Case Study Part 1: Colours In Magazine

Front cover

The magazine has a vast majority of its audience being women between the ages of 18 and 49 (82 percent). The readers having a median age of 34,7 years with forty percent of the readers being single with a median household income of $69,973.
 On the front cover of Elle there are 4 colours. These colours are white, grey, yellow and black.

The colour yellow is the most luminous of all the colours of the spectrum. It’s the colour that captures our attention more than any other colour. It’s the colour of happiness, and optimism, enlightenment and creativity, sunshine and spring. Yellow is the only colour that reacts badly to black: Add a little black and it becomes a sickly yellow-green. But goes nice with the colours together not mixed.

The white is known to portray a complete, perfection, purity, innocence, awakening, simplicity message.

The colour grey is an unemotional colour. It is detached, neutral, impartial and indecisive, but on the other hand it’s a sign of elegance and formal.

The colour black can show a sign of power, intimidation and unapproachable as of its power, but it can also include protection and comfort, formal, strong and sophisticated and seductive. 

Black hides, while white brings to light with also what black covers, white uncovers. Meaning that there is a huge contrast in the two but they still work good together.

The white, grey and black are all in the same colour group of a grey scale, there are also analogous colours which are any three colours which are side by side. They complement one another well. This also keeps the cover looking clean and organised.

The grey scale and the yellow makes the yellow writing pop out dramatically. All the colours together give a feel of soft, calm, formal/organised. The yellow draws you to the front cover as of the only bright colour being on there and provides pops of colour which are very iconic. Also the writing that is yellow is the second boldest and biggest writing making it hard not to miss. The colour emphasises the three alliterated B’s of describing words making you link them to the main person on the page.

The black represents power, sophistication and seductive with the innocence of white and elegance of grey, which is presented in Kylie Jenner which makes the reader want to know more about them which makes them want to read and purchase the magazine.

Analyse the colour that is used in the magazine

The magazine proceeds with the colour theme of white, grey, black and yellow throughout the magazine which will create a sense of organisation and flow to the magazine; the theme being continued through the magazine creates a strong, attractive magazine. This will attract the audience as the audience will feel that the writers put time into this and made it at the best potential which will make them trust the magazine/ the magazine are professional.

Like most other magazines, the articles in elle use a white background with black writing creating a sophisticated look and keeps the reader focused.

The white title and coverlines stands out from the darker background which helps the reader engage with the magazine more and the yellow gives a fun feel to the magazine making it more approachable.