House Styles

House style is an extremely important aspect that I need to consider when creating my music magazine. Researching about this will allow me to become aware of the importance and how I can use it when producing my music magazine cover, contents page and double page spread. 

If a house style is used, it will make the 'document' look more professional. A house style is basically a set of 'rules' which all 'documents', from a certain brand/company should follow. This is mainly so continuity is present throughout. 

According to 'http://www.teach-ict.com/as_a2_ict_new/ocr/AS_G061/313_standard_applications/house_styles/miniweb/pg3.htm' a house style will govern things such as:

• the colours that are being used
• the font style and size (the typography)
• where the logo should appear
• whether text should be right, centre of full justified
• also the tone of language can be considered.

When you think of the brand, these types of things (above) should be apparent. This will support 'brand recognition' and continuity throughout the media text. All of the texts related to the brand should follow the same patterns, to ensure this happens.

An example of how house styles are used in music magazines is the music magazine 'Q'.

To find these examples I types in 'Q magazine front covers' into google and I took a screen grab from the results.

This screen grab demonstrates how a house style is used in music magazines. The criteria 

for house styles (mentioned above) says that the logo should appear in the same place. As we can clearly see, each of these 9 'Q' front covers all have the 'Q' logo in the top left hand corner. This indicates continuity in the brand. Additionally all of the main images on the front cover are of one person, typically a medium close-up to long shot. This again supports that there is a house style present. Lastly, another point from the criteria is that the colours used should be the same. Throughout these 9 covers we can see mainly red, white and black being used. This again connotes that a house style is being used. 

Now I know what a house style is, how to use is and I know that music magazines use it, I can put it to use with my own music magazine, when it comes to the production of it.