FMP Evaluation

My project has definitely reflected on what I originally set out to do. From the very beginning I knew I wanted to do a print magazine, as this is something that I really love. This is because I enjoy the design and layout editing element of the production process. Also the fact that I already have an interest in fashion and beauty, made it clear that it was something that I want to include within my magazine. Therefore, I came up with a high end silk-finish, print fashion magazine.

Throughout the researching stage, I developed a more detailed idea of what I wanted to do. For example I wanted to also include creative photography, as well as the more conventional fashion magazine content. I also looked into articles and advertisements that I could include within my own magazine and to gain inspiration on ideas I could use and incorporate when it comes to the production process.

I struggled with using Adobe Indesign at the start, as I was used to softwares such as Illustrator and Photoshop, which are a lot different. So I struggled with getting to grips with the basics of the software and also the keyboard shortcuts, because these are slighting different from each software, which can get quite confusing. For instance, the undo shortcuts were slightly different and even something as simple as moving an image on Indesign, was a method I had to get used too.

I really enjoyed the overall layout designing of each page and spread. This is something I have always liked, as I am a creative person and love trying new and exciting ways of displaying an article or an image. I was also keen on the photography element of the process and especially the photography editing on Photoshop. On photoshop I learnt how to enhance the eyes and change the colour, as well as skin clearing and how to make blemishes disappear. Along with the more traditional overlays and using the pen tool to cut the background out and adding my own. In this project I have used a variety of Adobe softwares including; Indesign, Photoshop and Lightroom to organise my photos and to complete some initial saturation editing.

If I were to do this project again, I would make sure that I research more on what content other similar genre magazine use and not just completely focussing on the design element of the production. Then I could have my articles written before hand, which would avoid the rush when checking grammar and spelling. Also the main thing that I would do differently, would be to organise my files better, as I had lots of pdf files named really similar and this caused me to send off the wrong cover pdf to the printers. This meant that there was a typo on the cover page! Luckily all the other pages were completed and proofed checked, it was just the cover that was the wrong pdf. Before this, I had made sure to correct my mistake on a new pdf file, therefore the spelling was amended and ready to be sent. It was only until it came to the artwork submission portion of the printing, I selected the wrong cover, that caused the problem.

However on the other hand, I am really pleased with the final product. I think it looks really professional and has a clear theme design wise, throughout. I stayed along the lines of keeping it very simple and chic and this had really paid off because it looks very high end and classic, which is how I wanted the magazine to come across. I am also really happy with the content and that I chose to add a short, separate article, as well as lots of photography and realistic adverts. Taking everything into account, I am very happy with final result and enjoyed the overall production of this project.