Looking for some fresh ideas for your online magazine or catalog? We curated 26 examples from different industries and use cases.
Let’s explore what makes these magazine spread examples stand out, and how you can create material that converts readers to customers for your brand.
26 Magazine Spread Examples & Inspiration
Business magazine example
Anziif Reinsurance Rendezvous
This issue of Anziif Reinsurance Rendezvous is designed for a conference, and it proves that simplicity can be just as effective as a more elaborate design. The spread features clear tables displaying the conference program, along with dedicated space for event sponsors. The layout is clean and straightforward, which is exactly what works best for this type of event.
EcoGeneration
EcoGeneration magazine has a smart approach to design, blending big, bold images with smaller, well-placed text to tell their stories. The large images work wonders for clearly dividing up the magazine’s contents and sections, giving each part its own distinct visual identity.
When it comes to the text, they go for a three-column layout, which not only looks neat but also helps with readability. This setup can make it easier on the eyes and reduce that feeling of overwhelm that sometimes comes with reading long articles.
Energy Magazine
Energy Magazine has a really thoughtful approach to organizing their content by using different accent colors for various types of content, like news or industry insights. This color-coding isn’t just for show—it’s a smart way to help readers quickly identify what they’re looking at.
Additionally, they label the content type right in the upper left corner of the page, making it even easier for readers to know exactly what they’re diving into. This kind of visual cue is super helpful, especially when you’re flipping through and trying to find the sections that matter most to you.
Marketing magazine example
Marketing Magazine HK
Marketing Magazine HK has a clever strategy when it comes to their spreads, mixing smaller bits of content with full-page features to keep readers engaged and turning the pages. Take for example the section where they announce the winners of The Spark Awards for Media conference. They’ve smartly placed the award details on the left-hand page, while the right-hand side is dedicated to ads.
This layout isn’t just visually appealing—it’s a great way to keep readers hooked as they flip through, and it also gives sponsors or ad partners prime real estate for exposure.
Internet Marketing Magazine
Internet Marketing Magazine features real screenshots of the websites and apps they’re discussing. This gives readers a hands-on feel for the topics, making the content much more relatable and easier to understand.
It’s an excellent example for anyone running an online column or any content distribution channel where the audience is hungry for practical tips and insights from key opinion leaders. By incorporating actual screenshots, they’re not just telling readers what to do—they’re showing them, which makes the advice more credible and easier to follow.
Travel magazine example
Départ
Depart magazine takes a bold approach by not sticking to a fixed margin, allowing the text to flow freely and break into different columns throughout the layout. This unconventional style gives the magazine a dynamic and flexible feel, making each page feel unique.
But what really steals the show are the big, vibrant photos that dominate the spreads. The text is kept smaller, almost playing a supporting role, which turns the entire magazine into more of a visual journey than just something to read.
The design draws readers into the atmosphere of each story, with a crisp white background that makes the colorful photos pop even more. It’s minimalist in the best way—clean, modern, and totally engaging
Ahoy Cruise
As a brand magazine for Ahoy Cruise, they’ve nailed the art of making their content feel personal and authentic by embedding actual customer photos throughout the pages. These snapshots of real people enjoying their time do wonders for conveying the fun and excitement of the experience. It’s not just about selling a trip—it’s about showing the genuine joy of being on one.
When they feature partners or stories from businesses that sell through their platform, they take it a step further by including photos of the teams behind those companies. This small touch makes a big difference, as it brings readers closer to the service providers and adds a human element to the content. Even when it’s technically an ad, seeing the faces behind the services builds more trust and connection with the reader.
Dream Escape Magazine
Dream Escape Magazine has a really clean and polished look, thanks to their use of crisp two-column layouts that align the text with the images. It’s a design choice that keeps everything neat and easy to read, while still being visually appealing. But what really sets them apart is how they play with collage-like elements on some of the photos. These little touches add a lot of personality and make the pages feel more creative and engaging.
Another really clever design choice in Dream Escape Magazine is how they mix serif and sans serif fonts for their headlines. This blend brings together the best of both worlds—adding a touch of fun with the sans serif while keeping things elegant and sophisticated with the serif. It’s a small detail, but it really captures the magazine’s vibrant energy.
Fashion magazine example
QP Fashion Magazine
QP Fashion Magazine stays true to its roots as a fashion-forward publication by showcasing stunning, full-page snapshots of their models. Each page is packed with editorial looks that practically leap off the paper, making the magazine a visual treat from start to finish. The bold, oversized images really capture the essence of the fashion world, pulling readers right into the heart of the style and creativity on display.
What’s particularly striking is their use of filters—think sepia tones and classic black and white—that add depth and emotion to the photos. These filters do more than just change the colors; they create a mood, a vibe that resonates with the reader, giving each image a unique emotional punch.
Cosy Feet
As an e-commerce brand, Cosy Feet’s magazine really shines by putting their products in the spotlight. Every spread is carefully crafted to make the items the star of the show, with well-written copy that covers everything a buyer might want to know, whether it’s laundry care tips to keep those items looking fresh.
What’s great about their approach is how they blend informative details with a focus on the products themselves. Instead of just listing features, they weave in the practical benefits, helping readers understand exactly what makes each item special.
Vulkan
Vulkan has this amazing ability to create a vibe that’s almost otherworldly with its ethereal photography style. The way they artfully place the images and use creative editing techniques makes each photo truly stand out and grab your attention. It’s one of those magazines where the photos do all the talking, and they do it beautifully.
What’s really cool is how Vulkan blends editorial photography with collage-style editing. This combination allows them to showcase different moods and energies within a single spread. Whether it’s the subtle play of light and shadow or the way they layer images to create depth, every page feels like a visual journey.
Education magazine example
Bridge Magazine
Bridge keeps things simple yet effective with its straightforward layout. They make a big impact by using large photos as the backdrop for their text, letting the images tell the story while the words provide just the right amount of context. This approach allows the photos to take center stage, giving readers a clear visual narrative without overwhelming them with too much design fuss.
What’s interesting about Bridge Magazine is that they don’t rely on overly stylized, editorial images. Instead, they use real, authentic photos that still look polished and professional. These images give readers a genuine glimpse into the events or activities being covered, making them feel like they’re right there in the moment.
Leading Your International School
Leading Your International School has a layout that’s both interesting and a bit quirky. They do a great job of using visual elements like boxes and splashes of color to draw attention to specific quotes or graphs, ensuring that these key pieces of information don’t get overlooked. It’s a smart way to guide the reader’s eye exactly where they want it to go.
They also use color blocking to create visual separation within their two-column layout. This technique not only adds a nice pop of color to the pages but also helps organize the content, making it easier for readers to navigate and understand the different sections.
The City University of New York Student Guide
The student guide from The City University of New York is a great example of how to keep things clean and straightforward. They use banners to highlight important information, like contact details, so students can easily spot the key points they shouldn’t miss.
Since this guide is all about admissions, the copy is no-nonsense and to the point, giving students a clear understanding of what they need to do next. It’s all about making the process as smooth as possible. They’ve also included handy checklists that break down the steps, helping to simplify decision-making.
Sports magazine example
Titans VS Jaguars
This sports magazine does an incredible job of showcasing their larger-than-life athletes by giving them the spotlight.The layout features these sports personalities in bold, oversized images that really make them stand out, with the text taking a backseat.
It’s a simple approach, but it proves that you don’t need a lot of flashy design elements to bring out the personality and energy of the team.
In The Loop Fly Fishing Magazine
In the Loop Fly Fishing Magazine dedicates entire spreads solely to photos, letting the visuals do all the talking. They use photo collages to tell a complete story, capturing the essence of their passion for fishing without needing to rely on words.
Each collage is carefully curated, combining different angles and moments to create a rich, immersive experience. You can almost feel the serenity of the water and the thrill of the catch just by flipping through the pages. It’s clear that the magazine is all about celebrating the beauty and excitement of fly fishing, and these photo spreads are a perfect way to share that love with their readers.
Rules of Golf
This magazine is a fantastic example of how to blend engaging content with practical, informative value for your readers. The Rules of Golf isn’t just your typical magazine—it’s more like a hands-on instruction manual. They dive deep into the rules of the game, breaking down specific details and walking readers through various scenarios they might encounter on the course.
What’s really great about this approach is how it turns the magazine into a useful resource that readers can actually apply to their game. The copy doesn’t just list rules; it explains them in context, covering different situations and making sure readers understand not only what the rules are but why they exist. This gives readers a full understanding of the sport, making it easier for them to internalize and apply what they’ve learned.
Health magazine example
Giggle Magazine
Giggle is all about quirkiness and fun, which makes it a perfect fit for its family-focused audience. The magazine uses a playful mix of text and photos, creating a lively and engaging vibe that really speaks to parents and kids alike. Instead of sticking to a strict color scheme, they embrace a rainbow of vibrant hues, giving each spread a burst of energy that keeps things fresh and exciting.
What’s really unique about Giggle Magazine is how they don’t confine themselves to a fixed layout. They let the content dictate the design, adapting the layout to fit whatever story or feature they’re presenting. This flexible approach means every page feels new and different, yet it all ties together with a consistent theme—real people, real faces.
European Spa
European Spa Magazine does a fantastic job of balancing variety with a cohesive brand feel. While they play around with different colors and design elements throughout their pages, they maintain a clean and polished look by carefully curating the photos they feature.
The images they choose are consistently serene and luxurious, which ties everything together, no matter how much the layout might change from one spread to the next.
Food magazine example
Vista
Vista knows how to make a statement with its big, bold pictures, using them as the centerpiece of each story. The text isn’t just an afterthought, though—it’s carefully crafted to complement the images, creating a powerful “show and tell” experience.
The magazine builds the narrative around these stunning visuals, allowing the photos to grab the reader’s attention first. But the text plays a crucial role, providing the context and depth that bring the images to life.
Bake from Scratch
Bake from Scratch knows exactly how to capture the essence of what makes baking so irresistible—they focus on close-up photos that showcase the food in stunning detail. Each image brings the textures, colors, and mouthwatering appeal of the final dish to life, giving readers a clear picture of what they’re aiming for when they follow the recipe.
The magazine understands that, for bakers, the visual appeal of the finished product is just as important as the process of making it. By highlighting the end result, they inspire readers and make the recipes feel more achievable.
The Innovative Food Guide
This magazine spread from the Innovative Food Guide by local food wholesaler KFF really stands out by using organic product photography to give readers a true taste of what’s on offer. Rather than just laying out a typical catalog of items, they’ve taken a much more engaging approach by showcasing their products as fully cooked meals.
It’s a smart way to inspire customers—not just showing them ingredients, but giving them a delicious glimpse of what those ingredients can become.
Science magazine example
All About Space
All About Space takes the magazine experience to a whole new level by making it interactive and immersive. They use QR codes and embed videos that complement the articles, adding an extra layer of depth to the stories they tell.
The magazine is visually stunning, featuring large-scale, breathtaking images of planets that capture the imagination. The vibrant colors of these celestial bodies pop against the vast blackness of space. What’s particularly clever is how they balance this with the overall design—despite the richness of the imagery, the layout remains clean and easy to navigate.
The Universe
Unlike All About Space, The Universe takes a different approach by opting for a predominantly white background with colored borders, creating a clean and minimalist look. This design choice sets a calm and focused tone, allowing the content to really stand out without any distractions.
What makes The Universe magazine particularly engaging is its use of illustrations and graphs to explain complex ideas. Instead of relying solely on photos, they bring in these visual elements to break down and simplify their points, making the content more accessible and easier to grasp.
Think
Think takes a thoughtful approach to its design, using timelines and infographics to spotlight the key details and make complex information easier to digest. The layout is clean and well-organized, featuring creative collages and striking images that add visual interest without overwhelming the content.
What really stands out is how the magazine balances its focus on storytelling and writing. The white space is used masterfully—not just to break up the text, but to ensure that the content remains the star of the show. The collages and pictures are carefully placed to complement the text, enhancing the story rather than distracting from it.
What is a magazine spread?
A magazine spread is essentially what you see when you open a magazine and view two pages side by side. It’s the full, uninterrupted view across both pages, and it’s a key part of how the content is presented.
Thinking about the layout and how to use a magazine spread effectively is crucial for telling your story. This becomes even more important when you’re creating online interactive content or digital flipbooks.
Just like in a physical magazine, the way you use the space on each spread can guide your audience’s eyes, encouraging them to click, explore, and engage with the content.
Design tips & tricks for crafting a magazine spread
Be mindful of white space
When it comes to laying out your magazine spread, white space is your best friend. Think of it as the breathing room that helps guide your readers’ eyes to what matters most.
Choose the right images
You don’t always need editorial-style photos. Sometimes the best choice is something that feels more organic and authentic, especially if you’re showcasing products or telling a personal story. Here are some ideas:
- Organic Photos: Perfect for conveying authenticity and down-to-earth vibes. These work great when you want to show real products or genuine moments. Consider adding videos too, if you’re creating a digital spread, to bring even more life to the content.
- Editorial Photos: Go for these when you want to be more creative or stylish. They’re ideal for setting a specific mood or showing off a more polished, curated look.
- Large-Scale Shots: Use these to capture sweeping views or big-picture moments. They’re great for giving your readers a sense of place or highlighting details within a larger context.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match—collages can be a fun way to combine different types of photos, creating a dynamic visual story.
Play with different fonts and font weights
Different fonts bring different personalities to the table. For example, a handwritten font can add a personal touch to quotes, customer testimonials, or other elements that need a little extra flair.
Mixing up font weights and styles is also a great way to break up sections and keep things visually interesting.
Use accent colors
Accent colors are a subtle yet powerful way to guide your readers through your content. By using different colors to distinguish sections, you can make your spread more organized and easier to navigate.
Bonus: use a brand kit to instantly personalize any template
The Flipbooks editor offers a fantastic Brand Kit feature that takes your proposal game to the next level by letting you customize any template with your brand’s specific colors. After setting your brand colors, you can instantly transform the entire look and feel of your proposal with just a few clicks to match your other sales and marketing materials.