Practical Investigation

Investigation Questions

1.TECHNIQUE(s)

- Publication design. e.g. magazines and newspapers
- Traditional printing methods?

2.CONTENT

- content of my choice that allows me to fully convey my hypothesis.

3.COMMUNICATION / MESSAGE

- Print and digital media working as a hybrid

3.RESEARCH / ANALYSIS

- Explore how magazines nowadays survive in such a predominantly digital age.
- Look for how print and digital medias have been combined previously. Successful? why or why   not
- Look at apps that already exist. e.g. newspaper / magazine apps. Have they taken over the         print publication?

4.EXPLORATION / EVALUATION

- Different ways in which both methods and medias can be combined
- interactive print / images coming to life

5.TESTING

- Produce a few examples of how the concept can come together

Questions

- What is your research question?

Discuss the role of print media in the digital age

- Do you have a hypothesis?

Print media has to work in hybrid with digital media in order to survive and have a future.

- Contexts of my research

Previous magazines are seeing a downfall in reader numbers. This is due to the accessibility of information online. A lot of magazines are now turning to websites and smartphone apps as an alternative, leaving behind the production of printed publications.

- Sources of primary/Secondary research

- Online: magazine websites, blogs
- existing printed magazines that survive the shelves

- How will your practical work answer the research question

Whats the best solution for combining print and digital media so they can both survive and thrive along side one another as apposed to digital taking over completely.

- What methods of research, development, creative and test work

- Traditional print methods...
  - Printing Press
  - Screen Printing

- Editorial Design

- Smartphone Application design

The History of Print

Throughout history, print media has had a hugely influential role on human civilization in a variety of different ways. The earliest signs of printmaking were found in East Asia as early as 220 A.D using a technique called Woodblock printing. 

This printing method later spread all over the world, reaching Europe in the 1300s and was used for printing on cloth, mainly for religious purposes. 


Around the mid fifteenth century, Woodcut books with both text and imagery developed as a ‘cheaper alternative to manuscripts and books’. 

The next integral phase of development happened with the introduction of movable-type printing. Movable type involves using movable pieces of metal type, each made by casting from molds. This method allowed for more flexible processes and thus further developing the world of print.

 In 1440, Johannes Gutenberg developed the revolutionary invention of the world’s first Printing Press. This invention is seen as one of the most influential events of the second millennium as it piloted the ‘age of modernity’ or modern era. 

Compared to woodblock printing, movable type using a press was quicker and more durable. This process resulted in the birth of typography and fonts. 


Usage of the printing press spread rapidly through Europe up into the Renaissance period. With the ever-growing world of print came hundreds of other machines and methods that have all contributed to the role print media has in the society of today. This role of print has been ever shifting throughout human history and thus I will be exploring if print media still has its place in the digital age of the new millennium.