This page displays my problem solving section, in which I have identified, analysed and found solutions to certain problems that I have come across during each part of my FMP. It includes key stages such as problem identification, generating possible solutions, evaluating and selecting the best solutions and then implementing them
Potential Problems and Solutions
Throughout my project, it’s possible that I might face a variety of challenges, such as from time pressure to creative blocks and technical issues. By thinking ahead and identifying these potential problems early on, I can prepare myself with solutions and strategies to stay on track. Below is a list of possible difficulties I may come across during different stages of the project, along with how I plan to manage or resolve them if they arise:
Problems and Solutions faced during my FMP
Context - Problems and Solutions
Problem: Figuring Out What to Include About My Identity
At first, when writing my 'About Me' section, I tried to include too many parts of myself in the project - from family, culture, and memories to hobbies and goals. But trying to fit everything in made it hard to focus, and the project started to feel all over the place, and less focused on my writing and skills.
Solution:
To fix this, I looked back at my old writing and the interviews with my family. I noticed some themes came up more than others, like my passion for storytelling and how much I care about using my voice. I decided to stick with the parts that felt strongest and most relevant, so the project would be clearer and more focused.
Problem: Figuring Out What Skills I Already Had
One of the early challenges I faced within my context section was trying to work out what skills I already had that could help with my project. I’ve done a lot of creative work before, including writing, editing, and some visual design - but I initially struggled with how to apply those things to this specific project. At first, I felt a bit stuck because I didn’t know how to match my past experience to the tasks ahead.
Solution:
To solve this, I looked back through my older work from previous college projects. This helped remind me of things I’ve already done - like using Canva for layout design, getting feedback to improve my writing, and planning out a writing schedule. By recognising these skills, I started to feel more confident and organised. I also made a list of skills within my writing that I was proud of, and skills that I wanted to develop in the future. This gave me a clearer picture of what I could bring into the project and where I needed to grow.
Research - Problems and Solutions
Problem: Information overload and lack of direction
At the start of my research, I found myself overwhelmed by the amount of information available, and the amount that I wanted to include in my project. Because I was interested in so many different angles - such as fashion history, cultural trends, modern influencers, and publishing methods - I ended up collecting a lot of sources that didn’t really directly support my main idea. This made it harder for me to stay focused and slowed down my progress, as I was constantly switching between topics and trying to figure out what was actually relevant, and I found myself on the quantity rather than the quality and understanding of my research and it's actual relation to my project.
Solution:
To solve this, I took a step back and created a clearer research plan. I wrote down specific questions in my notes app on my phone that I wanted my research to answer, such as 'How has Japanese street style influenced mainstream fashion?' or 'What makes an outfit controversial enough to be considered shock fashion?' This helped me stay focused and avoid going off-topic. I also made a checklist of what types of sources I needed (e.g., articles, visual references, case studies), which helped me collect more purposeful and relevant research going forward.
Problem: Struggling to find reliable and current sources
Another problem I ran into was that some sources I found weren’t reliable or up to date. I came across blog posts or Pinterest images with no proper credit or background information, which made me question whether I should use them. Some older articles also didn’t reflect current trends or social issues in fashion, which made them less useful for a modern project, and I became worried that the references and information that I was including in my project wouldn't be accurate or reflect the points that I wanted to make.
Solution:
I became more selective with my sources, and I focused on reputable platforms like Vogue, The Guardian, academic sites, and designer interviews. I also cross-referenced facts by checking multiple sources to make sure the information was accurate. This made my research stronger and gave me more confidence in using it to support my ideas. Whenever I used social media or less formal content, I made sure to explain why it was still relevant and how it reflected real-life trends. A website that I also found helpful during my research process is 'mybib.com', which allows you to copy and paste the link to your source and generates it into a haravrd reference format. This resource helped to speed up my referencing and allowed me to confirm that the sources I were using remained creditable and reliable.
Problem: Making my research look visually engaging
While I was gathering a lot of good information and important research, I noticed that my website pages and research layouts were starting to look quite text-heavy and sort of difficult to navigate. I wanted my research to not only be useful but also visually appealing so that it would clearly link to the creative direction of my final project, as well as being easy to read and understand.
Solution:
To improve this, I added moodboards, mind maps, collages, and screenshots from sources like fashion shows, TikTok trends, and anime-inspired looks. I also used highlighting and annotations to draw attention to key points. I found that adding visuals helped bring my research to life and made it easier to communicate my ideas, especially when linking them to things like fashion influences around the world.
Problem; Connecting research to my final outcomes
Another problem that I found myself trying to combat was that my research felt a bit disconnected from the creative work I was actually doing and producing. I had collected a lot of interesting facts and visuals, but I wasn’t always explaining how they were influencing my design choices or development process. It felt like two separate parts of the project, which was not my aim.
Solution:
I started writing short reflections or notes after each piece of my research, explaining how certain references inspired a layout idea, a styling choice, or even a topic for one of my articles. For example, after researching “recession core,” I used that to inform my case study article on fashion during economic hardship. Similarly, my look into Japanese street fashion helped shape the tone and visuals for my second article. By actively making these connections, I made my research more meaningful and ensured that it played a clear role in shaping my final outcomes.
Planning and Production - Problems and Solutions
Problem: Discarding an Article Due to Time Constraints
Initially, I planned to write a seventh article for my project that focused on fashion and oppression, particularly looking at women in certain countries at the moment, and their freedom and rights being taken away by restricting what they wear. While I was excited about the concept and had already started some research and created a plan, it quickly became clear that the topic would require more time than I had available. The complexity of the subject meant I’d need to speak to multiple sources in order to make it as authentic as I would like, including designers and possibly women facing said oppression, to ensure the piece was well-informed and sensitive to cultural context.
Solution:
Rather than rushing the article and producing work I wasn’t confident in, I made the decision to get rid of the idea for now. I refocused my energy on refining my lead article about the resurgence of traditional dress, which had a clearer direction, more accessible sources, and stronger links to my overall project theme. I also repurposed some of the research I had already done on fashion and protest by weaving elements of cultural resistance into my traditional dress article. This problem that I tackled reminded me that part of being a good writer is knowing when to adapt, and while letting go of the original idea was frustrating at first, it ultimately helped me deliver create a more focused and polished piece. In future projects, I’ll take more time for research-heavy topics, or consider narrowing my ideas earlier in the planning process to avoid last-minute compromises.
Problem: InDesign Installation issues
At the start of my design production, I encountered a technical issue that delayed my production process - I struggled to install iDesign on my home computer due to limited storage space. This was frustrating, as it meant I couldn’t begin experimenting with layout designs or visual concepts as early as planned.
Solution:
I tried to free up space by deleting old files and clearing unnecessary apps, but the installation still wouldn’t go through. Eventually, I moved a large portion of media files to an external hard drive, which created enough room for the software. Although this set me back a few days, the delay taught me the importance of preparing my workspace ahead of time and ensuring that all tools are fully functional before a project begins.
Going forward, I’ll be checking my device storage and running test installations well before any production deadlines to avoid similar interruptions.
Problem: Difficulty Securing Real-Life Interviews for Articles
During the planning stage, I hoped to include first-hand quotes from real people (stylists, students, or designers) to bring a more personal and authentic tone to my articles. I reached out to several individuals through social media and email, but due to tight schedules, a lack of responses, and time restrictions on my end, I wasn’t able to secure any interviews in time for my deadline.
Solution:
To work around this, I relied more heavily on online research, drawing from published interviews, social media posts, and video content. I made sure to select sources that felt credible and relevant, and I used direct quotes when possible to keep the tone personal. Although I was disappointed not to have original interview content, this solution allowed me to maintain depth in my articles while still capturing a range of perspectives. In the future, I’d build in more time for outreach and perhaps prepare a short survey or template to make it easier for people to respond quickly.
Problem: Struggling to Identify the Main Story and Hook for Each Article
When I began writing, one of my biggest challenges was figuring out the "angle" or main story behind each piece. I knew the topics I wanted to explore, like shock fashion or Japanese subcultures, but it was harder than expected to turn broad themes into clear, focused articles. I found myself writing too generally at first, and some early drafts felt more like essays than engaging features.
Solution:
I went back to my research and started highlighting the most striking or surprising insights. From there, I asked myself: What’s the core message I want the reader to take away? What makes this story different or important right now? By framing each article with a stronger purpose, I was able to create hooks that felt more engaging. For example, in the shock fashion article, I focused on the question, “When does fashion go too far?” -which gave me a structure to build from. This shift helped me narrow down my ideas and create a more consistent tone throughout. I’ll take this approach into future writing projects: always start with the "why," not just the "what."
Problem: Creative block when starting magazine design
When I moved into the design phase and opened InDesign for the first time, I experienced a creative block. After spending so long planning and writing, I suddenly felt overwhelmed by the blank page. I had a rough idea of how I wanted the magazine to look (colourful, modern, with bold visuals) but turning that into an actual layout felt harder than I expected. I kept second-guessing fonts, colours, and placement of text and images, which slowed my progress at the start.
Solution:
To move past the block, I revisited my visual research and mood boards for inspiration. I also looked at the layouts of existing fashion magazines like Dazed and The Gentlewoman to understand how they balanced visuals with text. I started by creating one simple layout for a single article, instead of trying to design everything at once. This small step helped me get into the flow, and from there I was able to apply consistent styles across the rest of the spreads. Once I got going, the process felt much more intuitive, and I even started enjoying the experimentation with spacing and image cropping.
Problem: Worries About Copyright with Images Used
While selecting visuals for my magazine, I became increasingly concerned about copyright. I had collected a range of reference images during research, from designer campaigns to runway shots, but I was worried about permissions when it came to using the images in my magazine. Since this project is being showcased for my college, I wanted to make sure I wasn’t violating any image rights.
Solution:
I discussed this worry that I had with my tutor, and we ultimately decided together that since this just an academic project and not an actual published magazine, I would be able to use images I found online, as long as I referenced the sources in which i found the images and included descriptions underneath them in my magazine. This eased my worries significantly, as I felt like I had more freedom and range when it cam to my design as I was not restricted by using a small handful of copy-wright free images which might not feel right for my magazine and the vibe I want to put out.
