Skills Profile
Through this Skills Profile I am highlighting the skills which I have in the following areas related to this project, the targets which I would like to achieve and a review at the end of the project, how I believe I have or may not have met my targets throughout this project.
Production of Documentation Work
Existing Knowledge and Skills
The existing skills which I have within the production of documentation work is that I have produced documentation work for the past two projects within college, these are documents which help within the production of the final product, from pre-production to post-production. These were completed to certain deadlines within the production schedule, the order which they appear on the production schedule is the order in which they would be completed, this is how I completed the documents which I needed to in the past two projects at college. For example within the group assignment I was given my tasks to complete and would then complete these to a deadline within the production schedule. I also completed documents to a deadline within the first individual project and I managed to complete these from the production schedule to the deadlines which were given to be on schedule to complete the whole project. Throughout the last project of creating a 30 second television advert as a group we were introduced to the media documents which would be used within creating an advert or piece of video, including a Treatment, Shooting Schedule and Shooting Script, this is the type of documents which are used within the media industry and I now therefore have knowledge within the area of completing these certain documents.
Target: Throughout this project a target which I hope to gain is to complete the different documents to the ‘industry standard’ and asking for guidance in how to do this, therefore the documents will be completed to a more advanced manner.
Responding to a Brief
Existing Knowledge and Skills
In the past I have responded to a brief, in my final GCSE Media Production I had to respond to a brief which asked me to promote an upcoming music artist, although, the brief stated we needed to choose the genre of music which we would want our new upcoming artist to be, so therefore in this sense the brief was not very strict, as the brief allowed me to choose the genre of the upcoming artist, so it can be seen as a negotiable brief. Within the brief it stated that it was essential to create a CD Front Cover and Booklet and I was then allowed to choose the other products which I believed would promote my new upcoming artist well, this included a Magazine Front Cover featuring my new upcoming artist, a magazine advert and a Double Page Spread Interview. Therefore this showed that I was asked to create some products to promote the new upcoming artist, although the brief did allow me to choose the products I wanted and which I believed were the best for the project the brief was not very strict, and again can be seen as a negotiable brief.
Target: I would like to be introduced to a correct and professional brief to work to individually and have a clear understanding of what the client wants me to create for them and create the products to the client and industry standards.
Research Methods
Existing Knowledge and Skills
Through past projects which I have completed such as the DVD Menu and Television Advert I now have a clear understanding of the way in which research is carried out, especially Secondary Research, as I have carried out secondary research in depth in the past two assignments as I have researched into existing DVD Menus in the genre of Drama and the different codes and conventions of Drama DVD Menus. For the television advert project I researched into existing television adverts, the features within them and the brand and company history of the product which I chose as an initial idea which was Kit Kat. I have gained research for the last project through the form of the Internet and books, this secondary researched helped a lot as I was able to understand different information which I needed to create the final product, by using the different forms of secondary research I have been able to gain more reliable information from sources such as media books. I have also carried out other forms of research such as Primary Research for a Sample Viewing on my Television Advert, I created a questionnaire for my target audience to complete and I then analysed the results in the form of graphs and explained what each graph showed. I have now developed skills within researching as I am able to gain the information I need and use this within my own work from different sources such as the Internet and books.
Target: A target which I would like to set myself for this point would be to carry out secondary research easily to help with the production of this work and to carry out more different forms of research such as Primary Research within the process of creating my final product, the way in which I could do this is by creating questionnaires about my product which I am creating.
Generic Conventions- Style and Technique
Existing Knowledge and Skills
I have knowledge in creating a product to a certain style, as within a DVD Menu I have the knowledge of what the correct codes and conventions are for the genre of Drama within a DVD Menu, by having this knowledge I am able to see what may be expected of certain genre. This will help within this assignment as I am able to see the different between the different types of magazines and know the codes and conventions for different products. From my last project of creating a TV Advert, from my research I have learnt what the codes and conventions are for a television advert and what is expected including the slogan, pack shot and also taking into consideration the legal and ethical issues surrounding television adverts.
Target: I would like to expand my knowledge surrounding magazines and the conventions used within the type of magazine which I am creating a front cover, contents page and double page spread for, the way in which I would complete this would be by carrying out secondary research into magazines as this will help in creating the product and the information can be used within my pitch.
Designing and Planning
Existing Knowledge and Skills
I have knowledge in planning and designing products such as a Magazine Front Cover, CD Booklet and a DVD Menu, I have had to plan each of the products and the way in which I created the products was by researching into existing products to understand the different codes and conventions for each product. For example when creating my DVD Menu I researched into existing DVD Menus in the same genre and I was then able to understand what is expected of a DVD Menu in the same genre, therefore I could plan my own DVD Menu with the knowledge gained from my research. The process in which I went through to plan and design the DVD Menu was by created sketches for each DVD Menu Page and therefore I had a visual idea of the layout of the DVD Menu and what each menu page would include, these sketches were annotated to explain colour schemes and images within the pages.
Target: I would like to create clear sketches which are annotated for my idea for the final product for the magazine front cover, double page spread and contents page, I would like to create many different sketches, therefore I would have clear ideas and different ideas and options which I could put together to create a final product.
Graphic Production
Existing Knowledge and Skills
I have knowledge in the area of graphic productions as I have used the programme Photoshop to create Animations and I have also used this programme to create a Magazine Front Cover and DVD Menu Pages, I have knowledge within creating different effects for images and how to change the colour of the images. I have created DVD Menu Pages within Photoshop and I have used the codes and conventions of existing DVD Menus to make my DVD Menu appealing to the audience and simply show a Drama DVD Menu, the way in which I believe the DVD Menu showed Drama was the different effects which was use on the images. I have also created an animation for the DVD Menu project and I developed a new skill within Photoshop and created my first animation.
Target: I would like to develop my skills further within Photoshop to create a professional looking product, the way in which I would achieve this would be by asking for guidance and using different effects to transform the images used.
Health and Safety Issues
Existing Knowledge and Skills
From the last project of creating a 30 Second Television Advert I have been introduced to the aspects surround health and safety and this included the documents which highlight the health and safety aspects surrounding creating a TV Advert, these documents were the Risk Assessment and the Call Sheet. These highlighted the aspects surrounding the filming of the advert and included the risks when filming, this highlights what potentially could go wrong within the process of creating a Television Advert. As I have now been introduced to the risks and the health and safety documents I now have knowledge in this area and within future projects I will now how to complete the different documents for health and safety issues. An issue surrounding the safety aspect would be the handling of the equipment, for example the camera a tripod, I have learnt how to use these correctly and safely in order to film a TV Advert, by participating in a camera workshop.
Target: I would like to develop my knowledge more within the health and safety issues surrounding creating digital graphic products which I will be creating throughout this magazine assignment, the way in which I would do this would be to listen and gain knowledge throughout the different stages of creating the final product.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
Existing Knowledge and Skills
Within the past two projects, the DVD Menu and Television Advert I have been able to research and gain knowledge in the areas of the legal and ethical considerations for the different forms within the media, as within television they have different legal and ethical considerations to the form of a DVD Menu, therefore this has allowed me to gain knowledge within two different areas related to the legal and ethical considerations. I have learnt about the use of existing material within a product, as you have to gain permission from the owner to use otherwise you may get fined for using material which is not yours, how you need to copyright protect your product such as a Television Advert otherwise people can easily take the credit for the advert. Another legal consideration I have researched into is the Location Release, as when you plan the location which you want to film in you need to gain permission, and that if you were to create a professional advert you would need to have a Location Release Form.
Target: I would like to develop my knowledge within the Ethical side to the Legal and Ethical Considerations, as from my research I have focused mainly on the Legal Considerations and the way in which I would do this would be for the products within this project I would research in more depth about the Ethical Considerations surrounding the products which I will create in this project.
Responding to Feedback and Reviewing Work
Existing Knowledge and Skills
Throughout previous products I have responded to feedback within the process of creating the product, for my DVD Menu I was given feedback throughout, when I was in the stages of creating my final product I was given improvements which I could make to my DVD Menu and I believe I responded to them well and improved my DVD Menu. This included adding more effects to the images to make them suggest the genre and also changing the font which I used and using a more creative font which would suggest the genre of drama well. Within the last project I believe I responded to the feedback which was given to me at the end of the project, as the improvement which I needed to make was to state how I would change my advert if I was able to re-shoot and I therefore stated this within my evaluation for the project and this explained clearly the changed I would make.
Target: I would like to be able to review my work so that I can independently notice what needs to be improved within the product without any help, as through have feedback I am aware of the factors which may need to be changed or improved within the product.
Typography within Graphic Design
Existing Knowledge and Skills
Throughout the beginning of this assignment I have been introduced to typography, this is the type of font which is used within graphic design, within print such as Magazines and Website Designs. I have researched into typography and the fonts which are most popular for 2011 in print and website design, I have carried out an exercise within Adobe Illustrator which shows I how applied different effects such as 3D, 3D Rotation, Inner Glow, Drop Shadow and Feathered Effect, from these effects I now understand the way in which a font is edited and given the effects to make it stand out from a normal font. I now also understand how the font can create a message to the audience, as I understand that there are two types of font, Sans Serif and Serif, Sans Serif is a modern and bold font which would be featured on magazines such as NME and Serif is a font which is more traditional and would be featured within a magazine such as Country Living (which is shown in my process document for typography). I now have knowledge and skills in creating a font with an effect and I know understand typography and how to make a font eye catching and appealing to a certain audience, I can therefore develop my skills throughout this project in relation to typography.
Target: I would like to develop my skills within Illustrator in creating fonts which use different and effective effects for use within my Student Magazine; the way in which I will do this is by using the programme Illustrator more and using more effects for typography to create the very effective fonts which will appeal to my target audience.
Font History and Meanings
I have learnt about how important the fact that the font which I use within my student magazine for the Masthead is important as the history and meaning behind the font is how it appeals to the target audience. I have researched into the meaning behind the text I was initially using within Photoshop and this font did not have the correct meaning to link it to a student magazine, therefore I have found a new font which does link to students and is Myriad Pro, the way in which this appeals to the audience of students and potentially parents and advertisers is that this text is most common use in Apple. As this font is used within the iPod range and therefore the audience will be familiar with the font and this font will then appeal to them as they have seen it on products such as and iPod, as target audience of students are the generation who are interested in products such as the iPod range. Through learning and gaining new knowledge in this area of the history of fonts it has helped me in realising the message which a font will have to an audience, and within the front cover of a magazine the font is very important for the audience to feel they have to read the magazine. Through learning the meaning I can now create my original and creative masthead in Illustrator for my magazine front cover.
Target: I would like to complete my original and unique masthead which is in the text of Myriad Pro and make a bold and eye catching masthead for my student magazine front cover which will appeal to the target audience. The way in which I will achieve this target is by creating my Masthead in Adobe Illustrator with the new skills which I have learnt in this programme.
Skills Profile Review:
Skills Developed
Through this magazine assignment I have learnt many new skills surrounding the areas discussed above which have helped me within this assignment, within the different areas I set myself realistic targets to achieve by the end of this assignment, I will now reflect on the targets I have achieved and the skills which I have developed and gained.
Production of Documentation Work:
The target which I set for this area of work is to be able to complete the different documents within this assignment to the ‘industry standard’ and in which the way I would do this is by asking for guidance on how to carry this out.
Responding to a Brief:
This was a key aspect of this assignment as the assignment is to work to a brief to create a magazine front cover, contents page and double page spread, at the beginning of this assignment I had not be as clear as I could have on how to respond to a brief. Therefore when I was given the brief I got an explanation of how to respond to a brief and I created a visual summary of responding to a brief which therefore made responding to the brief clear to me. My target for this area of responding to a brief was that I wanted to be introduced to a professional brief which I had been given and that I wanted to have a clear understanding of what the client wants me to produce to their standards and to create the products to the client and industry standards. I believe I have achieved this and developed skills within responding to a brief as I now have a clear understanding of how to respond to a brief correctly to create the product which the client wants and is up to their expectations and standards as I have had feedback from the client on the product and they have told me what they would change about the magazine pages and I have taken their feedback on board and I have put this into my product to make it a product the client wants and likes.
Research Methods:
For research methods I have gained knowledge over the previous projects, I had research methods which worked for me and I was able to carry out secondary research into a given subject and I have learnt easy ways to research using books and the Internet. I had also carried out Primary Research in past projects such as a questionnaire; I set myself a target of carrying our secondary research easily and carrying out more forms of research such as Primary research in the form of a questionnaire. I believe I have achieved these targets for research methods as from my knowledge into knowing how to carry out secondary research in using resources such as books, magazines and the Internet for information on a given subject such as researching into existing magazines similar to my student magazine, this included colour schemes, layouts and features within the magazines. I have also carried out two questionnaires in relation to my student magazine, I initially carried out a questionnaire for my target audience on their opinion on what makes a good student magazine and I have also carried out a questionnaire for feedback on my student magazine pages. Therefore I have carried out different types of research to help me in creating and improving my student magazine in the future.
Generic Conventions- Style and Technique:
For this area I set myself a target of expanding my knowledge of conventions within magazines, as from previous projects I have completed at GCSE I had knowledge into the different and main conventions used within a magazine front cover, contents page and double page spread. Although I believe I did not have enough knowledge from previous projects to create a professional standard front cover, contents page and double page spread, so the target which I set myself was to research thoroughly into magazines and their conventions within them and I believe I have achieved this target because I have carried out a lot of research into different similar and existing magazines and I have deconstructed them. I have also researched into the graphic trends for 2011, this has helped me in realising what colours are ‘in trend’ for 2011, also the layouts, fonts and images which are in trend for 2011.
Designing and Planning:
For this aspect of the assignment I had knowledge within this area because I have planned a product in the past, for example I planned and designed my DVD Menu, therefore I had knowledge in creating sketches and mind maps for the product itself. I set myself a target of designing and planning my magazine front cover, contents page and double page spread by creating different sketches for my design so I am clear of what I am creating and it is clear to the client. I have achieved this target as throughout the process of creating my magazine pages as I have created many different sketches and I have been able to work from these sketches to create my magazine pages, as when I had changed the layout of any of my magazine pages I would create a new sketch as I can then show what I will be creating from my initial sketch.
Graphics Production:
At the beginning of this assignment I had a considerable amount of knowledge within Photoshop and I had created a magazine front cover in the past so I knew how to lay out a magazine front cover and also how to use the different tools within Photoshop. The target which I set myself in this area was to be able to develop my skills within Photoshop to create professional looking magazine pages, by developing my skills in Photoshop. I believe I have achieved this target because I have developed my skills within Photoshop as I have learnt ways on enhancing the quality of images within my magazine pages and I have developed skills in creating original mastheads with different effects.
Legal and Ethical Issues:
From previous projects I had learnt about the legal and ethical side to production works such as graphic print as from projects such as the DVD Menu Design and Television Advert I have learnt about legal and ethical issues, although I was not completely clear on the ethical side as such. My target for legal and ethical issues was that I would concentrate more on the ethical side to the issues which are affected within graphic design, and the main issues which I found was the fact that my content and images must not discriminate or stereotype, as this would affect people. Therefore from researching in detail into ethical issues I believed I have achieved my target in understand both the legal and ethical issues clearly.
Responding to Feedback and Reviewing Work:
For this aspect in this assignment it has been very important to respond to feedback from the client as this is an assignment where I had to respond to a brief for a client, from previous projects I have had to respond to feedback on the work I had produced and therefore from this project I wanted to be able to be able to notice improvements which I could make and see myself. I believe that through this assignment it has been hard to achieve this target as I have had to respond to a brief so I have therefore gained feedback from the client and the target audience of students as I have responded to their feedback and this has helped me improve my magazine pages to their standards.
Typography and Font History
Within this assignment I have learnt a lot about typography within a magazine, as this is an important aspect within graphic design, I have achieved my targets of creating an original and unique masthead within Illustrator as this is a Vector Image, which is a good quality image and I have been able to show the different effects I could create for my original masthead. I have developed my skills within Illustrator as I have created an original masthead for my student magazine and I have also learnt how important the meaning behind the font is as my font I have chosen relates to student well and is recognisable.
