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

Software's: How to use CAD software's in more depth and use the tools for the correct purpose. At first, when I started the preliminary task I didn't’t know how to layout a magazine that conforms with a real music magazine. I researched magazine front covers and saw the way the images, texts, barcodes and price is laid out. I have learnt how a typical magazine front cover, contents and double page spread is usually laid out which helped me with my final designs. Before constructing the magazine I had never used InDesign before, now I can use nearly all the features.

Designing: Creating a more realistic magazine by enhancing the details that go with making magazines, I learnt how to create a more realistic looking magazine and compared it to typical magazine such as NME,KERRANG and VIBE. When I looked at the preliminary task, it looked more like a poster than a magazine cover, however when I look at my final design I can see how it looks like a real magazine cover.

Internet use: Using various websites more efficiently such as Blogger, Youtube, Facebook and Slideshare. I learnt how many websites can be used to share information, before constructing the magazine I didn't’t use Youtube much, I only thought it was used for funny videos and music. Youtube allowed me to share my PowerPoint and embed it to my blog. Creating a more authentic looking magazine: I learnt how to enhance the images and make the page look appealing to the audience by using all the tools at my disposable. I used all the software's I know such as Photoshop, InDesign and Blogger.

Overall, when I look at my preliminary task to my mock ups, then to my final design I feel it has been a big change, I didn't’t even realise how much I had learned and implemented in the final design to create and authentic look. The detail in my preliminary task was minimal which made it look like an ordinary poster as opposed to a magazine front cover. When I compare the final design to a real magazine cover they are nearly identical, in using the conventions.

I also learnt how to use spellcheck accurately which helped me find spelling flaws in my work, I had never used spell check before which caused my preliminary task to have some errors.

Preliminary task cover and contents page

I have progressed from the initial preliminary task to the final by adding more details that make up an authentic looking magazine. In the preliminary task I didn’t have a Barcode, Price, Surrounding images, Convergence, Variation of colours and no date.

Final design

When I compare my final product to my preliminary task I can see the real difference, the details are in place on the final product such as the barcode, skyline, price and QR code all tie in together to show that I have used all the generic magazine conventions.