictures with context and depth. However, in some respects it means that the attention detracts from the center image - you look at the composition as a whole rather than focusing on the women in the image. For Headstrong it is important that the images and text speak for themselves, placing emphasis on the personal experience of the individuals. Lacy suggests that by using feminist design to reveal private and personal experiences it can 'influence cultural attitudes and transform stereotypes.' So the design should optimise the personal connection between the viewer and the figure within the image. The image should be bold and stand alone. This overlaying aesthetic might be more interesting to experiment with for the cover, rather than the articles.