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

From the initial stages of the preliminary task to the final stages of the main task, I feel as though I have been constantly learning new skills. These skills are not only technological, such as those previously mentioned in question six, but also general skills such as time management and planning.

With the initialisation of the preliminary task, the prospect of eventually developing my design skills to the extent that I may be able to create a high quality media product seemed extremely daunting, especially considering the fact that I did not possess any prior experience with the software, or designing in general. However, the construction of the preliminary task significantly aided my developmental skills and comprehension of what the task entails.

With the preliminary task, the construction of a school magazine, I intended to create something not entirely dissimilar to the basic structure of what I had in mind for the main task. This was in order to enable me to take what I had learned from the construction of the preliminary task and apply it to the main task. I was then able to gain a wider perspective on the creation process as a whole, and could consider exactly what I wished to achieve with the main task. The preliminary task also allowed me to learn to experiment with technology and to not be afraid to make mistakes in order to gain the skills necessary to create a successful final piece.

Throughout the construction process, it has been highly important to me to manage time in a manner which would allow me to meet all deadlines with the peace of mind that all needs of the task have been met (ie. meeting all conditions of the task, including the necessary forms and conventions of a music magazine, etc). These skills are particularly beneficial, as I feel that they are necessary not only in terms of education but throughout life and in all professions.

Overall, I feel as though this task has allowed me to gain a vast amount of confidence when using editing equipment such as Photoshop and InDesign. As well as this, the task has encouraged me to not be afraid when approaching unfamiliar tasks, and to do so with self-reliance.