ePublications (iBook)

Epublications (ePub) are a file format, that are designed to reflow text according to screen size. This means that the text formatted as an ePub is far easier to read, regardless of the electronic device the receiver is using.

However, such technology devices as Amazon's Kindle does not yet support the ePub file format, as they are designed to use Amazon's own e-book formats (.azw, .azw3 and .kf8). Unlike ePub, these file types are proprietary formats, but do support reflowable text.

Using InDesign, I was able to create a document that could be read on a variety of devices, be that on a mobile phone, laptop or tablet. This means that the page size, font size and other elements of the ePub will be variable depending on the user's preferences and circumstances. Knowing this, the design and layout must be simple and clean.

Keeping in mind that the InDesign document is reflowable, page numbers, headers and footer, coloured text and background images will not be included - as they will be altered when the user needs them to be.

Given a set transcript of the novel 'Don Quixote' and images to match, I created an InDesign document with 'Export Tagging' and 'Split Document (EPUB only). Having this will make sure that each chapter of the book starts on a new page. Using the 'Layout' menu in InDesign, I created a table of contents. This means that when the user is reading the book, they are able to quickly flick through to any chapter they desire.

Finally, I had to include some metadata information within my exported ePub file before saving it. Once exported and given a front cover to the book, as well as the International Digital Publishing Forum (idpf) validator was complete, I could then open the book in iBook. Below, are a few screenshots of the iBook I created.

Front cover of the iBook

Double page within the iBook

Sidebar showing the chapters of the iBook

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FANFARE Magazine (July 2015 Issue)

One of the first projects I took part in at University, was for the course 'Design For Print'. This was the very first time I had properly used InDesign as a software to produce a piece of work that was going to be published. I had learnt the basics of the Adobe software packages when I studied A-Level media, however over the course of the module, I gained a real insight as to what elements were appropriate for each form of print.

Using Adobe's InDesign, I initially created a newsletter for the local community - a task that was very simple, but tested design rules and formalities. I learnt about colour schemes and contrasting colours. Additionally, I gained knowledge about connotations and denotations of individual colours. From this, it gave me a great understanding of how colour can portray and change a reader's emotions or views towards a piece of work.

I also learnt about the importance of the target audience, be that demographics, socioeconomic factors or even the age of the receiver. All of these individual factors have such a large impact on the overall read and layout of the designed piece and this helped immensely when starting my final project of the module.

The 'Magazine Design' project was my first published piece of work - even if it was only published in the University magazine! Our brief was to design three double page spreads, a cover and a contents page for a full-colour, printed, monthly magazine. The magazine covers topics including contemporary culture, art, drama, music and twenty-first century life.

As I was only designing and creating the layouts for the magazine, the literature was given to us in advance. Not only did I have to source and find appropriate images to support the text, but I had to ensure that what was written fitted into the layout I had created. This did become hard at times, as making sentences flow around images without breaking the flow of text, was extremely hard.

I decided to focus on the double spread on movie reviews. As a movie lover, I thought it would be important to focus and work on something I am enthusiastic about. Below, is a photograph of my finished work that was published in the University Of Buckingham's Fanfare magazine.  

Front cover of Fanfare magazine.

My design for a double page spread for movie reviews. 

Accreditation of design editors and writers (below contents). 

Using Adobe's InDesign and Photoshop enabled me to produce work of publishable standards. Additionally, it gave me an opportunity to play around with the software and test new ways of creating the vision that I had in my head. I wanted the pages to look clean and crips. Using a simple colour scheme of red, black and white enabled me to let the reviews and images stand out. I then placed page dividers to clearly define each review, and then a simple star system for rating the movies.


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My First Post.

As a student at The University of Buckingham, I have found myself learning skills and techniques that I never thought I would even learn about, let alone have the opportunity to test and work with them. From Adobe to iBook Author, I have gained such a wide variety of dexterity in a range of softwares.

When I was in secondary school, social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram were merely sites or apps. Compare this to the society we live in today, social media is something we sleep, breathe and eat. It's a place to express yourself, your opinions and views, share photos, connect and meet new people.

With creativity, comes personalisation and learning about different elements of digital publishing has enabled me to express myself in new ways. Even though a lot of the work I have produced for my Marketing and Media degree has been somewhat 'fictional', the knowledge and understanding of the software and programmes is very much real.

I first took to blogging in early 2014, when I was studying Media Studies at A-Level. It was a way to not only show the work I had created off, but it enabled me to describe and evaluate my work. This meant that I was able to critically evaluate and asses the work I had produced. The fact that it was published online, enabled others to comment on my work, suggesting improvements and comments where they felt necessary.

I feel as though in the 2 short years since I last blogged, I have learnt so much about how I want to portray my work, as well as my change in design & media influences. I know I am far from the best web and media print designer, or even digital publisher, but I do know that learning is a crucial element of bettering my skills, something that I am always willing to do.


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