Thanks to the abundance of online design tools, magazine layout design is more accessible than ever. Print and digital layouts are becoming nearly interchangeable, since many magazines produce both versions these days. That means you can find awesome ideas anywhere and adapt them to your own projects.
If you want to create a professional-looking magazine that has a good balance of words, images, columns and sidebars, we’ve got some great resources for you today. Check out the 14 ideas below for a healthy dose of magazine layout inspiration!
If you’d rather skip straight to the gallery, head over to our free magazine templates & layouts.
If your magazine features immersive photography, your layout should give more weight to imagery than words. The layout of this Adventure digital magazine template shows how to put your photos front and center while still balancing them with sections of text. And, as a digital magazine, this gives you the bonus option of scrolling text, so you can include long-form content without taking space away from the graphics.
Traditional publications tend to stay away from the horizontal magazine layout because it can be unwieldy to hold. But with the growing popularity of tablets and e-readers, designers are revisiting the concept. This Aficionado e-magazine template will give you a few ideas for orienting pages horizontally. Columns can split the page in half, be weighted more towards one side, or skipped altogether in favor of rich photography and breathable white space.
What’s great about the Azure magazine layout is how well it lends itself to color customization. The blocky columns and bold fonts ensure that it’s always easy to read, so the sky is the limit in terms of color combinations. (Just remember to choose high contrast colors for text and backgrounds!) If you’re designing for a strong brand, you can use their palette here. Another idea: it’s well-known that colors can evoke particular emotions — so take advantage of psychology.
What stands out in the Connoisseur Food magazine layout is the use of colored sections to separate each page. There are so many possibilities, from a single column surrounded by photography to three narrow columns that jive side-by-side. It works vertically or horizontally, so you get a variety of layouts, with ample space to include mouth-watering close-ups of delicious dishes.
Never underestimate the power of this design concept: less is more. It certainly holds true for the Introspective digital magazine layout, which takes advantage of space and contrast to leave a strong impression. Stark, black-and-white photography and fonts serve this layout particularly well. And because it’s digital, scrolling text and rich media (like video) can be included. Try it with film noir!
Have you ever wondered what it feels like to be on the cover of a magazine? The Money fake magazine cover is a chance to have a little fun with the traditional cover layout. We all know the formula: a large portrait situated front and center, underneath the masthead and surrounded by intriguing teasers for the articles inside. Even the details are correct here, such as date and issue number, as well as a UPC code at the bottom.
The New Yorker business magazine layout is primarily black and white, but it adds a pop of vibrant red for powerful emphasis. Its thin font and art-deco touches set it apart from the monochrome intensity of the Introspective layout in #5. Note the expansive cushions of white space, especially in the single-column layout which features scrolling text with a single quote spotlighted on either side.
There are several elements to like in the On the Road magazine layout. First are the pages with a white border around the content, which evoke in the mind of its readers a nostalgia for the Polaroid picture. If that sounds a little too vintage for your taste, check out how one page cuts two photos together with no border at all. The juxtaposition is intriguing, providing only a narrow slice of a view that sparks imagination.
True to its name, the Open Air online magazine layout leaves plenty of room for airy background photos. Adding transparency to the content blocks and bringing them in from the margins a little bit provides that sense of depth. The pages are open windows; it feels like the content is floating in front of the natural vistas. It’s a neat visual trick that works especially well with scrolling columns, a design advantage unique to digital magazine layouts.
Digital layouts don’t have to look amateur, as this Seasons digital magazine layout proves. It’s possible to craft elegant, sophisticated content that still feels as though it belongs on a screen, oriented horizontally instead of vertically. The juxtaposition of serif copy with sans-serif headlines creates a stylistic identity that’s both traditional and modern — a comfortable in-between place for those of us who grew up with the rise of the Internet.
The Showcase travel magazine layout is designed for readability above all else. There is a clear division between pages dedicated to photography and pages dedicated to copy. For a travel magazine, this is a wise choice, because viewers can more easily immerse themselves in faraway vistas without distraction. The same can also be said of diving into the exciting narratives which accompany such photos. Not every subject is well-served by this stark separation, but for travel, it’s a perfect fit.
Like in art, sometimes the best designs are those which purposefully ignore the rules. For example, much is made of the color wheel and matching complementary tones into combinations that please the eye. But how much more impactful is it to pair a hot pink or bright yellow with scenes that would normally be considered tranquil? A look at the Trendsetter fashion magazine layout illustrates the possibilities. If your magazine explores the avant-garde, it’s worth considering how font and color choices can convey your position on the outer edges of sensibility.
Designing a magazine cover need not be a complicated affair. Readers are accustomed to magazine covers looking a certain way, and they can scan covers more efficiently when designers follow a similar formula. This Tropic magazine cover exemplifies the typical layout in a simple and well-balanced way. It’s easy to succumb to clutter, but this layout uses a minimal design that still includes the necessities: the title, the headlining article, two featured pieces, and photography.
Like a newspaper, the Urban print magazine layout divides itself into many columns, presenting dense and information-rich content for its readers to scan or consume at their own pace. If you’ve struggled with creating readable layouts that feature multiple columns, this layout offers a wealth of examples. Headers, sub-headers, block quotes, and numbered lists all serve as valuable tools for pulling eyes down the page.
Creating your own magazine layouts can feel like an intimidating task, but it becomes much easier when you take a look at all the great design ideas already out there. Borrowing a little bit here and a little bit there will help you build something totally new and unique — plus, it can inspire you to come up with tricks of your own! We hope these magazine layouts provide a solid foundation for you to make designs that reflect your own artistic flair.
Ready to start designing your own magazine? Get a head start in our gallery for free magazine templates & layouts.
Karla Renée is a Senior Content Marketing Specialist for Lucidpress. Her specialties include brand strategy, content marketing, and social media management. She loves creative writing and new tech devices, and she’s never visited a museum she didn’t like.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have personal experiences or expertise, but I can provide information based on the search results I have access to. Here is some information related to the concepts mentioned in this article:
Magazine Layout Design:
Magazine layout design refers to the arrangement of text, images, columns, sidebars, and other elements within the pages of a magazine. It plays a crucial role in creating a visually appealing and engaging reading experience for the audience. With the abundance of online design tools, magazine layout design has become more accessible than ever before. Both print and digital layouts are becoming interchangeable, as many magazines now produce both versions [[1]].
Importance of Balance:
A good magazine layout design achieves a balance between words, images, columns, and sidebars. This balance ensures that the content is visually appealing and easy to read. It is important to strike a balance between text and visuals to create an engaging and immersive experience for the readers [[1]].
Inspiration and Adaptation:
Thanks to the availability of online design resources, designers can find inspiration for magazine layout design ideas from various sources. These ideas can be adapted and customized to suit their own projects. By exploring different layouts and design concepts, designers can create unique and professional-looking magazines [[1]].
Immersive Photography:
If a magazine features immersive photography, the layout should give more weight to imagery than words. This allows the photos to take center stage while still maintaining a balance with text sections. In digital magazines, scrolling text can be used to include long-form content without taking up too much space [[1]].
Horizontal Magazine Layout:
While traditional publications tend to avoid horizontal magazine layouts due to the difficulty in holding them, designers are revisiting this concept with the growing popularity of tablets and e-readers. Horizontal layouts can be achieved by splitting the page in half with columns, emphasizing rich photography, and incorporating white space for a clean and balanced design [[1]].
Customizable Color Schemes:
The Azure magazine layout is known for its versatility in terms of color customization. The blocky columns and bold fonts ensure readability, allowing for a wide range of color combinations. Designers can choose colors that align with a brand's palette or evoke specific emotions using color psychology [[1]].
Colored Sections:
The Connoisseur Food magazine layout stands out for its use of colored sections to separate each page. This layout offers various possibilities, such as a single column surrounded by photography or three narrow columns placed side by side. It provides ample space to showcase mouth-watering close-ups of delicious dishes [[1]].
Minimalistic Design:
The Introspective digital magazine layout demonstrates the concept of "less is more." It utilizes space and contrast to create a strong impression. The stark black-and-white photography and fonts work well in this layout. As a digital magazine, it also allows for the inclusion of scrolling text and rich media, such as videos [[1]].
Traditional Cover Layout:
The Money fake magazine cover offers a playful take on the traditional cover layout. It features a large portrait at the center, accompanied by teasers for the articles inside. The cover includes details like the date, issue number, and UPC code, replicating the elements commonly found on magazine covers [[1]].
Black and White with a Pop of Color:
The New Yorker business magazine layout primarily uses black and white, but it adds a pop of vibrant red for powerful emphasis. The thin font and art-deco touches give it a distinct style. The layout incorporates ample white space, especially in the single-column layout, which features scrolling text and highlighted quotes on either side [[1]].
Unique Design Elements:
The On the Road magazine layout incorporates unique design elements to create visual interest. Some pages have a white border around the content, reminiscent of Polaroid pictures, while others cut two photos together without a border. This juxtaposition provides intriguing views that spark imagination [[1]].
Airy Background Photos:
The Open Air online magazine layout creates a sense of depth by leaving plenty of room for airy background photos. Transparent content blocks and bringing them in from the margins add to the floating effect. This design works well with scrolling columns, which is a unique advantage of digital magazine layouts [[1]].
Elegant Digital Layouts:
The Seasons digital magazine layout showcases that digital layouts can be elegant and sophisticated. It demonstrates how to create content that feels natural on a screen, with a horizontal orientation. The combination of serif copy with sans-serif headlines creates a stylistic identity that is both traditional and modern [[1]].
Readability for Travel Magazines:
The Showcase travel magazine layout prioritizes readability. It clearly divides pages dedicated to photography and pages dedicated to copy. This layout is particularly suitable for travel magazines, as it allows viewers to immerse themselves in the visuals without distractions. The accompanying narratives enhance the overall reading experience [[1]].
Avant-Garde Design:
The Trendsetter fashion magazine layout challenges traditional design rules. It pairs unconventional font and color choices, such as hot pink or bright yellow, with scenes that would typically be considered tranquil. This layout exemplifies the possibilities of conveying avant-garde aesthetics through design choices [[1]].
Simple and Well-Balanced Covers:
The Tropic magazine cover exemplifies a simple and well-balanced layout. It follows a formula that readers are accustomed to, with a minimal design that includes the title, headlining article, featured pieces, and photography. This layout avoids clutter while providing the necessary information on the cover [[1]].
Multiple Columns for Information-Rich Content:
The Urban print magazine layout, similar to a newspaper, divides itself into multiple columns to present dense and information-rich content. This layout offers examples of how to create readable layouts with multiple columns. Headers, sub-headers, block quotes, and numbered lists can be used as valuable tools for guiding readers through the content [[1]].
Designing a magazine layout can be an exciting and creative process. By exploring different design ideas and adapting them to your own projects, you can create unique and visually appealing magazines that reflect your artistic flair [[1]].
