TOC Genre Analysis and Plans

 Introduction. In this blog, I am going to explain and thoroughly analyze the conventions of Table of Contents (TOC) pages in travel magazines. A TOC page includes information on where to find what information and how to navigate through a magazine. It has page numbers, and what is included on every page. After that, I am going to create TOC mockups for my magazine with original pictures and content. I am going to create multiple so that I have more options to choose from when creating my final product. These TOC pages were created using Canva.

Published TOCs. 

These are two different types of TOC pages. The first two have more creatively placed images. The first TOC page has all the images on top. This is effective for showing off all the images and pictures of a location in the magazine. These images are usually going to be one of the main stories talked about in the magazine. Because of this, the image may be of the same location shown on the cover. The images are also chosen wisely. A boat is shows to show the water activities available, a drone view of the island to show it off, and food to show all the good food offered. The bottom part is structured in a way to look good, and be easy to read. The background is white while the text is black. This is simple, and provides contrast while also making it easy for the audience to read what articles are located where, and it is easy to see the images. The font for the "Table of Content" is a slab serif font. This is because it is more distinct so reader can see it first, then the information underneath. The "Content" is also bigger and capitalized so that readers can easily know that this is the TOC page, while also making the page seem more interesting. The font for the page numbers are big so that they take up the same space as the line, height-wise. This is so that the numbers do not look off and weird, and the audience easily knows that it is the page number. The heading of the information next to it is a slab serif font and is bolded, so that it stands out from the text underneath it, and readers know that it is just a heading. The information underneath it is in a decorative font so that it looks good, and stands apart from the heading. 

The second TOC page has images scattered on the sides. This is effective for showing off multiple locations, and being able to describe them all. This TOC page is following the same minimalistic and simple design as the first one with the white background, and black text. The images all show nice scenes. The first image has the water, forest, and boats. This shows all the water activities available. Next to this, there is text to explain the image with page numbers on the side. The page numbers for each image are also included, and they are all in white, and have the same font. This helps keeps consistency, and looks good with the white background. The next image is of a beach and the shore.This shows that you should travel to this location because it has fun activities, and a nice landscape to enjoy. The color of the water blending with the sand also helps as it makes the location look like an even better place to travel to. The third image shows some type of building. This shows that there are even more things to do than just enjoy the landscape at this location. The font for the "Contents" is a slab serifs font. This is to attract attention, and to stand out. The font for the numbers is a more decorative font. This is to stand out while looking good at the same time. It allows the reader to easily know the it is the page number. The heading is done in a serif font. This is because it pairs well with the page number's font, and is easy to read. The information underneath is a sans-serifs font. This is because it pairs well with the heading, and looks stylish.

The third TOC is very different from the first two. It keeps a main image at the back, and all the page numbers on the left. The Masthead and specific issue information is on the top. The image on the back is very effective for showing off one big image, which is what this TOC page does. It shows an island, along with its coast, and this shows the vastness of the island and persuades the reader to travel there. This is further emphasized by how big the image is. The issue information is on top of the TOC page in small. This is done purely to show the reader information. It is why it is small. It is in a sans-serifs font so that it is easy to read and bolded so that the reader can actually see it. Under it says "August 2017." This is not bolded because it is already on the cover, and the reader most likely already saw it. It is in a serif font so that it is distinct from the top part. The masthead is on top of the white bar. The "AFAR" on top is the masthead of the magazine. It fills up space at the top so that the TOC page does not look empty. This is done in a sans-serif font as it is modern so it seems more up-to-date, looks friendly, and looks clean. The numbers are done in a script font. This is done because it looks elegant, and is used in luxury brands, so this makes the magazine look more high-value. The headings under are done in sans-serifs fonts because they are easy to read, and pair well with the stylish number. The information underneath it is done in a sans-serifs font, but smaller than the heading. This is because it pairs well with the heading, and is distinct from the heading. "AFAR.COM" is on the bottom of the white column. This is because it is not part of the magazine, but is there so that the reader can find more magazines from the same publisher. the information for page 72 is on the right of the column. This is because it will not all comfortably fit in the column. This is perfectly fine, as travel magazines typically include a lot of information. the color scheme fits well with the image. The white column stands out, and the green font looks good since it is in the image. The column for the TOC page is purely stylistic, and is done this way to make the image visible. The numbers also look really nice as they are clear, so they match the background behind them. This is a design feature I may utilize in my original TOC page. The last TOC page is similar to the third TOC page. the differences are that the column is smaller, and that means that the font size for the information will be smaller. The third TOC page does not include a piece of text that says "Contents" because of space limitations. This is okay, since it is clearly a TOC page. It also uses colors in the image, which is done to match the colors of location, which is a convention of travel magazines.

General Process.

1. Insert image

2. Crop and expand image

3. Insert aesthetic elements (box, column, line, etc.)

4. Insert masthead/"Contents" (if applicable)

5. Insert headings

6. Insert information

7. Insert page numbers

Mockups.

    

This is my first mockup. The layout is like the second published cover.  I did this because it allows me to show three images at the same, unlike the other two. The name "World Travel" is my masthead, and is at the top of the page. I put the masthead here because although it is on the cover, it helps create an element that is different from other publishers. For example, other publishers might follow the same layout. The name "World Travel" will never change, and stays consistent throughout all the different issues of this specific magazine. It is big, and done in a slab-serif font to stay distinct as it is not found anywhere else on the page. It is also done like this in professional TOC pages to look powerful, and looks like it is the main topic of the page/magazine, whether it say "Contents," or "World Travel." For example, "Contents" tells us that the page is a TOC, the main topic of the page. The name "World Travel" tells us that the magazine is about international travel, the main topic of the magazine. It is black so that it is easily visible on the white background. I made the background white because it looks professional, and is simple, so that it does not overwhelm the reader. The rectangular images (note: these are not the final images or color schemes) were shrunken down and cropped to be the shape of a perfect square. This is so that all three images could fit, and so that they are all the same dimensions. I put the images on the left at the top and bottom and right in the middle to make my TOC page more interesting, and nit so bland. The page number is also included. This is because there are too page numbers next to each image, and putting the page number on the image tells the reader which page it is on. It is in the same font as the page numbers next to it to keep consistency between the different information. The color is white so that it can be seen on all the images, and match the background. This is perfect since it helps create consistency between the images, and the TOC page itself. The headings are in a sans-serif font. This is because it is minimalistic, just like the theme of the TOC page. It is also not too fat, not too thin, and bigger than the text underneath, so it is clearly a heading. It is black so that you can see it on the white background, and because it looks like a pair with the text underneath it since they are both black. It is placed in a way that it is aligned to the left compared to the text underneath it. This makes the page number, the heading, and the text look like they all go together. The text underneath the heading is in a sans-serif font. This is so that it can be easy to read, and pairs well with the heading. It is thinner and smaller, so it is distinguishable from the heading. It is black for the same reason, it is visible on the white background, and pairs with the heading. The page number is a decorative type of font. This is because it looks stylish as this font looks good on bigger text, and it makes the TOC page more interesting, then just repeating the same font over and over again. I also decided to change the color to match the images. The first image's page numbers match the mountains for the same reason, to make the TOC look cooler, and more interesting. The second image's page numbers are blue to match the sky. I was going to make it gray, but decided not to since the page number on the image is already white. The third image's page numbers are a very dark brown. This matches the image, and is visually pleasing. I made it darker than the actual colors in the image to make it not look like the first image's page numbers. I followed this color scheme for the text because a convention of travel magazines is to make the text match the color fo the location. I inserted information on the bottom. This is just for referencing the issue information, and the website of the magazine. I included it because it looks more professional, and some published magazines include this.

This TOC page is formatted to read the page number first, then top to bottom. It does a good job at this because the big number attracts attention, then the heading gets read, then the text underneath. The image also gets seen. Possible images I will include are of hot air balloons, pictures during the sunset time, or more pictures from Turkey as this all relates back to the cover. I might also update the color scheme to match these new images. I might change the images, or I might leave them because it features three images, and one of them connects to hot air balloons, while the other connects to Turkey.

This is the second mockup. It is composed in a way to show one image. I chose this image because it relates to the cover since the cover had hot air balloons. This is may not be the final image as this is just a mockup, but I took it as a sample. I put a huge white column on the left so that the text I put is actually visible and well composed, instead of just having text on the image with no background. I chose a white column because it is a light color, so it matches all the other colors on the image. I put the masthead on top of the white column because it makes my magazine look more luxurious, and high-value.I chose a slab-serif font because it is powerful, and stands out. This emphasizes the feeling that my my magazine is high-value. It also helps create consistency between magazines by the same publisher. I put the masthead in blue because it matches the sky color. The "World Travel" is at the top of the image, so making it blue instead of any other color connects the entire column to the image. I then put a "Contents" under it. I put this here because although it is clearly a TOC page, it guides the reader, which makes it look more friendly, and in turn, more persuasive. I put it in a sans serif font to look modern, and sleek. This ties to the theme of my TOC page, and just looks good. It is black as this pairs well with the blue, and makes the TOC page pop out, and look more sophisticated. Under that, I put in a blue bar. This is a stylistic choice, and looks more professional. It helps the magazine look more complete. I made it blue to match the sky, the masthead, and the headings. I made the headings in a sans-serif font. This is because it matches the "Contents" text which creates consistency, and is more persuasive because it is more friendly. I made it smaller than the "Contents" to keep it proportionate tot he text around it, and to leave space. It is blue to match the masthead. This completes the circle because the text under the heading is part of the heading. The heading is then part of "World Travel" as they talk about different places to travel to. The heading is left aligned to the top of the text underneath it because the column is on the left of the image, so left aligning the heading makes the column look like it goes with the image. I made the text under the heading the same, but thinner and smaller font. This is because it is supposed to be distinct from the heading. The font also looks modern, and more up-to-date. On top of this, it looks cool, so I decided to use this font.I did not want to overdo it with the blue, so I decided to go with black. This makes the text pop out with the heading since blue and black help each other stand out. I chose a decorative font for the page numbers. This looks nice, especially since the numbers are big. It is also creative which makes the magazine look original, and unique. I put it on the left of the column for the same reason the heading is left aligned. It creates consistency between the column and the image. I made it gold because it is a very overpowering color for this TOC page. It is complementary to blue, and goes well with black. The gold with the black also reinforces the idea that my magazine is luxurious, and high-value. I put miscellaneous information at the bottom. I included the issue number, and the link for the magazine. I did this to look more professional, as many professional magazines include this. Note: This may not be the final image, meaning this may not be the final color scheme. I might choose a new image and color scheme to relate more to the cover. This color scheme and image is just a sample.

This TOC is formatted to read the page number, then the heading, then the text. This is done perfectly because the big number attracts attention, then the big colorful heading, then the subheading. The image also gains attention because it is big, and the only one. In the final product, i may decide to use this image because it connects to the cover, or I might use different pictures from Turkey that are during the sunset. I might also update the color scheme to match the cover better. I might leave this image because it is of hot air balloons and in Turkey, but I might change the color scheme to match the cover better. The overall color scheme I chose specifically to follow the convention of travel magazines that says the colors should math the location, so I chose colors that match the image of the location.

This is the last TOC page. It is made in a way to show one image. I chose this image since it goes well with the color scheme, and is a nice image in general. This is a very simple type of TOC page. I put a black bar above the "Contents." I did this so that it is not just the image then the information, I wanted a smoother transition. I made it black because it follows the same color scheme as the one on the bottom. I put a simple white box to keep a background for all the text. This makes everything easy to read. The "Contents" is put there so that it does not look so empty. It is already a very simple design, and I did not want it to be too simple. I chose a sans-serif font for it. This is because it is friendly, and persuasive. I was first going to put the "Contents" in the middle, but the box seemed too squished and it looks better on the left. It is black to create a color scheme that the text under it and the bar follows. I chose black because it relates to the brown and the darker colors in the image. I made the heading black to follow the color scheme I do not want to introduce too many new colors, so I kept it simple following the theme of the entire TOC page. For this same reason, I kept it in a sans-serif font. It does not introduce new fonts, and follows the theme. It is friendly, not too aggressive, but also not too laid back. I have it left aligned over the text underneath to leave space on the right, and keep it from looking too crowded. It also looks nice over the text. The text underneath is black as to follow the color scheme, and to keep the simple theme. It is smaller and thinner than the heading because it is the same font and color, so I want it to be distinguishable. I kept the same font because a convention is to not introduce too many new colors or fonts as to not overwhelm the reader. This also keeps it simple. The numbers are in a decorative font. This is because they look stylish, and pairs well with the sans-serif font. This helps make the text stand out. I made it brown because I did not want too much black, or to introduce a new color, so I kept it brown to match the image. I put the miscellaneous information at the bottom and smaller because it is separate from the rest of the TOC. It is purely there to look more professional since some published magazines include this.

This TOC page is formatted for the reader to see the page number, then the heading, and then the subheading. This happens because of the minimalistic design which allows for the audience to see the big number which also has color, and attracts the most attention, then people shift their focus to the bold heading, then the subheading. Although this image would work, I might choose to change the image to one in the sunset that is in Turkey to match the cover better. I might also change the color scheme because of the image, and also make it more interesting. The overall color scheme I used is because it connects to the image, which is a convention of travel magazines.

Conclusion. Creating these TOCs were all made following the conventions of travel magazines, and emulating published ones. I emulated all three of the published magazines. I am doing this because this will make my magazine look like a travel magazine. If I did not follow conventions, it would not. In the first and the second mockups, I used a slab-serif font for the masthead (not the third one because the masthead is not included) and I used a sans-serif font for the other information as this is a convention of travel magazines. Possible articles I could include are "Activities in Turkey" since that is the main coverline of the magazine, "Activities in Italy" since it is a coverline, "Best Locations for Water Sports" since scuba diving is on the cover, and "Best Locations for Aerial Sports" as hot air balloons are on the cover. I am leaning more toward using the second mockup since it looks the most professional, has an awesome color scheme, and generally looks the best.