The student's research skills improved over the course of the project. Their initial print task research was not as precise, but they put more effort into research for the main print task. They also incorporated feedback better in their main products compared to the initial pieces. Overall, increased research level enabled better coursework and helped the student to improve.

1.  

2. How have your skills developed and what benefit has this
had on my work?
I think that my research skills have improved over the
course of this project. In my initial print task I was not as
precise with my research and I think that I put a lot more
work into the research on the main print task.
I also accepted feedback on my designs and corrected
them on my main products, which I failed to do on my initial
pieces.
In summary, as I have increased my level of research, this
has enabled my coursework to develop better and has
helped me improve.

3.  Did you produce more work in line with professional
practice as you have a more detailed understanding of
the forms and conventions of real media products?
 I think my work definitely become more professional in
appearance from my initial front cover to my final design,
and this was enabled through my research of different
publications like Q and NME magazines.
 In my initial print task I did not have a much information
on how to make something look professional as I has not
dome my research on other magazines as yet.

4.  Did you manage your time better?
 I think on both initial and main print tasks I failed to
manage my time effectively, always leaving the work to
the day before as opposed to getting it done and out the
way.
 Having said that I definitely feel like I have spent a lot
more time on my actual product than in my initial print
task section.

5.  Was your work well planned etc.?
 My work was overall well organised and I kept everything
in an appropriate file on my computer, as well as tagging
and categorising everything on my blog.
 However I left it to the day before to get the work done,
which was not good planning.

7.  I think that there is a massive difference in the standard
of my initial prink task front cover and my final design.
 In my final design I have used a more professional
approach after the use of my research. In my initial,
everything is very dark as opposed to my final design
where there are eye catching colours and a variety of
fonts.
 Also in my final design there is a different camera shot
as opposed to the standard medium close-up, I went
with a close-up which I think is original and goes with the
indie theme
 The main difference is that my final design is for a music
magazine and my initial is for a sixth form magazine

9.  My final design uses a much more fitting design for a
music magazine than the initial print task layout, which
was for a school magazine.
 For my initial print task contents page I was only required
to make a mock of the layout, not the actual product, so
there is not much information on it which can be
analysed in comparison to my final design

10.  Overall I think my skills regarding Photoshop have
developed a lot and I know now how to do a range of
more complex things to make a design look more
professional than what I could do before the project, as
shown by my initial front cover and my final design.
 I also used a more suited camera for my final design, an
SLR as opposed to my iPhone 3Gs camera which I had
previously used for my initial print task, and you can tell
the difference by the quality of the photos.