Graphic newspapers are not just about beautiful covers

Newspapers have lost contact with the reader. The editors write for themselves and their colleagues, graphic artists make nice pages, not knowing the content of a newspaper. Nobody pays attention to the reader’s perception and they are the ones who actually consume the final product.

Meanwhile, competition from digital media, such as mobile phones, is growing as it provides the same information as a newspaper does. Most young people communicate through SMS, which has a limit of 160 characters, or on Facebook, which has 420 characters. As it is they do not write emails any more, something they believe is only good for the “old people”. Digital media – the television, the Internet – provide information a day earlier than the newspaper and people do not need to pay for them.

But this does not mean that newspapers are no longer needed. They are still one of the pillars of democracy and have the best investigative journalism. Besides, flipping through the pages of a newspaper is a pleasant experience. In an increasingly virtual world, such real experiences will be more precious. The newspaper is not restricted by technology as the web, so you can have more visual value, such as typography, which is a big issue on the Internet.

Design is also much better now in print than online. But do not rush into design right away. First, think about strategy: what and for whom is the title issued. Then, rethink the content so it is consistent with the strategy. Then comes the design, because it must also be coherent with the strategy and content. Only such a design makes sense. Designers must now think like businessmen.

In designing a newspaper, rhythm is most important. This is the weakness of many publications. The reader does not just look at a single page, but flips through pages and you need to design the experience. Just as in a good film, or piece of music, it cannot be monotonous. The designer must also show a clear hierarchy of information and this is the structure of the pages.

Graphic designers must have a vision of the whole product and not focus on just art, fonts and colours. They must think about something that is not only good but great, something that is timeless.

In my opinion, a graphic newspaper is art but it’s not just about a beautiful cover(page). I understand the art of design as a service to the reader, something that makes it beautiful and easy to understand at the same time.

In the future, I see newspapers copying the weekly magazine. Weeklies would want to look less newsy and more like monthlies. And monthly magazines would look more like sophisticated photo albums. Print media will become a luxury and not a daily publication. Print media will have more timeless content and quick news will be available only on the web, your phone or other digital media.

There will be a fusion of skill between designers and editors. The role of designers will continue to grow. Technology and even content would become quite similar and there will be a convergence of newspapers and magazines. The highest quality of graphics, printing and paper will be a necessity. The whole design will also be more ordered and structured.

The writer is an award-winning designer who put together The Express Tribune’s template

Published in The Express Tribune, April 12^th,  2011.