Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Looking back on my preliminary work I have found that I have learnt a lot in the process from then till now.

One major thing I have learnt is how to use design programmes such as ‘Photoshop’ and ‘InDesign’. I had not used these programmes before and it has been useful learning how to use them. Normally I would use ‘Publisher’ which is limiting in the aspects that it can do. I had limited knowledge on the programme Photoshop but now I feel much more confident using it. Now I have gained this knowledge I will be able to apply it later on in my life.

The preliminary task meant that I had to analyse magazines to find the good and bad points of magazines. I found this was useful and taught me the importance of it. It allowed me to have a better understanding when it came to my main task. I found that I became more detailed as I analysed the ten magazines. This was useful and I gained good information that I could apply to my own magazine to ensure it had an impact on my audience and attracted them.

The preliminary task involved analysing college magazines to find the good and bad parts of a magazine. This allowed me to understand the conventions of a magazine and why they were used. This was useful as it taught me the importance of it. When it came to my main task and analysing ten magazines I was able to apply my knowledge from the preliminary with was useful. By the end of this I found that I was fully able to pick out conventions and state if they were good. This meant I was able to apply it to my own magazine so they will attract my audience. As I followed conventions it actually made my magazine look more realistic and professional looking.

I think through the process I have improved my audience research and analysis of the results. In my preliminary I used two people who are my target audience to evaluate my drafts and state which ones they prefer. I think this was a limited sample, however it did help when it came to creating the magazine. I analysed their results and was able to make changes when I created the magazine. This means I can be sure my magazine is suitable for the target audience. I learnt about the importance of analysing results and carried it through to the main task. I carried out a detailed questionnaire, find my tribe and continued audience feedback to see what they like in a magazine. I interpreted all the results to improve/create my magazine. I used three people within my target audience to analyse the drafts for my music magazine. They stated what they liked and what I could improve on. This helped a lot as I could make changes to ensure it would attract them. I think I have also improved on analysing other peoples work. Before I did not like criticising others work. However now I have learnt that it is important to state the not so good points so they can improve.

Another aspect I have learnt about is the importance of mise-en-scene. This is because mise-en-scene portrays a lot of information to the audience, it creates an impact which is very important. I learnt that you have to identify every aspect such as location, props, costumes, lighting, models etc… I found this was very important as it portrays a lot about your magazine. From my preliminary my mise–en–scene was not very good and found it difficult to portray a certain message. Therefore my for my main magazine I thought a lot about the mise-en-scene which made it easier to create a certain feeling and portray a good impact on the audience.

I have also developed fairly good evaluation skills throughout the process. This is because I have been evaluating my own product (front page, contents page and double page spread) as well as others (peer assessment). I have learnt that a have to evaluate mine and others work in the not so good points as well as the good points. This is because others need to know how they can improve their work. I found that I am becoming more critical of my own work which is good, I have been picking out both good and not so good points as well as area I can improve on next time.

Overall looking back at my preliminary I feel that I have learnt a lot and gained skills and knowledge which I carried on to my main task. I feel my knowledge of using design programmes has greatly improved as I can now use InDesign and Photoshop effectively. I think my understanding of magazine conventions has improved from the ten magazine analysis I carried out, this helped me greatly when creating my magazine. I also feel that I am much better at analysing audience feedback results and applying it to other areas.

Preliminary

Main Task