During this project, I have used a wide range of primary source photography to inspire and create the content for a lot of the pages within the magazine. I have used models, makeup, props and settings to create the overall effect that I wanted to create for the magazine spread. Secondary source images were also a an integral part of the project for mood boards/inspiration and for images that I was unable to create myself. 

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Throughout the project, I have taken inspiration from the modern, urban culture within society. It is very rich in variety, colour, culture, pattern, music and creativity. I have done this to ensure I am appealing to my target market - the 16-30 range. 

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The recording technique that I have used the most throughout this project is digital recording. Although I have used a wide range of physical creative methods, I have often scanned these into the computer to improve and develop. I have often used digital software such as Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator to play around with different layouts as it is a quick and effective way of comparing ideas. For some elements of the magazine (the jewellery logo for example), I have started by making concept sketches to get my initial ideas down roughly and quickly. When putting these sketches next to each other, it's simple to see which design is instantly most effective. I have also used a lot of photography to showcase the process of many of the outcomes. 

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During this project, I have continued to reflect on my work and analyse what works well and what needs improvement. I have continued to develop and experiment with the outcomes until they have reached a standard that I am happy with.  Sometimes this has meant going back to square one and re-assessing the design with a fresh set of eyes. 

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What surprised me the most during this project is how sometimes the most simple designs can be the most effective. Often, I found that by stripping the design down created a greater impact. This was often the case for the pages with a strong message behind it, as I found that as long as I had a strong image, the image did all of the talking and required little extra design elements. I was also surprised by how much the overall aesthetic of the magazine developed from the beginning of the project to the final outcome. The initial mood board that I made in the planning stages of the project features many floral images, with predominantly neutral and muted colours. The final outcome features pages with vivid, bright colours that contrast with large sections of black. The fonts used are very bold and block so they catch the reader's attention. I believe the general aesthetic of the final outcome is more appropriate and suitable to the target audience (16-30). The wide variety in the design concept also means the magazine is more appealing to a wider market.