if you were to do a design project on "the death of print" and keeping people in touch with print, what would you create? what would be the concept and aesthetic?

Anonymous

Thanks for this question. I don’t get many questions so appreciate it, it’s also a fairly challenging one…

To be honest, I can’t really come straight out and say what I’d create or what the concept would be. I’d need to start be exploring the thoughts that come in to my head and seeing where they take. And do my research.

I think it’s hard not to immediately consider the ‘death of print’ in terms of what’s happening to major mass media - newspaper, magazines etc. It’s the obvious place to start, but then so huge that I think to avoid it would be short sighted, lack relevance and look like a deliberate avoidance.

I guess the subsequent, re-birth of more small print run magazines; whether that’s specialist, hand made, high concept, lo-fi, diy, zines, art, comics. ‘Boutique’ (hate that word) Publishing. I’d start by looking in to what’s happening and being produced in those realms, try to gain some understanding and inspiration.

It is probably most interesting to me to look at that contrast; as one level of print media is hit hard, another set of people are reconsidering their approach to it and how it should actually be produced and made. By changing attitude, ideas and working practices, the actual purpose of print / print media is confronted and questioned. What and who is the audience, how large is it, how is it distributed, is it sold and bought or displayed and exhibited, is it ‘throw-away’ or something more, is it disposable or an art work, ephemeral or permanent? I think these things and other potential changes or even subversions surrounding print as a genre are what I hope would give me some ideas.

Personally I love seeing a lot of industry / creative industry going in the opposite direction to the mass-produced, mass market approaches. Individual projects in print media deliberately going in the opposite direction to what we’re used to - small scale, high cost, high time, super considered input etc, subject matter that isn’t so ephemeral. I equally like it in other areas, whether it’s growing your own food, making your own furniture, fixing and repairing things, cottage industry, home businesses, garment making, tailoring. It’s all a reattachment and re-engagement. More human and more satisfying.

I guess everything I’m saying is in some way about building community.

ps. I have no idea if where I’ve gone is relevant to your question now! And if you meant print as in printmaking, or fabric print or design, let me know. I can at least attempt to answer randomly on that too.