The magazine spread is a single entity. Even if the left and right pages are very different in content, it’s essential to “connect’ them visually. This can be achieved by repeating a font, colour or some graphic element. For example, yellow bars are on this spread’s left and right pages. They are the ones who give the impression of cohesion:

Today I will talk about the elements found in a magazine spread. Three main elements in the centrefold influence the reader’s attention: the image, the composition of the layout, and the headline. In addition, there may be a kicker, an intro, an author line, an article body and, of course, a header. Let’s look at each of these elements in more detail.

Image

The main image usually occupies an entire page or almost a whole page. It’s the first thing that catches the reader’s eye and hints at what the article is about.

Header

The header is the largest text element. It can be located anywhere in the spread. It makes sense to use the left-hand page, as we are used to reading from left to right, but not necessarily so. In the example above, the image occupies the left-hand page, while the header and everything else are on the right. The header must stand out from the rest of the elements. You can do this by using a larger size, a different font, a different colour, or even expanding it vertically.

Kicker

The kicker is the header. It’s not always used. It’s usually printed in smaller font sizes. It can point to a heading or directly relate to the article’s subject.

Intro

An intro is an introductory paragraph connecting the title and the article. It’s usually typed in a different typeface and/or font than the main text.

Article body

A two or three-column layout is most common in magazines, depending on the format. I’ve written about the optimum line length in a typography tip for the layout.

Subheadings

Subheadings are used in the body of the article, and there can be several subheadings. They control the reader’s attention and help them find the information they want.

Quotes

Like subheadings, quotes control the reader’s attention. Typically, quotations highlight some exciting fact or meaningful phrase that can ‘get’ the reader to explore the article.

Page header

A header is an information block that is attached to some edge of the spread. It may include the title of the section, the heading, the name of the magazine, the issue number and the page numbering.