Week 12 - the final online lecture and discussion.

Hi everyone. Well the final week of semester has finally rolled around. Actually for me it has flown by really fast this time. 

The final lecture of this elective examines recent trents in publication design and the platforms that are driving the changes in both print and online. 

This final lecture considers all that we’ve covered in the course in the context of current trends that suggest the shape of publishing in the future. The term ‘trend’ itself has long been used as a somewhat derogatory descriptor associated with those who might otherwise be called "early adopters. Reflecting the nature of the content, the lecture is a series of examples, small ‘chunks’ of information and observations assembled from the ever shifting plethora of information, speculation and hyperbole available on the topic of how the publishing industry, the design industry and all other industries are being changed by the rapid evolutions of new technologies...perhaps Marshall McLuhan got it right when he said that human beings are simply the sex organs of technology. 

The discussion points posted as response to last week's lecture are particularly strong in highlighting typical and crucial areas for consideration as we participate or manage design publishing workflows. The group's posts reveal the importance of not simply seeing the designer's role as a purely conceptual and 'creative' one - although undoubtedly these are importnat drivers of the process.

It is fundamentally important that you are able to realise your design vision by understanding the various processes required. This is ordinarily complex in itself but as the lecture this week reveals we occupy a shifting terrain where new technologies and channels of communication are radically transforming publishing and the designer role in contemporary communications.

There is a final discussion point to respond to as follows:

Studio Research and Discussion: Discussion Point: New technologies and global networks are rapidly transforming publishing models and typographic practices. Does this mean the end of print? Why/Why not? Provide evidence/examples to support your views. Post your response to the Studio Blog. Write a 300-word (max) reflection on the course and post to the blog.

With a view to whetting your appetite for this small research task here are this weeks links out ... Clearly one of the fastest moving areas of publishing is in the e-book arena. If you haven't already done so please do begin to familiarise yourself with the potential offered to you as even an individual designer by Apple's new publishing technologies :

Apple iBooks Author offers a very powerful design and publishing model and platform.

The second link out is an article on self - publishing in the prominent UK newspaper The Guardian. Do remember to read the comments which contain some interesting insights and debate that augment the article well. Speaking of self-publishing - have you ever wished you had your own newspaper? Well if you have a twitter feed for example you can - here's mine ... Have a great week!