The Future of Publications Design

A graphic design topic that I have been thinking about is how social media and e-readers affect the future of  publications design. Most current books and magazines have both an online version and a printed version. I imagine a future where old-fashioned books will become a novelty, much like records. While instant downloads are a godsend, there is something special about a tangible item that can be passed on to a friend, signed by the author, hung on a wall, displayed on a shelf or stacked on the floor. Consumers used to be limited by what was on display at their local retailers. Now, with online stores, you can find most anything and if you search for or view one item, suddenly multitudes of similar titles and genres appear. An oversaturation of information can sway your attention elsewhere.

 

With e-readers, consumers who may have been hesitant to be seen purchasing or reading certain publications can now indulge with one click of a button. Instead of picking up a book or magazine, looking at the back and cover, and possibly flipping through the pages before deciding to read it - now the decision to buy it is more based upon recent trends and amateur online reviews. Or maybe, a celebrity tweets that they are reading a specific book or at a photo shoot for an upcoming magazine article. One could argue that this now pulls in more readers than a bookstore display, well-designed cover, compelling article or loyalty to a writer ever could. My discussion topic for the class is how do you see publications changing in the future and do you know of any examples of successful transition from print to digital? An example would be a newspaper that survives through interactive media or an invitation designer who supplements traditional cardstock with matching event websites.