I’ve been evaluating my options about the magazine a lot these past few days, and it’s getting more and more clear that 100% digital is the way to go for VS magazine. The advantages of the digital platform are more than overwhelming then print in regards to sheer level of experience. If done the right way this 3rd issue can be something really special, and hopefully something unique you’ve never quite seen before.
Researching the topic of online magazines I tripped upon this video which made me think there is officially no such thing as an original idea lol. The video below is a testament to that, as it is the idea I had in my mind from top to bottom! Hopefully I can add more than enough V.S. style to distinguish it from this publication.
This Monday I visited my beloved grandmother again at Mercy Hospital in Rockville Center. To my surprise she was in unusually high spirits today, and I got nothing but smiles, laughs, jokes, and whispered trash talking on her fellow roommate. Despite her condition she was extremely lively, and eager to talk and have some fun. Her resilience after what she went through in Haiti: from losing her home, becoming unable to walk, etc… Is amazing to say the least.
I think if I lost something as simple as internet I’d feel as if life were close to meaningless (I’m exaggerating lol), but she manages to still crack a smile with the struggle of disability and old age adhering to her body. Times like these are the ones that root you to the ground; Almost like a refresher of sorts; Bringing you back to ground zero, where you appreciate all you have, all your able to do, and all opportunities in front of you.
Prior to visiting my grandma I went to the barber shop as suggested by friends (thanks tiff).
While I was there I saw this picture cut from the daily news, framed, and set on a barbers desk. I asked my barber on a price for the picture and he said I’d have to ask the owner but most likely he’d never sell it. He went on to say that it stood as a symbol to all the barbers there that no matter how bad you think you have it just look at this picture and recognize things could be much worse.
This one man runs his whole operation from scraps of hair cutting tools assembled from the ruins and powers them using a car battery from a crushed car nearby. Yet with his chair set up, robe covering the customer, chin up, working the mans beard, it’s as if the destruction and collapse of his dear country never even happened.
Digital Over Print > Life and Times: March 1, 2010.
Before turning in last night, I read a very interesting article on readwriteweb.com. It was about the impending takeover of digital magazines over the printed magazine. Now some say it will never happen, and some say it has already; whichever way you feel, the strength, usability, and ease of digital publications is undeniable…and although the image of a printless world may be a scary one, it just might be a reality one day. With products like the the Amazon Kindle, Sony’s eReader, and ofcourse Apples iPad…The question isn’t… if, the transition will occur, but more like when. Heck, when I visited the site readwriteweb.com it was through my iPhone, and I wasn’t phased at all by the size or the interface, so that fact alone is a testament to technologies growing impact on how we digest information everyday.
Here’s a video of Sports Illustrated new concept digital magazine.
What’s funny is that most digital magazines offered today carry the stigma and replicate the experience of the “dying” print magazine. The magazines are confined by a virtual representation of 8.5″x 11″ sheets of paper, when in actuallity we have the entire screen to use as a canvas; To turn the page we click the corner and are greeted with an oddly satisfying page turning animation. Although the learning curve for reading this way is null, it’s very dishonest; There is a better way, and I hope to tackle that in the oncoming months.
And I leave you with another concept magazine that expresses the possible future of digital publications
The more I think about it, and the more I read these articles, the more I feel when it comes to Viral Status Magazine, I should go all digital and leave print behind. It would be on a platform that ANYONE can reach, carry all the obvious advantages that digital presents over print (video, audio, interaction), and would allow me to make instant changes and updates (where in print if you have an error, and you run 2,000+ plus copies, there is no undo button).
Over the Weekend… > Life And Times: March 1, 2010.
This past weekend was a very interesting one. As one of my friends said earlier “Work hard, Play hard”. Friday night events were put to the back-burner because of all the mess mother nature made the day before, but it still ended up being a great night. Spent some time with family, cousins to be more exact. Seems like this generation in my family will be just fine, relationship wise I mean. We’ve had issues growing up amongst our parents, aunts and uncles but I feel like we all recognize that struggle and that realization brings us even closer. Nothing is like family, nothing can replace it. Period.
In continuing the weekend theme, Saturday night I went to the Knicks game with a friend of mine and had a great time, even though the home team did lose. For the record, all this hype over Tracy McGrady is completely unwarranted. He played about 5 min the whole game and I’d be surprised if he landed a jumper. Regardless, we’ll see what the Knicks do with their boatload of money during the summer. It’s going to be very interesting to say the least.
With every step I take, every site I visit, and every conversation I have…I’m in a VS state of mind. Trying to absorb all forms of influence to create something truly unique, engaging, and timeless. Let’s see what this brings us…. But my question for today. What do you guys prefer? A printed magazine from me, or all digital magazine?
Creative Boot Camp Reunion > Life And Times: February 26, 2010.
Hello all! Update time! To make the journey to issue 3 a bit more bearable I’ll be giving you all a window into my life: what I’m thinking, brainstorming ideas, and events I go to. I hope you enjoy. Hopefully when I’m done with issue 3 I can take a look back at this string of blog posts and see it as a time lined journey from concept to completion. It’s more interesting to see the progression, step-by-step.
Hopefully, my team can do the same. Yes, that’s Carl Joseph Black, Theo, Sherifa, etc… I’m talking to you all! lol. Any or all submissions are welcome. We’re in this together, and seeing growth in us all in digital form will be quite refreshing.
As some of you know I’m in school twice a week taking Digital Photography, Thesis, and a Modern Art history class. I work for an IT company 3 times a week fixing computers, printers, etc… I’m also a part of an Internship class at Young and Rubicam ad agency (Y&R) on madison. So my schedule is pretty thick… :-/
I participated in this 4 day (9-4) program that placed students in groups where industry creatives gave us a client (HP), and a brief, and our job was to pitch a campaign. This was no easy task, but in the end it was a very rewarding experience and I’m forever grateful.
Here’s a few pics from the reunion meeting I went to:
Carol and Michael
Nadine being bashful….we know your not shy, stop it.
Huh?? (me, and Yanil)
Y&R Gang +1 (Sherifa, Jenna, Roberto, Yanil, Nadine)
Carol and Michael
Huh?? (me, and Yanil)
Y&R Gang +1 (Sherifa, Jenna, Roberto, Yanil, Nadine)
