Why redesign? The question arises again
June 24th, 2008A correspondent asked this week, regarding the claim that redesigns in recent history (of mainstream, paid newspapers) have not been effective in reversing declines in readership or advertising: Why redesign at all?
Good question. Since I make some of my living at this pursuit, thought I’d respond. As I’ve put forth for a few years now, there are valid reasons to redesign an existing newspaper, but expecting a reversal of the proven trend for older readers to migrate to the web, and for fewer younger readers to adopt the print habit, is unrealistic. If you know of a valid, sustained increase in either readership or advertising demand for paid print (mainstream dailies), let me know, it would be great to spread the news here. I hope many editors will prove me wrong this year.
That said, here are valid reasons that people are redesigning, and designing, in the current market:
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Orlando redesign:
What a difference a decade makes
June 23rd, 2008
The heated debate over the Orlando Sentinel’s in-house redesign (which launched today) brings a flood of memories of a redesign there - the paper’s first major overhaul in many years - that I consulted on in 1997. And 1998. And 1999…
I actually like a lot of what I see in the newest makeover (more on that later, including my doubts that it’s the magic bullet anyone may be hoping for), but first, here are some fun facts from the big relaunch a decade ago:
- Yes, the project took 2 1/2 years. (I even had hair when we started.) Read the rest of this entry »
Rewards of the consulting life
May 6th, 2008
[Nairobi, Kenya] Among the rewards of the unusual career that is consulting, one of the best is when you actually see a newspaper make improvement - before the relaunch actually takes place. This is possible via deliberate conversations, an orchestrated training program, a top-down commitment to better packaging, and yes, you need to have talent on staff.
Following an intensive training program here at The Standard newspaper, I was so pleased to pick up the paper at my hotel and see the above front page. It’s NOT the new logo, fonts, page size, or colour palette (which may or may not be in the works!) - but rather, rock-solid execution of the day’s news using the existing styles, and some devices that were talked about during my training. Provocative headlines. Layered headlines and decks. Smart summaries and references.
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A different kind of editors’ retreat
April 28th, 2008One thing about consulting in a foreign land is, you never know what a client will throw at you, and the lessons in culture you learn along the way.
During a longer-than-normal visit to The Standard newspaper in Nairobi, the staff has taken great efforts to show me their country - taking me on a tour last September of Nairobi National Park game reserve, just outside the city limits (amazing animals, you can view my Flickr album here) … and on this visit, connecting me with Reuters photographer Noor Khamis who gave me an unbelievable insider tour of the Kibera slum. (My photos of the slum’s beautiful kids are here; photos of scenics here.) What can I say, I don’t like sitting around the hotel on my days off. Read the rest of this entry »
Celebrating a great SND year for St. Pete Times
March 12th, 2008
After many years of being the uncelebrated underdog (relatively speaking), this year the St. Pete Times made up for it with a big sweep in this year’s SND (Society for News Design) competition. So Sara Quinn of Poynter had the great idea to ask me (as a 10-year Times alumnus and avid fan of the paper) to co-host a little party to honor the winners. It was a great afternoon with friends old and new.
Oddball Photo Album:
Travels in the Redesign Life
February 15th, 2008
It’s strange but true: Richard Simmons was photographed hugging a prototype for one of my redesigns. A logo left on a cutting room floor featured an ornate dragon (versus the old-time Hearst eagle). A columnist wore an eyepatch, brought his basset hound to work, and had an Alcatraz prison door as his office entrance. And that’s just at one newspaper!
Happy Valentine’s Day! Type,
Art and Photo Inspiration at Flickr
February 14th, 2008
Newspaper designers, of course, find inspiration at web sites that post pages such as newspagedesigner and others. But Flickr is also a fun, easy and free way to browse fascinating galleries posted by visual enthusiasts around the world, and to share your own. Though more known as a photo sharing site, lots of folks (including myself) are using Flickr to post type samples, original artwork and more.
Chicago Under Glass: Photojournalism wonders from the past
December 4th, 2007
One great thing about practicing journalism in Chicago (even mostly at arm’s length, via consulting) is being so close to the city’s rich newspaper history. A time-machine trip back into some of that history can be taken via a great new book, Chicago Under Glass: Early Photographs from the Chicago Daily News. Enthusiastic photojournalist/ editor/ preservationist Rich Cahan (with whom I worked briefly at the Sun-Times) helps save and celebrate the photo archives of the Chicago Daily News, which closed in 1978. The paper was one of the first to attract readers via black-and-white photography, and fortunately, more than 55,000 glass negatives were eventually put in storage at the Chicago Historical Society (now housed at the Chicago History Museum).
Maps as history: The ultimate in information architecture
December 1st, 2007
Calling all infographics junkies and fans of maps or history in particular: A number of Chicago museums and schools are going nuts at the moment with an ongoing Festival of Maps. I happened upon one small corner of the festival during a recent visit to the Chicago History Museum, with the exhibit, Mapping Chicago: The Past and the Possible.