Is Print Dead?

This is often a topic of discussion amongst designers and was raised in a recent post on the AIGA group of LinkedIn. 


I added my thoughts on the subject which went something like this...


Print is not dead. The notion that print is dead is baffling. We don't go to a store and buy items that are not packaged. Instead we choose the item with the better package design. Maybe there is a display involved with a header that showcases the advantages of that product and extends the brand message of the manufacturer. UX is not just for the web. Brand extension in print should not be ignored or forgotten. Do we not see billboards as we drive down the certain roads and highways? Do we not find direct mail pieces in our mailbox? I know it's hard, but imaging being away from your computer for a day or two or simply focused on what needs to get done on it and not being on the web. With that, the only chance a brand will have the opportunity to reach you is through print. In your mailbox, in a magazine, at the store and on the road. Oh yes, there is TV, that but for this example, let's assume that this person is a DVRaholic and fast forwards through all the commercials.

Another wonderful observation I had is this. In PRINT Magazine's Regional Design Issue, page 160, New York City, the winning projects are broken down by category. 7% of all the winners in NYC are in a category that includes Illustration, Infographics, Annual Reports, & Websites. That means more than 93% of the remaining winners are other forms of print!!!

And one final note. If your are ever in a situation that someone has done something nice for you and you want to thank them - use the most basic form of print. Write them a thank you note, put a stamp on it and mail it. It's a wonderful thing to get in the mail and is so much more personal and appreciated than an email.