3.3 Reflection

With the project we have been working on, the direct mailer, we have spent tons of time and effort composing, editing and re-creating direct mailers for our public relations publications course. Upon completing the assignment we’ve been asked to reflect on the project as a whole in this reflection post.

1. We were asked to define stakeholders and create two direct mailers for two different stakeholders, preferable being related in some sort.
2. In the beginning I was stumped. I didn’t know who to define as my stakeholder or how to get demographic information from high schools and incoming freshman, but then I decided to go the route that I had some familiarity with and asked myself what I would have liked to receive in the mail as a senior in high school.
3. My original drafts were horrid. I was choosing fonts that were too creative and not professional, and I struggled to find high quality images to use. I found myself getting frustrated from time to time and editing multiple times before even posting the first draft.
4. I think I felt that way because I can tend to be a perfectionist, and this assignment is completely preference based. I was using things I was familiar with from the stakeholder to the colors, but it wasn’t coming out how I had envisioned.
5. I definitely prefer Photoshop to InDesign. I find it’s easier to use and the way the layers separate themselves allows you to stay more organized and have a better idea of what you’re doing.
6. I’ve found myself creating collages and personal things on Photoshop with a little more ease, which is nice. I can get things done a lot faster than I used to.
7. If I could do it again and do something different, I may try to make the back of my direct mailer #1 a little more professional as opposed to just a logo.