Final Reflection: Multimedia & Communications..Professional?

Being a multimedia professional is hard, but to be a communication professional is way harder.

Multimedia Professional

Being a multimedia professional is being able to get the message across through different mediums, whether it’s audio, photography, graphic design, or writing. Essentially it’s just being able to multitask and take on many roles, or so I thought.

Design with intention. Sometimes less is more:

In COMM2692, I was given the opportunity to satisfy my creative side by making audio and visual media. Using the media as a tool, a channel, to express ideas, sometimes it’s likely for me to get every thought through a single design. But after the magazine assignment in Making Media, I have learned that sometimes, less is more. At first, I had too many components, graphics, and texts, all in one spread, squeezing tight in, therefore the spread looks very unpleasant to the eyes. Now I know to draw a draft layout first and have breathing space in my design.

Nevertheless, I also learned less sometimes is shallow

Write with passion. Having a clear purpose is important:

My biggest regret made in COMM2692 is not exploring further in my writing subjects. Having too caught up with the “how to say it”, I almost completely neglected the “what is there to say”. The course taught me to raise the question “So?” - to think rationally, logically, and critically. From now on, I will write and produce content with a clear purpose, objectives, and audience. Only then can I write with passion and dig deeper into the topic I’ve chosen.

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FLEXIBILITY IS VITAL!

Knowing what to say, how to say it. Acknowledging circumstances, and improvising timely

For the magazine assignment, our group first decided to continue the podcast’s direction of exploring the subject, but due to the lecturer’s concern about the depth of discussion, we had to redirect at the last minute. To overcome this hurdle, I’ve changed the magazine direction after 1st topic peer review in class. My group agreed to shift focus to a specific aspect of the topic and write more deeply.

Since we change the direction last minute, our group didn’t have enough time like others to do each part on separate days. Luckily, I’ve managed different tasks in the making of the magazine: Ideation, Writing, Photography, Visualizing, and Editing; all in a very short period of time. Despite being under time pressure, I think I did a good job pulling through and really became a multimedia professional.

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Communication Professional

But to be a communication professional is to master the art of communication - which goes both ways.

It’s not just to get our own ideas across clearly, and get ourselves seen; but also, it’s to listen to others, and understand who you’re conveying messages to. Whether it’s the audience of a podcast, a magazine, or simply your teammates, your peers, or your teachers, it’s important to know what their ideas and preferences are. I truly feel like I haven't been able to listen to others. Sometimes when I'm caught up in my own head with my own ideas, it’s difficult for me to see the different approaches that people have. To solve this issue, I tried to negotiate, critical thinking, and most importantly active listening. I’ve been practicing seeing things from different perspectives and putting myself in people’s shoes. Only then can communication can be two-way.

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After COMM2692, I realized I’d just started my journey to become a communication professional. In order to achieve my goals, I need to:

• Practice two-way communication

• Practice writing, reading

• Have self-discipline

• Have better time-management

• Expand my knowledge

• Experiment with other creative outlets