The Future of Magazines
This conceptual video is a corporate collaborative research project initiated by Bonnier R&D into the experience of reading magazines on handheld digital devices. It illustrates one possible vision for digital magazines in the near future, presented by our design partners at BERG.
The concept aims to capture the essence of magazine reading, which people have been enjoying for decades: an engaging and unique reading experience in which high-quality writing and stunning imagery build up
immersive stories.
The concept uses the power of digital media to create a rich and meaningful experience, while maintaining the relaxed and curated features of printed magazines. It has been designed for a world in which interactivity, abundant information and unlimited options could be perceived as intrusive and overwhelming.
The purpose of publishing this concept video is first and foremost to spark a discussion around the digital reading experience in general, and digital reading platforms in particular. Thus, we would be more than happy to hear what you have to say regarding the concept and ideas expressed in the video: the magazine reading experience, digital browsing, text versus images, as well as hear about your own digital reading experiences and thoughts. We are all ears.
Follow the discussion in the Bonnier R&D Beta Lab:
http://www.bonnier.com/en/content/digital-magazines-bonnier-mag-prototype
For additional information, please contact Sara Öhrvall at sara [dot] ohrvall [at] bonnier [dot] se (+46 (0) 8 736 4009) or Pontus Schultz at pontus [dot] schultz [at] bonnier [dot] se
Photos and screenshots are available on Flickr at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bonnier_rd/sets/72157622918954909/
or downloadable in a zip-file here (23MB):
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/302248/Bonnier_MagPlus_HiRes_Photos.zip
All videos and photos from the Mag+ project are licenced under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike licence. This means you may use all the material, as long as you follow certain conditions.
Read more about the licence here: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en
Get a Job with the Help of AIGA
Here’s a free resource from the professional association for design, AIGA. Simply download the PDF here and you will have everything you need to know about résumés, portfolios, and interviews.
Not published? Why not?
I’ve found three services that can help you get your work out to the masses. Good for printing your first novel or portfolio, Blurb will print your masterpiece and mail it to your door step. It’s online platform lets you great your work by simply uploading your design files or choosing a template. This simple and easy service is almost foolproof.
Now, if you’re looking for a content management system (CMS) with a clean design and can handle the last two decades of your work, then Cargo Collective is your answer. This company has created a CMS specifically for the creative community. What set it apart is it’s networking feature, which allows you to follow other artists and explains the “collective” side of this company.
Getting published is great, but where’s the money? Lulu has this part covered. The online publisher will print and deliver your work just like Blurb, but they go a step further. Lulu offers clients an option to register an ISBN and will distribute your book internationally.
Instant Portfolio
Here’s the situation: you’re on board an American Airlines flight to London to Chicago to visit some friends. The passenger next to you opens up SkyMall and mentions the horrific layout and terrible font choices, you agree. This starts a discussion about some simple fixes the magazine could have made. It turns out that the passenger in seat C is actually an art director for a firm in Atlanta. This is it. It’s time to sell yourself, but you didn’t pack your portfolio!
Once solution is a smart little product by Memolio. They make pocket-size photo decks. There are a lot of uses for this product, but for the designer it can be a ticket to their dream job. You can upload any set of images, anywhere and Memolio will send you a deck of photos attached by a steel rivet.
This pocket album is a great way to share your work and comes with “Memolio Mini’s” (business cards) with a url where your images are hosted.
Custom Boardshorts
Here’s another great way to spend your heard earned dollar–custom designed boardshorts. Yes, that’s right. Shortomatic has been printing custom graphics on swimsuits for the last few years. The company will print any image you desire along with custom text and stitching.
Designing the Difference
Creatives at work
Finding creatives doing what they love the most is great motivation. This week we discovered three college students that are taking a business-minded approach to design. Their small start-up is literally weeks old. Daniel Meys, Myles Shank and Micheal Mutz are the driving force behind the “Design the Difference” machine.
This brand new online clothing company has a humanitarian heart. The project is currently growing on social networking sites like Facebook. The basic idea of Design the Difference uses customer ratings and feedback to choose which T-shirt designs should be printed. It involves both potential customers and graphic artists. The team will then print and sell the shirts for a profit and work with aid organizations to make a difference.
Finding Inspiration
By using social networking, Design the Difference can establish a strong connection with its customers and reach its target market at a personal level. This is also a new venue for graphic artists looking to get exposure. The overall feel of the organization is inspiring.
After laying out the initial plan one night at a local Starbucks, Mutz and his two partners started gathering resources. ”Since then we have simply been developing [the company] . . . and have initiated the first steps into making this dream a reality,” said Mutz, company president.
We asked Mutz about the purpose of this edgy T-shirt company:
“[It's] a unique company that strives to provide quality, relevant clothing by allowing other people to design the difference in the lives of orphans,” said Mutz. The team is paying specific attention to outreaches that work with orphans and children in need.
Creating Partnerships
Design the Difference is not an aid organization or non-profit. The company is focused on humanitarian causes, and will do so by partnering with existing non-profit organizations in the field. “We are looking for organizations that have a sound plan to run orphanages but need the initial money to build the facility. We want to change the lives of children in need all over the world by providing a place for them to live and learn in a safe environment,” said Mutz.
Setting Goals
The team is planning on relocating from Central Florida to a permanent facility in Colorado within the next five years. They also hope to begin impacting the lives of children through their partnerships with non-profits in the next three to four years.
Mutz and his team also emphasize their Christian faith and conviction for living a simple life. “We will be sure not to get caught up in collecting ‘things’ in this world, but live only with what we need in order to give back to the Kingdom,” said Mutz.
Plans for developing a brand with a variety of styles is also in the works. The company’s redesigned website should be live sometime in February. You can check rate the current T-shirt designs and pick your favorite graphic artist by joining the Design the Difference Facebook group. Or you can submit your own designs into the mix by e-mail.
