Code & Conventions of 'The Bishopbriggs Academy Magazine'

The front cover of Bishopbriggs Academy magazine has a bold tile across the top of the page. It is placed here so your attention is drawn there straight away. The name of the school ‘Bishopbriggs Academy’ is right across the whole width of the page showing that this magazine belongs to their school clearly.

There is a 3 colour colour scheme of grey, blue and white that runs throughout the front cover. The background is white and the text is in grey and blue. The blue is quite eye catching compared to the grey so you are more drawn to the text written in blue as it is brighter. The front cover does not have a lot going on, it is quite minimalist and plain. The bare background and lack of writing make it this way. Because of this it is not very eye catching or exciting to look at. I don't think the minimalist approach works for the front cover of magazine so I will not be using this when I come to make my school magazine. On the otherhand I will think about using a 3 colour colour scheme in my school magazine as I think it gives a professional look.

There are 2 photos of school events on the front page. One placed in the middle third on the left hand side and the other placed in the bottom third on the right hand side. Both pictures are of sporting events, the one in the middle is of the school football team and they look as if they have won something because they have medals around their necks. The other is of what looks like a skiing trip. Both images show events/achievements that have probably recently been happening and ones that the school are obviously proud of and want to show off on the front page. They are also quite small and do not fill up the page very well. I think the front cover would look better if they pictures were larger and filled up the blank white page - this would also make the front page more eye catching too.

The school logo is placed underneath the title in the middle third of the front cover on the right hand side. Your eyes are drawn to it straight away after the title because of it being placed here. Having the school logo directly on the front makes it look a very uniformed magazine and also reinstate's which school it belongs too.

There are three circles placed at the top right hand corner of the front cover and contents page. By having these on each page it shows they are part of the same magazine and links them together. I think I will use this idea or a similar one on my school magazine as it is a small and subtle way of making all of the pages link.

On the bottom left hand corner there is the issue date. It is not something you are drawn to straight away but as it is there you are able to tell whether it is new or old etc. It is not something there for decoration but that is there to inform the reader when it was published. It is in grey writing so doesn’t catch your eye straight away but can be found for refernce purposes.

The schools magazine name “The Bishopbriggs Academy: The Magazine” is on the bottom left hand corner of every page, including the front cover and contents page in small grey writing. This reminds the reader of what magazine they are reading every page they are on and as it is in grey writing you are not drawn to it straight away but still there to see. I don't think very good on this magazine especially as it is on the front cover aswell. I will not be using this idea on my school magazine.

The contents page of Bishopbriggs School magazine has the same 3 colour colour scheme as the front page – blue, white and grey. The predominant colours are white and blue. White is used for the background and blue for the majority of the text. The only grey bit on the contents page is the magazine name in the bottom left hand corner like the front page.

In bold letters across the top of the page are “In the issue...” This shows the read it is the contents page without actually says ‘contents’. The bold letters and size of the text draw your eyes to it straight away tell you what the page is.

Running down the left hand side in the first and second third of the page are the titles of each page followed by a brief description of what it is about in italics underneath. This shows the reader what each page is about without them having to turn to each page to have a look. The page numbers locating where to find each section run alongside each description but on the right hand side of the page. This is a very uniformed way of setting out the contents page.

The page number you are currently on is shown in a blue circle – the same size and colour as the three circles that run along the top right hand side of each page – on the bottom right hand side. The number is in white. The page numbers are shown in the same colour scheme as the rest of the page and also the reoccurring theme of circles is used too. By using both these two features it links the magazine together and makes it look matching and organised.