How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

1. Hampshire Quarterly
How did you use new media technologies in the
construction and research, planning and evaluation
stages?

2. Technology
The primary hardware used in this
project was a Sony DSLR camera
that assisted me in the photography
process and ensured that my photos
would be of a high quality, allowing
them to speak for themselves.
Through this, I learnt the importance
of capturing a good image as it can
really ‘pay off’ in the long run and
enhance the overall quality of the
magazine.
After extensively studying other
regional magazines, I decided to
focus on a scenic, bucolic subject
matter that would showcase the
natural beauty of Hampshire and
ultimately appeal to viewers. I
decided to use a digital camera as
it was more reliable, more portable
and produced high quality
photographs.

3. Technology
Another important aspect of the magazine construction was the
post-production software. This technology is used included
Photoshop, InDesign and Wix, all of which worked well to
create the best possible product. I used Photoshop for the
majority of the tasks and, as seen on the right, it enables me to
create many layers and add various effects to my work, creating
depth and meaning. It allowed me to experiment with different
editing techniques and ultimately showed me what was
successful and what wasn’t. InDesign worked in much the same
way, allowing me to flexibly design my double page spread. The
‘guides’ feature was also helpful in helping me to keep the
dimensions regular and conform to the codes and conventions
of a magazine article.

4. Technology - Wix
Wix has been a fundamental
resource during this project;
not only was it used to
create my magazine’s
website, it is also where I
have presented my
coursework.
It is a valuable tool for
displaying information in the
form of both a blog and a
website as it has a vast
array of templates, tools and
options to choose from,
allowing you to personalise
it.
Moreover, it is clear and
easy to use and simplifies
the most complicated of
tasks, whilst maintaining a
stylish appearance, which
was beneficial for both me
and my project.

5. Conclusion
Overall, the technology used over the duration of this process
has only helped my work; although technology can be
temperamental at times, I feel that without it, we would be
stranded. Without the hardware and software that I have used,
my magazine, billboard and website would not exist in the
same way and would certainly not be of the same standard.
It has been a vital component in the making of my magazine
and has enabled me to explore different techniques that,
without technology, would have been unavailable.