Thad McIlroy - The Future of Publishing

It's perhaps an indicator of the anarchic creativity of the graphic design profession that an earlier version of this article appears first in a Google search for "future of graphic design." There are so many great minds (I'm not including my own!) thinking so many disparate thoughts, that the journey towards formulating your own opinion can be a long one. Here are a few leads:

1. I'm always a little leery of referencing graphic designers as a source of commentary on where graphic design is headed - we usually don't see eye-to-eye, to say the least - but I very much respect the AIGA, the most important professional association of designers based in the U.S. As the association's Web site points out:

"AIGA's mission is to advance designing as a professional craft, strategic tool and vital cultural force.

"AIGA, the professional association for design, is the premier place for design-to discover it, discuss it, understand it, appreciate it, be inspired by it. It is the place designers turn to first to exchange ideas and information, participate in critical analysis, and research and advance education and ethical practices. AIGA sets the national agenda for the role of design in its economic, social, political, cultural and creative contexts.

"Founded in 1914, AIGA remains the oldest and largest professional membership organization for design. AIGA now represents more than 22,000 design professionals, educators and students through national activities and local programs developed by 64 chapters and 240 student groups."

This Web site offers many riches.

2. Why Design?

Published by the AIGA, undated:

(http://www.aiga.org/resources/content/3/6/1/0/documents/aiga_designingprocess.pdf)

This promotional brochure from the AIGA offers an intelligent analysis of the process by which design is created.

3. The Top Ten Web Design Mistakes of 1999

By Jakob Nielsen (http://www.useit.com/alertbox/990530.html)

OK, it's from 1999, but it's a very good introduction to Nielsen's worldview on Web design. I could recommend dozens of his articles. Why not start here?

4. About InfoDesign: Understanding by Design

(http://www.informationdesign.org/)

"InfoDesign: Understanding by Design" supports the growth and application of information design. Information design helps people and organizations achieve understanding through the creation of relevant, clear and memorable information.

"InfoDesign: Understanding by Design" is dedicated to the growth and improvement of the information and experience industries through the provision of a centralized online resource that serves all interested audiences. Launched in 2004, the site will continually evolve to meet the needs and desires of its participants. "InfoDesign: Understanding by Design" is a non-profit informational resource."

5. Information Architecture Tutorial

By John Shiple, undated, published by WebMonkey (http://www.webmonkey.com/design/site_building/tutorials/tutorial1.html)

As the introduction reveals: "Information architecture is the science of figuring out what you want your site to do and then constructing a blueprint before you dive in and put the thing together."

6. Typography and the Aging Eye: Typeface Legibility for Older Viewers with Vision Problems

by Paul Nini, January 23, 2006, published by Voice: AIGA Journal of Design

(http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/typography-and-the-aging-eye - the illustrations associated with the article are available at this URL.)

The author points to a well-documented problem, usually seen in the context of health care rather than publishing: "The population is rapidly aging and becoming a larger share of the marketplace. 13 percent of the population is currently over 65 years old. In 30 years that group will double to 66 million people." While Professor Nini is more focused on signage than publications, he correctly points out that: "Typographic designers must undertake a more comprehensive study of this subject and develop typefaces that work well with the common vision problems of the aging population."