Our generation has been able to grow up in a world that embraces both print and digital formats of design and consumerism, but we seem to be leaning towards turning everything digital as technology improves. Print is a broad term that encompasses different types of physical design and copy. Some obvious examples include posters, magazines, newspapers, and branding labels. With these examples also come their digital counterparts: electronic screens, smartphones, tablets and e-book readers. With more and more people using the latter every day, curiosity permits us to ask one question: Is Print Dead? To properly determine this, we should to cover as many plausible aspects of print and digital formats respectively.
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Posters, Billboards VS. Screens (LED, LCD, Electronic Billboards)
Print production for each poster and billboard is necessary and may not be cost efficient. Theoretically, a solution to this is constructing LED screens or electronic billboards to replace every print poster or billboards. The production for each screen may have initial costs, but further production would no longer be necessary for future content. Images on the screens can be swapped at any time and with little effort, creating more efficient process in the long run. The only drawback is the cost of the power used to run the screens, which is a neutral compromise when compared to the consumption of resources like trees, ink, and manual labour (for maintenance)in traditional print. Is print dead here? Perhaps in the near future, but it may be too early to tell since our generation is still very accustomed to printed posters and billboards for its manual simplicity and not have every city look like Times Square.
Verdict: UNKNOWN
ENTERTAINMENT
Newspapers, Magazines, Books VS. Smartphones, Tablets, E-Book Readers
Like previously mentioned, production is constantly necessary for each newspaper, magazine, and book; whereas the production for smartphones, tablets and e-book readers are limited only to the necessary amount of consumer needs. Smartphones, tablets, and e-book readers are constantly being produced in different sizes, ranging from 5 inches or less to 10 inches or more, which provide options for every preference. Content for these electronic devices are limitless, providing a large variety of content to purchase or download with endless file sharing and data transfer. However; as convenient as this is, they are unable to mimic the tactile experience of flipping through pages of actual print. With traditional print, people are capable of owning a physical collection of magazines/books, and displaying their purchases. Is print dead here? The choice is up to the consumer, depending on whether they appreciate productivity or authenticity.
Verdict: PREFERENCE
MERCHANDISE
Clothing Prints, Packaging, Labels VS. Nothing
Print is always present and a necessity in product consumerism. Prints on clothing are constantly being produced and packaged, which are all part of a product’s branding and can never be replaced. Labels, such as clothing tags and stickers, are an essential part of branding in order to distinguish a company from another, aside from product quality. There is no digital equivalent and even though the idea of electronic labels may sound cool, it is impractical. We can safely assume that there would be no reason to make advancements digitally in the near future. Is print dead here? Obviously not.
Verdict: NO
From the comparison of three different types of print categories and their digital counterparts, we can conclude that there is no one answer. Print is too broad of a term and in a world that uses both print and digital formats in our every day lives, it’s too early to determine whether one will dominant over the other. For the sake of this argument and based off our comparisons, we have two neutral verdicts and one ‘no’. Therefore, print is not dead, so we can put our curiosity to rest. For now, anyway.
Check out my Print Vs. Digital INFOGRAPHIC here
STILL EDITING THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ~K
Our generation has been able to grow up in a world that embraces both print and digital formats of design and consumerism, but with the advance in technology, we seem to possibly be leaning towards making everything digital. The same may or may not be the same for future generations as we look at the beginning of print extinction. Print is a broad term that encompasses different types of physical design and copy. Some obvious examples include posters, magazines, newspapers and labels. With these examples also come their digital counterparts: electronic screens, devices such as smartphones, tablets and e-books, as well as websites. With that said, curiosity permits us to ask one question: Is Print Dead? To properly determine this, we should to cover as many aspects of print and digital formats respectively.
ADVERTISEMENTS
Billboards, Posters, Banners VS. Electronic Billboards & LED/LCD Screens
Production is necessary for each single billboard and poster, making it an unlimited amount needed in terms of cost. Economically, this is poor in terms of cost efficiency and paper waste. The solution to this is constructing electronic billboards and/or LED/LCD screens. The production for each screen would assumed to be costly, but extra production would no longer be necessary for each content as you could switch the image on the screen at any moment, therefore more efficient in the long run. The only drawback is that it requires electricity to run on, which is a small compromise. Is print dead here? Perhaps in the near future, but our generation are still accustomed to actual billboards and posters for its simplicity and not have every city look like Times Square.
Verdict: UNKNOWN
NEWS/ENTERTAINMENT
Newspapers, Magazines, Books VS. Websites, Tablets, E-Books
Like previously mentioned, production is constantly necessary for each newspaper, magazine, and book, whereas the production for tablets and e-book readers are limited only to the necessary amount of consumer needs. Tablets, and e-books are constantly being produced in different sizes ranging from 7 inches or less to 10 inches or more which provides options for preference. Content for these electronic devices are limitless, providing large variety of content to purchase or download with endless file sharing and data transfer. However, this does not take the authenticity away from a print source of news and entertainment, simply because of its tactile feel of flipping through pages and the capability to have a physical collection of books or magazines. Is print dead here? The choice is up to the consumer, depending on whether they appreciate productivity to authenticity.
Verdict: PREFERENCE
PRODUCT LABELS
Clothing, Packaging, Labels VS. Nothing
Print is very present and a necessity in product consumerism. Clothing prints is constantly being produced as well as its packaging and labels. Boxes, cans, stickers, etc. are all part of a product’s branding and print can almost never be replaced here. Branding is an essential part of consumerism in order to distinguish a company from another, aside from product quality. There is no digital equivalent unless we somehow manage to create digital labels that require a constant source of energy to light up. But that would be impractical. Is print dead here? Obviously not.
Verdict: NO
From the comparison with three different types of print categories with their digital counterparts, we can conclude that there is no one answer. Print is also too much of a broad term to consider and in a world that grasps the print and digital world equally, it’s too early to determine whether one will dominant over the other. But for the sake of this argument, and based off our comparisons, we have two neutral verdicts and one ‘no’. Therefore, print is not dead, so we can put our curiosity to rest. For now, anyway.
