Aug 5

I use to subscribe to lots of glossy, expensive design publications. Print, Communication Arts, How, Step by Step, etc. - but over the years, the internet has replaced these printed titles. As my subscriptions came due for renewal, I'd look at the stack of unread or quickly scanned magazines on my desk...and think, "do I really need to renew?"

 

It wasn't always a time issue

It's true, we all seem to be busier than we use to be, or maybe that's just me. But my pile of unread magazines wasn't due to my hectic schedule. Nope, it was because I already read much of the magazine's content online...or on my iPad. I suppose what's happening with my reading design publications is the same thing that happened to my attending design conferences. Years back my colleague and I would schedule vacations around the big Seybold shows or MacExpos. But gradually, throughout the 90s the internet usurped the show thunder and we stopped attending. 

The internet seems to be at it again. Since I scan design-related and news aggregate sites sporadically throughout the day I run across a lot of the material that would normally appear in my glossy design publications monthly. So my constant grazing of design-related information leaves the design publications unnecessary.

The iPad destroyer and savior of the design publication

Every evening I spend a little time reading blogs, websites, and Flipbook on my iPad. I'll navigate to several design websites or browse industry sites to keep up-to-date and to follow trends. It's become a ritual of sorts (I guess similar to my father reading his newspaper). So really, I still read and absorb the content being created by design publications but unfortunately for them I'm reading it for free - sans glossy design publication purchase.

 

I think the first design publication that makes itself available on the iPad for a reasonable subscription will get my dollars quickly. Though I must say, if I'm going to subscribe, the digital publication has to be available on multiple platforms. That is, I'll want to read on my iPad and on my iPhone and on my laptop. So I'd subscribe and then have the material available in whatever and on which ever device I want. Amazon has done this well with Kindle and the Kindle app. I can read a book on the iPad, continue reading on my iPhone, and later finish-up on my laptop. Design publications need to embrace a technology that allows this to happen...and that brings more interactivity and deeper, richer content into the mix.

 

But I guess until someone makes this happen, that is, finds the technology solution to distribute and augment the traditional design publication - changing it into a useful and compelling digital media - I'll continue to peruse and absorb my design news online in dribs and drabs. 

 

It still makes me wonder though...what glossy, printed design publications (if any) others are readying still? What design pub have your read lately?