Stage Review . . .

I wasn't quite sure what to expect for the stage review, so I took all of my most recent work as well as my business cards, packaging trials and paper cutting samples. It went a lot better than I was expecting with both Tiffany and Josh responding positively to the publication, there were some valuable points brought up as well, as to where to take the project fro here and how I could improve the publication - 

* Print out the publication in colour, the black and white version doesn't do it justice, show the colour version to your intended reader to get some feedback on the publication. Hand the colour copy along with the actual publication in for the final hand in.

* Editing - some of the shoots and articles are a page too long, a 105 page publication is not to expected for MP. Get someone to sit down and edit it all that is not close to the project. As they'll have more of an objective view to what should be kept and what should maybe be left out.

* Have some form of narrative running through the photo shoots, as it's not clear from looking through that the images are telling a story opposed to selling the clothes the model is wearing. Maybe a poem or a song??

* Change the two full page landscapes (Rachael Illustrations), that I've put as portraits to half page landscapes as the layout isn't in keeping with the rest of the publication.

* For hand in you need to produce two copies, producing an invoice as the uni will reimburse you for one of them. 

* Web site - find a way of making a blog not look like a blog for the web site. Although a blog is a good idea, as it's what a lot of publications are doing.

* Layout is looking really good, more continuity throughout the publication, cohesive.

After going over the feedback and reflecting on it, I definitely agree about having some form of narrative running through the shoots, and I've already changed the landscape images I'd put as portrait to half page landscapes, and they look a lot better. 

In terms of editing I am going to ask Jess (mentor) is she wouldn't mind going through and suggesting which pages I should leave out.

I'm really pleased with the comments both Josh and Tiffany said about the layout as it is something I've worked hard on since my tutorial with Jamie and I agree that the publication is all the better for the changes even though I was reluctant to the idea at first, I can see what Jamie meant.