In today’s society, the average citizen has almost instant access to media and vice versa. Whether it is via newsstand, internet, paper and periodical delivery services, or the twenty-four hour cable news, one has to work to be uninformed. With all of these choices that citizens have to select from in order to receive their news, sports, weather, and other information, how do they determine which is the best way for them? Two of the most popular mediums are the internet and newspaper or magazine. Even when presenting the same news and information, these two formats use two very different design techniques to pique the reader’s interest and make sure that the reader’s experience is enhanced to its fullest after making his or her decision.
| Characteristics/Advantages of Print Design vs. Web Design | |
|---|---|
Print Design |
Web Design |
* Huge Canvas to work with |
* Smaller Canvas |
* 2-Dimensional |
* 1 or N-Dimensional |
* Page-Turning Navigation |
* Scrolling Navigation |
* Faster |
* No Precise Placement of Info |
* Quality of Type (font) |
* Complex Hypertext Navigation |
* Image Quality |
- Links |
* Image Space |
- Where can users go? |
* Less User Engagement |
- Visualization of location |
* Eyes Move Information |
- Info Architecture |
* Highly Refined |
* Less Graphics, Shorter Text |
As shown, in our current era of information design, the print designers have an overwhelmingly easier time trying to create a quality product due to the availability of resources. Also, the fact that people are used to turning the page and getting their information from a newspaper and reading it makes it easier to design. Information on the web is new, and thus figuring out which format presents best for the reader is still and unknown science. In another decade or so, web designers who wish to present information to willing readers will have the tools to much better match the outputs of those in the print design world.
One advantage that the web designers have over print designers even currently is the user-engagement that web reading offers. Much of the information that a web designer wants to portray is user controlled such as short videos and interactive geographical maps. Also, many learning tools and instructional videos can both show the user what to do and use a voice to explain it at the same time. Such features are currently not used by the print media and their format and distribution methods will not allow them to do so. Thus, when web design eventually catches up to print design in other aspects, it will hold an edge in this area. Still, until improvements are made in hardware, the print designers of the world will continue to hold a small advantage.