There has been a steady circulation of stories about the declining state of the newspaper, whose death has been predicted for some time. National Buy A Newspaper Day took place this past February 2. Its cause reads like a manifesto:
“The fact of the matter is that the biggest chains are deeply in debt. Major cities that have had at least two daily newspapers for more than a century, such as Chicago and Seattle, might soon find themselves with only one source of news. Other papers, such as those in Detroit are no longer providing daily home delivery. If things get really bad, some experts say that some small towns might not have any paper by 2010.”
The last line testifies to a recent news radio story whose title posed a welcoming prospect to some, but a harsh one to others: Imagining A City Without Its Daily Newspaper. Most of my news comes from the radio and the web, but another source comes from my Parents, who share a story or a piece of commentary that they’ve read from the local newspaper. Many news sites are brimming with information, dynamic and compact, but they do not constitute a broadsheet.
On many occasions I’ve watched my parents spread a newspaper across a tabletop or using both hands to read it upright—a signal that the daily exercise of a vigorous read had begun. They literally immersed themselves into the visual composition of the news that the broadsheet afforded. Toggling and scanning above and below the fold, from story to story and page to page with ease. Dealing with newspapers is like unfolding a map.
The evolution of newspapers will ultimately find its way. There’s recognition in newspaper designer Jacek Utko’s successful bottom-up drive, with small teams and minimal resources, to convert a struggling medium into a mainstay that sticks to readers. The exploration of intersecting newspapers and blogs is also worth highlighting and proves promising. Let’s hope the newspaper’s evolution doesn’t result in a lost format.
April 26, 2009
April 21, 2009
Four Brothers, Webapp Style
Viewbook allows people to easily create and share image galleries and portfolios. But the most important feature, to me, is that it’s a family labor of love. Four brothers—Rien, Alrik, Paul and Rudin Swagerman—engage many aspects of their product’s life: web development, marketing, interface and interactive design, business strategy. When I was in design school, I was encouraged by the belief that a first wave of work experience should be pursued with family members. And this remains good advice.
To kick it up a notch, family members can also be work partners, as Viewbook demonstrates. It’s worth noting that their Viewbook collaboration was born from identifying missing elements in their work. Not easy to do, but such insight can lead to innovative creations. Family members can be the toughest clients. I assume that the four brothers of Viewbook demand a lot from each other in striving for quality in everything that they do. But it’s all in the family.
April 13, 2009
Favorite Design-Related Tweeters by Grain Edit
Dave Cuzner, the blogger behind Grain Edit, participated in the Blogger’s Quest(ionnaire). He created a useful list of designers and design groups that rely on Twitter to get their messages heard—including Design Feast. Big thanks to The Grain Editors Dave, Ethan and Grace for the list and listing!
Having recently joined Twitter to complement Design Feast, I find it fascinating to discover the incredible range of diverse design content, creative voices and projects. Follow Design Feast for almost-daily design snacking.
In The Grain Editors’ words, “Get your tweet on!”
How 37signals’ Backpack Made Me Like Gmail
You don’t have to be a girl to enjoy The Geek Girls Guide, created by Nancy Lyons and Meghan Wilker. I was thrilled to contribute an article for the blogging duo. My first contribution is about my use of the webapp Backpack, which greatly helped simplify my inbox. Big thanks to the Geek Girls Nancy and Meghan for the writing opportunity, and at the same time, making use of Backpack. Enjoy the article.
April 2, 2009
Blogger’s Quest(ionnaire): The Geek Girls Nancy Lyons and Meghan Wilker
The Blogger’s Quest(ionnaire) is a Design Feast initiative. In contrast to the Designer’s Quest(ionnaire), the focus here is on those engaged in the blog medium—why they do it and what tools they use. This third installment features Nancy Lyons (left) and Meghan Wilker (right) of Clockwork Active Media Systems in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They created the Geek Girls Guide, dedicated to their perspective on the interactive industry. Their mission: demystifying technology for women. Their perspective on blog creation and maintenance may ease your entrance into the blogosphere or your current work in it:
Why did you create a Website of regular entries?
Because we regularly have something to say. Because the conversation is evolving. Because we wanted to be regular contributors to that conversation.
What Web-based solution did you select and why?
We use the Clockwork Active Media Systems’ blogging tool, the Active Blogging Engine (affectionately known as ABE). On our personal blogs, or when guest blogging for other sites, we’ve also used Blogger, Movable Type and Wordpress.
What is your definition of a good blog
and what are three good blogs that you frequently visit?
[Meghan:] A good blog is just plain interesting. Here’s a random selection of blogs I like: Typesites, Retro Renovation, The Future of the Internet, Baby Names Blog. [Nancy:] I am all over the place. These are top of mind at the moment: Lifehacker, The Huffington Post, Minn Post, dooce, Engadget.
How do you create content for your blog?
Usually late at night, some idea strikes us (or, more accurately, some situation totally pisses us off) and one of us whips up a post. Or, someone might email us a question about how something works, or why they should use some bit of technology and one of us responds to it. We’ve tried to be organized and have an ‘editorial calendar’ but the truth is that it’s more organic than that. Something moves us, and we write.
How do you stay organized and motivated
to contribute to your blog?
Doing the blog together is a little bit like having a workout buddy; just knowing there’s another person involved motivates you. We’ve got a long list of topic ideas that we add to whenever ideas strike us. So, if we don’t have an immediate inspiration, we can consult that list and choose from there.
For those aspiring to make a Website composed of
regular thoughts and/or images, what is your advice?
First of all, just do it. There’s no good reason not to: the technology is accessible and free. So if you’ve got thoughts, there’s nothing stopping you from publishing them. Second, be original. Try to find something new to add to the conversation. Don’t just repeat/link to what everyone else is saying.
What is your quest in blogging?
We’re trying to start a movement, baby! We got sick of hearing women play dumb about tech, or be afraid to apply for tech jobs, or leave the tech stuff for their husbands. We want to create a safe place to ask and answer questions, explore new tech and gadgetry and connect with smart women everywhere.
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Photograph courtesy of The Geek Girls.
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Read more of the Design Feast series Blogger’s Quest(ionnaire).
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