COP3 Overview

Question:
Is there a future for traditional printing methods in this digital dominate world?

Overview:
Print is a big interest to me, and because of this I will be continuing my level 5 topic “How the Digital Dominate World has an Impact on Printed Publications and their Future”, but this time discussing how the digital world has an impact on the other side of print, the more traditional printmaking methods, such as screen printing, printing press, letterpress etc. Similar to in the previous topic (level 5) I will look if the rise of digital design has had a negative effect on traditional printmaking and its future.

Research:
· The digital revolution
· Tradition printing methods; Printing press, screen-printing, letterpress, lithography, monoprint.
· History of print
· I will undergo primary research by actually trying new printing methods and experimenting with screen-printing etc (book cover project for extended practice)
· Looking at both digital and print-based artists.

Artists/designers to look at:
· April Greiman, Bitmap graphics artist
· Dan Mather, screen printer

Studios to question/interview:
· People of print
· 9th letterpress
· In haus press
· The weekend press
· The aerialist press
· Honey and bloom
· Print club London
· French Fourch
· Re:Surgo
· Side effects
· The counter press
· Yellow Owl Workshop

Practical work:
I currently want to make a handmade book showing multiple traditional methods. But this could change as I write the essay.

Books:
· Print is dead by Jeff Gomez
· Adventures in Letterpress by Brandon Mise
· Printmaking: A Complete Guide to Materials and Processes by Beth Grabowski
· Low-Tech Print: Contemporary Hand-Made Printing by Caspar Williamson
· Pulled: A Catalog of Screen Printing by Mike Perry
· Print Liberation: The Screen Printing Primer by Nick Paparone
· Print Vs. Digital: The Future of Coexistence by Sul H. Lee
· Computer Generation, how designers view today's technology. Germany by Supon Design Group

Possible Problems:
· Trying to make it different from the previous essay
· Getting a response from people and studios.

Quotes:
· “A blank piece of paper and a computer screen when it is off have something in common: both are empty, devoid on content, ripe with possibility. A myriad of things could cover each; words, number, pictures, philosophy, comedy, tragedy. The possibilities are endless. But while you can only fit so much into one piece of paper (only so many words and so many numbers no matter how small you write), a computer screen can be an inexhaustible source of endless information. A computer screen is a gateway forever replenishing itself by either scrolling or replacing old information new.” Print is dead, Jeff Gomez.

· “A society that used to communicate via the postal service, expecting someone to respond to a letter in the number of days, now expect a response to an email is a matter of seconds.” – Jeff Gomez, print is dead pg 4.

· “Print designers should be around for a long time. If your legs haven’t atrophied from too much Facebook, take a walk outside in any city in the world. You’ll see signs, billboards, magazines, newspapers, bus stop ads and countless other real, physical objects that all have to be designed and, therefore, represent meaningful work for lots of people. Print designers won’t become extinct in my lifetime.” – Joshua Johnson, are print designers doomed?

· “Just as the Industrial Revolution was driven by combining the steam engine with ingenious machinery, the Digital Revolution has been driven by two great innovations: the personal computer and the Internet.” Vanity Fair, The Great Connectors, October 2014, Walter Isaacson

· "Computers and video games haven't killed physical toys and games, so there's no reason why the digital world should kill print. Lack of innovation or providing a poor product is far more likely to do that. The amazing range of technological opportunities that can be used to support and interact with print are definitely a bonus, not a threat." – Munro Smith

· "It's simply a matter of defining the different role and purpose of print and online," says Sara Cremer, MD at customer communications agency Redwood. "Print does certain things very well. There's a sense of reward – almost luxury – of devoting time to the printed page that you can't put a price on. But at the same time, there's an immediacy and 'shareability' to the online world that's just as valuable in its own unique way."