FINAL PRODUCT!

Here are the screenshot of my final product:

HOMEPAGE ^^

ABOUT US ^^

HOMELESS PAGE ^^

(Note: Video not inserted into website yet)

DONATIONS PAGE ^^

FINISHED!

Today I have finally finished my coursework!

As you will have seen, during the process I have completed a preliminary task and a final media product - a charity website. 

As this will be my final post, I hope that my coursework is good enough to achieve a very high grade. WIsh me luck!

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

By looking back on my ‘journey’ from my preliminary task to my final product, I have realised I’ve learnt a great deal. During the process, I have had to use many new tools and software to create my products, which I have never come across. Also, I feel as if I’ve gained an added sense of importance of planning and research, even before I started designing my product.

"MyJourney"

Software such as Dreamweaver MX was fairly new to me, whilst designing my preliminary product I was only using the basic tools in creating a web page such as, creating layers and adding content and text. In my final product I maximise the use of the software tools, there is a lot more colour, content, flash use, scroll down menus and hyperlinks. If you look back on my preliminary and compare it to my final product, there are sharp contrasts. My final product looks like a well-rounded finished website, whereas my preliminary actually does look like a first attempt.

^^Preliminary home page^^

Also, whilst designing my preliminary task I was fortunate enough to be able to refer back to the school website (www.parliamenthill.camden.sch.uk) and use it to structure my own. However, when designing my final product everything had to be my own original work and I couldn’t really refer back to anything. I’ve learnt how to create original, appropriate material for a web page without sampling from an existent product already.

^^Preliminary media page^^

Before I began working on my preliminary, I had to research into other schools and their websites. Luckily, I already knew what my product was going to be (a new school website for Parliament Hill) and knew what specific things to look for. This research helped me incorporate new things into my preliminary, such as a calendar and map.

However, when researching and planning my final product it was a lot different, I had to choose my own charity, audience and how I was going to structure it. I was able to use the skills I picked up from researching the preliminary and use them in my final products research. These skills helped me choose a cause for my charity, research similar charity websites and pin-point specific conventions I needed to use in my website. Therefore, this gave me a greater sense of importance of research and planning.

^^ Example of my research ^^

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Throughout the process of creating my media product, video clip and preliminary task I’ve learnt a whole lot about technologies. I used the Dreamweaver MX software predominantly during the process, from the preliminary task to my final product. I’ve learnt how to use the tools in Dreamweaver to design a good webpage and add specific details to better it.

^^ DREAMWEAVER ^^

The transition from preliminary to final is huge; my preliminary product compared to my final product looks very plain and ordinary. If you look back on my preliminary and compare you will see various differences, I’ve learned how to use colour more effectively in my website and use the space available better. For example, the side menu panel in my final product is an ideal way for a website to show more content without cluttering up one page. Other key things that I’ve learnt from using the Dreamweaver software include: creating hyperlinks to different pages and using flash buttons to make my product look more professional.

^^ FLASH ^^

  

During the process of editing my video clip, I had to use the Windows Movie Maker software. Whilst using Movie Maker I learnt how to create transitions between clips, add video effects, and add audio and how to cut and edit specific scenes.  When I first started out, all of my clips were just playing one after another, without being in a sequence. By creating transitions between the clips, I was able to create a sequence that didn’t seem as if it was jumping from scene to scene. Adding video effects and audio allowed me to set a tone for my video, which in result worked out very well.  Also, by using the software I began to learn how to cut and edit certain scenes. For example, during the interview in my video I had to shorten parts of it and cut it as it was very long. I ended up cutting the interview into different parts, with questions being asked in between. This skill allowed me to keep my whole video at an appropriate length and overall make it a lot better.

^^ WINDOWS MOVIE MAKER ^^

Other technologies I used during the designing process of my product were, Microsoft Picture Manager and Adobe Photoshop. Both of these software’s were used a great deal when I had to edit my images. Whilst designing both Preliminary and Final product, I came across the problem that a lot of my images didn’t fit on the page. Therefore, I used Picture Manager to help me resize the images. The software allowed me to change the size of my images to any size I wished, without them losing the focus of the image. I used Adobe Photoshop mainly when I needed to change the colour of my images. All of the images used in my website are black and grey, Photoshop helped me change the colour of the normal pictures. However, I also wanted my images to be even darker, so I used Photoshop’s ‘burn tool’ to insert more black/shadow into the images.

                      ^^PICTURE MANAGER^^

               ^^ADOBE PHOTOSHOP ^^
    

The software Paint was used throughout the whole process of constructing my final product and even before that. During my research I used Paint to print screen web pages, which then allowed me to annotate and analyse. During the construction of my final product, I used Paint to print screen the font for my Logo from www.dafont.com. When I had my chosen font, I realised I needed to change the colour of the background as it didn’t fit in with the colour scheme of my website. Paint allowed me to change the colour and edit small spots were the original colour could be seen.

      

How did you attract/address your audience?

In my media product, I chose to use certain things to attract/address my target audience. These include: the layout, colour scheme, images, case studies and features. By considering these factors and implementing them into my website, it’s more likely to appeal to the 16-25 demographic.

The colour scheme I used in my website is fairly bright, with a hint of a dark tone. I chose to make my website bright with the mixture of blue and grey; I did this because a bright website appeals to younger people as they will stay interested in the product. If I were to base my product around dark colours, my website would seem very dull and wouldn’t appeal to my audience. Also, the brightness makes the text easier to read and highlights features.  

 ^^ Example of colours - not final product! ^^

The layout of my product is very simple and it’s easy to locate information and navigate through. In all of my four web pages the layout is consistent; the main information is located centrally and each page has a side panel with links to other pages on the right. I chose to set up my pages like this as it allows my audience to be able to find the information they’re after with ease, therefore they would be more likely to use my product again.

^^ Example of layout- not final! ^^ 

All of the images in my product are black and grey; they don’t specifically represent any particular social group. However, when you look closely at the image an individual (within my target audience) would be able to tell that the person in the image is fairly young. This means that my audience can relate to my product and feel as if the information is directly addressing them. Similarly, the case study/story used in my product about homelessness, in particular in my video clip is centred on young people. By showing some of the consequences that homelessness has on young people, my target audience will be more interested in my product as the content is related to them.

^^ Example of young people - not final! ^^

Audience feedback is key to finding out if a product appeals to its audience and how it could be improved. Here are some of the comments I received back from my target audience:

“I like the colour theme and images; it’s easy to navigate and understand and contains quick and simple information which gets the point across.”

“The images are very focused and relevant, not too much text and are direct and simple.”

“Looks really professional.”

Who would be the audience for your media product?

The target audience for my product would be a younger demographic aged 16-25. Even though my media product is about homelessness, which effects a wide range of people, the elements and characteristics of my product would appeal more to the demographic stated. From the research I carried out, it was obvious that charities websites were designed to bring in much needed donations. My product is designed to provide information to raise awareness and money to help people, therefore you have to be above a certain age (e.g. to donate you usually have to be working).

^^ TARGET AUDIENCE? ^^

The images used through out my website show struggling young people in black and grey. As the images are of young people, my audience are more likely to relate and they can empathise with them. Also, the video clip that I produced is made up of people that are clearly between the ages of 16-25. Other aspects of my website such as stories/case studies focus on young people as well, for example my video is centred on an interview with a young victim of homelessness. By considering young people in my images and video, my product can appeal to my audience and function better.

^^ IMAGES ^^

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Media institutions can be very effective in helping to distribute and promote another product, in this case a charity website.  Media institutions include: television, newspapers and the internet. Television drama’s and soap operas in the UK in the past have often worked together with charities to raise awareness. My charity website focuses on homelessness which affects many young people, the television drama Hollyoaks (Channel 4) would be an ideal show to distribute my product as the show is mainly aimed at a younger demographic very similar to my audience. It focuses on many serious issues, including homelessness. We could work together for a homeless storyline, therefore they could promote my product at the end of their show and my website could use clips from them showing the effects and consequences of homelessness. Other television shows that could distribute my product include: Eastenders (BBC1), Skins (E4) and Coronation Street (ITV1).

^^ Example of Hollyoaks colloborating with another media product ^^

Newspapers and magazines could also help promote my product. For example newspapers such as: The Guardian or The Times are some of the few newspapers that could incorporate an issue such as homelessness into their articles effectively. Both newspapers could promote my website either on their newspapers or own websites. However, a large portion of my target audience are not likely to read those types of newspaper, therefore magazines could distribute my product instead. Magazines can help to raise awareness about the issue of homelessness to young people and who they can reach out to for help.

Social networks are another institution that could distribute my product. Most charities have links with Facebook and Twitter on their websites, somewhat of a convention. I’ve incorporated social networks into my website already; therefore we could work together to campaign, raise money and recruit volunteers. Other media forms involved in the internet include YouTube. By setting up a YouTube account, my product can showcase the work being done by the charity, therefore reaching more and more people as YouTube is globally viewed.  

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My media product represents a broad range of social groups and does not specifically focus on one particular group. However, I would say that my product focuses more towards younger people, regardless of gender. I chose to be fairly broad in my representations as homelessness is an issue that affects more than one group, but I did decide that I would focus more on the representation of younger people in my product as homelessness effects them more then others.

^^ Young people ^^

The representation of young people in my product are not very stereotypical, usually people are exposed to an image of runaway teenagers, addicted to drugs. There is no significant mention of drugs as a factor of why young people become homeless. I chose to focus on the financial and family aspects; I explored this more in the video clip I produced. However, I did also represent young people very positively. In my video the volunteers are mainly younger people, this represents them as people who are willing to help others and not the drug taking tearaways as the media presents.

 ^^ STEREOTYPES OF YOUNG PEOPLE! ^^

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

I feel that my media product uses forms and conventions of real media products very well. For example, whilst looking at various other charity websites (homeless mainly) I used aspects of their layouts in my own website. If you take a look at www.crisis.org.uk/index.php  their navigation bar is very similar to mine, I chose to use this in my own media product as it was very easy to use and looked very professional, therefore giving all of my pages a distinct look. Also, if you look back over their overall layout and compare it to mine, there are other similarities. The use of a ‘big image’ as the focal point of the homepage and the side panel with different links are some of the more obvious.

^^ CRISIS^^

Other forms and conventions used include: a weekly newsletter, facts and figures and social networking links. In the modern-era, social networking has become a very important media tool; every charity website has links to various social networks, mainly: Facebook and Twitter. These social networks have become conventions of charity websites; therefore I had to add a few into my own.

^^ FACEBOOK or TWITTER? ^^

Another website I closely looked at was http://england.shelter.org.uk/ .  While I was browsing through I came across a convention which you see in most charity websites and used in my own - a free advice telephone helpline. I also came across an option to find help in your local area, therefore I inserted an option into my website were you could find help from my charity in different regions of the country. While I did find a lot of inspiration from looking at other charities, I didn’t want to copy and use so much from these real media products, which is why I tried to develop them further.

^^ Screenshot of Shelter.org ^^

Referring back to the layout, I could test Sklar’s theory on how people scan web pages and the importance of how a web page is laid out. Looking back on the real websites, all of their logos were located in the top left corner of the page and the most important information being located in the centre. I would adopt Sklar’s theory into my own website; however the theory gave me the impression of being based around the fact that the website had a lot of text. Seeing as my website was not very text heavy in some pages, I developed the layout of my pages differently to maximise the chances of the content in being consumed.

^^ SKLAR THEORY ^^

My media product not only used and developed forms and conventions, it also challenged them. If you look back on the websites I researched, most of them use ‘happy’ images which reflect the good work the charities do. However, I wanted the purpose of my product to show the effects and negative side of homelessness, which is why I decided to use grey, sad images throughout. I think these images would have a greater effect on an audience rather than the happier images usually used.

^^ Examples of 'sad' images ^^

Another way that my media product challenges the conventions is the colour scheme. It may seem like an obvious choice for charities to use darker colours in their websites, but brighter colours seem to be more popular. I decided for my product I would use a mix of darker and bright colours – blue, grey, black and white. Blue and grey were the main colours I used, and the mixture of the colours complimented each other very well. By using darker colours such as grey, I was able to set a tone for my website of being for a charity and serious, while the use of blue would give my website more colour and brightened it up.