Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Re: The Future of Publications Design
Whether or not to buy a tablet or stick with a bound book was really a struggle for me, and I feel like if you are truly a book lover, an avid reader, etc, then this is a perfectly normal struggle. You spend a lifetime walking back an forth through the isles of a library, touching every book, becoming distracted at the insane amount of titles and subjects, and you struggle with which one to choose, and you know that each book has the possibility to unlock something different for you.
Excuse me. I just had a nerdy book moment.
When I got older, and started commuting to work, I would carry 1 to 3 books in my ugly bag just in case I got bored of finished on the metro. Even when e-readers and tablets came out, I I was very resistant. I cried "NEVER!" when someone asked me if I would make the switch. Why would I want to get rid of my books and switch? That is insane.
Until my fiance bought me a kindle for a long trip to Italy. Then I realized it rocked my world because it was convenient. I had most titles I ever wanted at my fingertips and it almost made my desire to get lost in a story even stronger, and certainly easier. I did give away some books, but I will always keep my favorites in their physical form. They are a form of ritual for me. I think its the same way about newspapers and some magazines. Nothing can replace the ritual of newspaper at breakfast when you are home, or the lovely feeling of slick magazine pages. If you are truly a reader, then this will always be your preference. But what is great about the new technology is that it can spread that feeling to people who may not have been "readers" before, and in that way, its even more wonderful.
I think that perhaps it will change to all digital, but probably no time soon. I think that the love for the physical form of publication is still to strong for people to do away with it in its entirety and the technology is also not available to everyone. I also think that people see what happened with things like records, etc, and they don't want the same fate for print publication.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
re:The Future of Publications Design
Timely topic for me... just got Nooks for my daughters.
I was trained as a print designer (ask me some day about copyfitting, typesetting, galleys, amberlith, waxers, etc. You guys don't know what "fun" you missed.) I constantly hear new media of all types "will never completely replace the printed page." Sad as I am to say it, I totally disagree.
Whatever might be said for the aesthetics of printed materials, I think we have to assume that paper and ink will virtually be gone eventually. I agree that the enjoyment from reading a tablet can't compare to that of holding a book, feeling the paper, and the whole tactile experience. But digital printing can't compare to offset, offset can't compare to letterpress, letterpress can't compare to calligraphic illuminated manuscripts, etc. There's more intrinsically to be appreciated with an LP and its packaging than a CD, and more with a CD than a download (more with a download than a stream?). It's a lot nicer to walk into a Barnes & Noble and browse the shelves than to search online for titles or authors... but how practical in comparison?
It gets back to the whole "form follows function" concept. The utility of the tablet guarantees the ultimate demise of printed materials. Portability, cross-media accessibility, storage capacity, "greenness" and everything else are going to trump any aesthetic pleasures that we may experience by holding something in our hands, feeling the texture, smelling the ink, or whatever. The fact is that we all are going to develop new aesthetic sensibilities for each next media "thing" as it comes along. The need for efficiency and practicality necessitates it.
I was trained as a print designer (ask me some day about copyfitting, typesetting, galleys, amberlith, waxers, etc. You guys don't know what "fun" you missed.) I constantly hear new media of all types "will never completely replace the printed page." Sad as I am to say it, I totally disagree.
Whatever might be said for the aesthetics of printed materials, I think we have to assume that paper and ink will virtually be gone eventually. I agree that the enjoyment from reading a tablet can't compare to that of holding a book, feeling the paper, and the whole tactile experience. But digital printing can't compare to offset, offset can't compare to letterpress, letterpress can't compare to calligraphic illuminated manuscripts, etc. There's more intrinsically to be appreciated with an LP and its packaging than a CD, and more with a CD than a download (more with a download than a stream?). It's a lot nicer to walk into a Barnes & Noble and browse the shelves than to search online for titles or authors... but how practical in comparison?
It gets back to the whole "form follows function" concept. The utility of the tablet guarantees the ultimate demise of printed materials. Portability, cross-media accessibility, storage capacity, "greenness" and everything else are going to trump any aesthetic pleasures that we may experience by holding something in our hands, feeling the texture, smelling the ink, or whatever. The fact is that we all are going to develop new aesthetic sensibilities for each next media "thing" as it comes along. The need for efficiency and practicality necessitates it.
Re: The Future of Publications Design
As a designer who has almost only worked with print over the last 5 years, I am a bit intimidated by the digital direction that publications are headed. A large part of my entering the Pub Design program at UB is to become more comfortable with the digital world and get some web classes under my belt. That being said, I'm excited to explore modern, digital ways of sharing information and realize the importance of being able to adapt as a designer. Also, I think that while most designers can appreciate holding a print, and touching the paper and dried ink, most of the general audience isn't going to miss that aspect. People want what they want, and in an instant!
future of publications design
I, too, love the way it feels to turn a page in an actual, real-life book. But I think it'll be incredibly interesting to see how publications evolve in the digital world. At first, I felt pretty pissed off about it, but now, I'm curious to see what kinds of interesting things we'll be able to do with books. They can take on more of a game-like quality, or they can have interactive illustrations, or you can even do something as simple as looking up the meaning of a word or a reference made in the book easily. The one thing that I hope develops is the technology for making reading on these devices easier. Kindle did it for a little while but then everyone wanted their reading device to be like an iPad so now everything is back to bright screens. I really hate looking at screens for the entire day. I don't want to look at a screen before I fall asleep.
There's a really interesting chapter in A Visit from the Goon Squad, where the whole thing is written in presentation-flow chart form. It's a chapter that is set in the future and it is the "writing" of a teenager who does all of her papers for school this way. But the flowcharts are instead about her life at home with her parents and her brother. An amazing amount of subtext can be read into each little chart. It's much more engaging than you think it will be. When I read it, I was thinking how kind of depressing it was that some form of this could be the future of literature, but then I was also so engaged by it, that, at least temporarily, it didn't seem so bad.
There's a really interesting chapter in A Visit from the Goon Squad, where the whole thing is written in presentation-flow chart form. It's a chapter that is set in the future and it is the "writing" of a teenager who does all of her papers for school this way. But the flowcharts are instead about her life at home with her parents and her brother. An amazing amount of subtext can be read into each little chart. It's much more engaging than you think it will be. When I read it, I was thinking how kind of depressing it was that some form of this could be the future of literature, but then I was also so engaged by it, that, at least temporarily, it didn't seem so bad.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Re: The future of Publications Design
I absolutely am looking forward to the future of Publications Design, because it is forever being evolved into something faster, more convenient, and enjoyable.
Like Elizabeth stated that she is in favor of turning the pages of a publication rather than reading it digitally, so am I. I experience this every time I am on my iPad looking at a publication, I always feel like I kind of want to be turning pages, but "turning the pages" digitally is a lot more interesting.
As far as publications being digital and in print I feel that it is great to have the option to choose. Having that option actually broadens the publications audience because those that do not like to collect magazines and think its a waste of paper just might actually go download a version of a publication if it is available. I say everyone should just have an open mind about the future of Publications Design, those that like it will enjoy it and those that don't as long as they don't emit the original way will be happy as well.
Like Elizabeth stated that she is in favor of turning the pages of a publication rather than reading it digitally, so am I. I experience this every time I am on my iPad looking at a publication, I always feel like I kind of want to be turning pages, but "turning the pages" digitally is a lot more interesting.
As far as publications being digital and in print I feel that it is great to have the option to choose. Having that option actually broadens the publications audience because those that do not like to collect magazines and think its a waste of paper just might actually go download a version of a publication if it is available. I say everyone should just have an open mind about the future of Publications Design, those that like it will enjoy it and those that don't as long as they don't emit the original way will be happy as well.
Re: The future of Publications Design
I am not sure if this is the blog we are supposed to talk about this week but anyways...
I have to agree with Rebecca when she spoke about some publications only having digital formatting first and then going to print if it was successful/popular. The digital world is scary for some writers though, because their thoughts and publications can spill out into the world before they are even ready. I have read several reports of books spilling out before the final edits are done. But that just coincides with the era we live in today.
Although I am a favorite of the feel of tethered pages in between my fingers and the smell of paper, digital books often are cheaper and more convenient.
I have to agree with Rebecca when she spoke about some publications only having digital formatting first and then going to print if it was successful/popular. The digital world is scary for some writers though, because their thoughts and publications can spill out into the world before they are even ready. I have read several reports of books spilling out before the final edits are done. But that just coincides with the era we live in today.
Although I am a favorite of the feel of tethered pages in between my fingers and the smell of paper, digital books often are cheaper and more convenient.
Re: The Future of Publication Design
When reading this post, one thing that stuck out to me was the sentence that most publications have both digital and print versions. While this is definitely still true, things have already started to turn toward digital only. I have read several e-books recently that include a paragraph at the end that makes it clear they are only in e-book format or that the digital version appeared first and the book was only published in print after it proved to be popular. Publishing books in digital format especially makes sense for new authors because it allows publishers to put out their books at a lower cost, which equals a smaller risk.
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