http://www.editorsweblog.org/analysis/2009/11/a_portuguese_success_story_could_i_be_th.php
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Print, A Dying Medium
While walking pass Barnes and Noble this morning, I couldn't help but sigh as I read all of the "Going out of business: Everything must go" signs. When I was younger, I was excited to visit the library or the bookstore. Therefore, It makes sense that I still prefer hard copy books rather than just accessing the material on the net. I started to think about the future of mass produced design material, newspapers, advertisements. However, I soon realized that this is only the beginning. Technology is excelling at a very rapid speed. I fret that future generations won't have the privilege of reading a good book in hand; all they will have to do is search it and maybe listen to the already recorded voice coming out of the computer speakers. As designers, shouldn't we fight to save print? I read an article about how a Portugal newspaper named i started to sell more print than ever before, due to there collaboration of innovative tactics to improve the paper's readability. Nick Mrozowski, i's American art director, states that "From a design perspective it's a little intense," Mrozowski said. The design team are challenged to find magazine-quality visual solutions every day. For example, unlike most daily newspapers, i strives to include high quality portrait photography rather than just that for events, which means finding the time to sit down with sources. The paper also has a lot of illustration, something which many newspapers have been cutting back on in recent months, Mrozowski pointed out. "I think people notice this," he said. "You can't go a day reading i without coming across at least one commissioned illustration, rather than just back art." However, still print in the U.S., in my opinion, is on its way out the door.
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I agree with you that sadly, yes, print and books are slowly in decline. The rapid growing popularity of the Kindle, the Nook, and the IPad is competing with books. For one, they are easier to carry, particularly when traveling on the train, bus, plane, etc. so I see the appeal. However, I still think that nothing beats a good book!
ReplyDeleteI have always preferred having a physical copy of a book to read and to be able to actually flip pages through. We should definitely fight to keep print in business, it's an important part of the design and things in print always have a different connotation than something on a monitor. I'm glad to see that there are communities that appreciate the use of print as opposed to digital copies, and more and more are highlighting the use of photography and illustrations in relation to their written events.
ReplyDeleteI feel books might be dying off, but not magazines.
ReplyDeleteThey can eliminate print when they pry it from my cold, dead hands.
ReplyDeleteWhat Tony said, hardcore.
ReplyDeletehah! third to what tony said!
ReplyDeleteI actually have been seeing an advertisement currently in People Magazine and a few others that states that although many sources of media in print are struggeling to compete with the web that magazines are definetly still circulationg strongly!
The ad also states that a reader is more likely to spend a longer time reading a print magazine, have a stronger sense of concentration on the material versus reading info off the web! I will most defilety try to find this and scan it in...perhaps for a later blogger post.
Sadly with inventions like the kindle and internet, print is becoming more obsolete. I do agree that magazines are not going away anytime soon, but I feel that it is important for us to still have books and be able to physically hold something in our hands and be able to turn pages NOT scroll down on the computer!
ReplyDeleteIt's good to hear there's somebody, somewhere fighting for print. It makes me feel old whenever I express this sentiment, but I'm sick of everything having to be on a screen in order to access. I know it's a speed/convenience driven thing, but it sometimes feels like there's some evil conspiracy to leash us to computers for literally every waking moment.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of the Magazines - The Power of Print advertisements.
ReplyDeletehttp://advontemedia.com/wp-content/designuploads/power-of-print-magazines-ad2-e1267886137215.jpg
Unfortunately, while many people want bookstores to stay in business, many of us enjoy the convenience of digital media (and even Amazon is killing B&N and Borders and we all love Amazon!)
Can we all get together and have a ceremony if Print dies? I'll bring the tissues*
ReplyDelete*from Costco
I definitely agree with you! It is sad to see that bookstores like Borders and Barnes and Noble are closing for good. But, it also shows that our society is moving forward in advancing with the times of technology. It is assumed that the majority of society have computers and access to the Internet so the fact that more people are inclined to reading online makes it seem that its logical to close bookstores, which is wrong in my opinion but that's life...it is what it is.
ReplyDeleteI personally don't like to read books/articles on the internet. It is much easier to focus when there is a hard copy in my hand, I wonder if that is because our generation popped up while print was dying, while future generations might think the concept of holding a printed document is as ridiculous as if we held stone tablets to read.
ReplyDeleteI fourth what Tony said! However, I admit I do own a Kindle and while I love it, I also love holding books. If I'm at home I'll read the actual book, but if I'm on the train I prefer the Kindle. I also think magazines are not dying, but I think that there might to many of those that they will definitely keep print alive.
ReplyDeleteI also saw that sign at the borders by my house its so sad, I love print. I'm not one of those people who can read on a computer or nook or anything of the sort. I'm not sure if it will ever completely die but they are for sure cutting down the amounts printed.
ReplyDeleteI fifth Tony! I will always gladly pay for books and printed work. I get the NYT delivered on weekends and have difficulty reading online. My eyes hurt looking at the computer- I spend as much time away from it as I can. I could write a book on this subject, but I think we are all in agreement on the subject.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I agree print may be on it's way out. But with it's slow departure, new doors will open!
ReplyDelete