The future of printed publications

With the birth of the Kindle and the iPad the printing industry is starting to recede. Designers have adapted to technology and their viewers by creating sleek online publications that one can actually skim through as if they were looking at a printed piece. Nonpareil, one of my favorite blogs, hosts a fantastic e-magazine about crafty weddings. Style me pretty, another blog I follow just recently followed suit and created an e-glossy. I see publications really moving toward electronic media, and with technology quickly advancing there is little hope for the print industry.

The NounProject

 

You're designing a package for a product that is very fragile, you have to illustrate a fragile symbol for the box... save a little time and get that symbol to use as you please. Matter-of-fact you can find just about any symbol you might need with The Noun Project. This wonderful project collects and organizes symbols that form the world’s visual language. Developed by design collective Simple.Honest.Work, the symbols from The Noun Project can be freely used in your design work.

The Best Interactive of The Year!

Communication Arts Magazine announced the winners of the 2011 Interactive competition. Now in its 17th year, this competition has selected some very impressive projects. One of my absolute favorites is the promotional website of Grip Limited. The navigation is so smart and engaging. Its type heaven too!

The panel of five leading interactive media professionals spent ten weeks thoroughly reviewing this year’s entries.View a list of all of the 2011 Interactive Winners here.

Type Genius

I was checking out one of my daily online indulgences and came across this fantastic Type treatment over on RES72. If it doesn't make you hungry than you're not human.

The device that does it all now does even more.

Apple released the iPad 2 last week. According to Apple, the all new design is 33% thinner and up to 15% lighter making it even easier to hold and tote around. It boosts speeds that are two times faster and includes an extended battery life of up to 10hrs. The major addition of a second camera supports face time video calling so callers can view one another on either end. Apple made a wise choice with developing the smart cover for iPad 2. It uses magnetic technology in a light and thin design. The smart cover can be used as a stand and works with the iPad 2 so that it automatically sleeps and wakes when covered and uncovered. And apple pleases its audience with offering the smart cover in 10 bright colors. I would love to see Apple continue to develop smart covers and cases for their computers and phones. They should have been offering smart cases/covers years ago when the iPhone hit the market.

TIP: The iPad is a great tool for your buisiness. Just imagine presenting a consumer/client a new product with a glossy video at your fingertips. Or maybe you are presenting a new set of logos to your client and instead of printing and mocking them up you are sliding through an image library of electronic design boards. I believe that printed materials are quickly moving to the web and the iPad is taking that even further. Investing in one will definitely help grow your business and help you stand out even more than your competition.