Progression in health sciences means that health magazines have limitless prompts for articles and covers. This is especially true when it comes to the world of psychology. In a sense, my magazine is a health magazine. I aim to tackle dismantling the stigma that comes with being a sapphic person today, even as the LGBTQ+ community becomes more widely accepted.
In the many issues of Psychology Today, it is true that the only recurring theme in these magazine spreads is the typeface and placement of the masthead. Each issue has a different color scheme and different framing of text depending on the subject of the picture in their front page. The masthead usually matches the color scheme where it will stand out without feeling like a foreign object. The title of the magazine also leaves the subject very broad, letting them cover topics such as mental illnesses like depression, grief, and self help. The title may change fonts and placement, but the masthead stays tethered to the same place.
Runner's World magazine has a very steady and repeating style to their magazine. The house style is very obvious in just looking at a few issues from the magazine. There front cover tends to be action shots of the model running in different settings. The masthead always stays in the same place, even if the model covers the title a bit. This is one of the pros of being a well established magazine with a steady following. The models all look happy/ content and radiate a positive energy that transfers to the audience to motivate readers. The typeface itself is blocky and gives a solid presence in the magazine, locking down it's place on the layout.
Women's Health has changed design over time but has stayed true to its new typeface. Each issue features a fit woman who is usually showing her muscles (in many issues, it is their abdominal muscles). If they don't show their muscles, they show a skill they excel at. In Women's Health, the model is much more important than the masthead. Much of the masthead is covered by these models, which is interesting. The typeface is not as blocky or solid as Runner's World. The presence isn't as intimidating as the others may be due to the curves in the font chosen for the masthead. The actual masthead seems to be an afterthought as the cover focuses on both the model and the actual content inside the issues.
Depending on the purpose of the magazine, the masthead changes considerably. Some mastheads give a sense of permanence and others give a more welcoming feeling. I will continue to study this as I prepare my own model for our first photoshoot. I want Belles-Lettres to be welcoming and a safe space for the beauty that is a sapphic identity.
