Journal 10

On Friday, we had our group critique with Jim. I was quite nervous since my topic is kinda geeky and not a typical fine arts subject. But I managed to pull through it and got some advice and suggestions. What received the most comment was when I discussed the issue of print versus digital media in the comic industry. Jim suggested I should take advantage of my internship and interview some of the employees of the situation.

I decided to start casually and asked my co-worker/superior on her take of the issue.

ME: What is your take on print media becoming more digital?

SG: Its a smart move since everything is going digital. However, I do like printed comics to read in hand.

ME: What do you think about the company going digital?

SG: People are more willing to buy digital now, even though there is more value in a printed edition. The company would be left behind if they didn't make the shift into digital. It was a smart financial move.

So today, my boss graciously agreed to an lax interview over a slice of NYC pizza. I thought we would discuss at the pizza place, but the workload on my boss' plate was too much to leave the office too long, so we casually discussed while walking and back at the office. Unfortunately, I didn't have a recording device on me so I had to remember what I could until I had time to jot down notes. I will try to get a more accurate interview later -- for now, I'll share what I have learned so far.

ME: What do you think of print media versus digital media?

TS: Let's start with the development of the digital media. Starting with video and cassette tapes, everyone had access to these products and devices. They were easy to use, fix, and you were able to record as much as you wanted. When CD/DVD were introduced, it was not openly welcomed. They were easy to break, not recordable, and everyone would have to get new players for them. But it eventually became a common household item and is accessible to everyone. Now technology is so advance that its been downsized to files that can be accessed through phones, laptops, and e-readers.

• Pricing: print products are more expensive than digital. Blu-Ray is not exactly a steady investment, it cannot to other technologies like other devices and only for hi-definition quality.
• Work Process: Print materials are so expensive. Quality is not always on par.
  
• Distribution and value
  
• If the company fully switched to digital, people could be hired again. People would be all on one system and share the tasks. It would level off.
  
• Future of epub3
  

ME: Do you know about the company's situation with the cutbacks?

TS: I know very little about it. From what I do know, its mostly the diving sales from the comics. The materials for paper, printing, stapling, and shipping add up. Especially when printing thousands of a single issue for distribution.

ME: Going digital?

TS: Apple became the #1 company of digital devices. Steve Jobs illustrates their success, "People don't want to think about what they're using--they want the device to work for them. That's what our products do, they work with you." (not exact quote)

ME: Driving force of a comic, the art or the story?

TS: The art. You can still sell a 'comic' as pure art. There are few comics like that already. Art is also subjective. If you only had the story, then it would be a novel.

ME: What do comics mean for you?

TS: An escape, entertainment. There are all kinds to indulge in. They also express the idea of the times. Like when there's threat of nuclear war -- how would it effect us all? Peter Parker got bit by a radioactive spider and became Spider-Man. Bruce Banner got hit by a gamma-radiation bomb and became the Hulk. They are expressions of ideas. No need for tights.

ME: Can you compare the intentions of when comics started out 'til now?

TS: I think everything is about money, success. Today's ways of world thinking is changing. Back then, you could by a comic in a grocery or candy store for dirt cheap. The story was more important as well. More targeted at kids, but adults read as well. Depended on where you were and what you wanted to read.

Sales of comics is the most importance. Fail to get consumers is the failure of the industry.

ME: How did you choose this company?

TS: I think our company is more grounded than the competition. You have to pick a side. I like the characters and costumes. But really, when saying which one you like better, you make up any reason to fit your reply.

ME: What do you think of the competitor company's revamping their comic universe?

TS: I liked the reboot. It was a smart choice. These characters have been around so long, things can become predictable. Also they've had such a long series' its hard for new readers to get into. The character universe is so enormous. I think comics needs to rattle the cage now an then so they don't become timeless.

Journal 9

Proposal & Critique this Friday!

So I just found out that one of my favorite comic series is being cancelled due to budget costs! o_o

Recently, the company has been making cuts in their current and planned to come series. It didn't really bother me until the one I followed was effected. It was such a promising series and quite popular but this is not the only thing the company has to deal with. Considering our current economy, I should be used to hearing people are getting laid off, but it never struck me as a student, protected by the four walls called school until I got an internship and co-workers around me are here one week and gone the next! What a frightening time to go out into the world with dismal chances in making a living!

As upsetting as that is, its not the only thing I want to share. The comic industry is having a hard time since printed media is not a major product anymore. Not just comics, but also newspapers, magazines, and even books! All because our generation is heading into the digital era. But what is so great about going digital? Is it because its possible now?

To me, digital media is only good for convenience, like when your traveling or if the object is large. In the end, I still want to hold and read from a physical book, then I don't have to worry about bad eyesight from staring at a screen. Also things take long to load and you have to follow page by page. Sometimes, I can't wrap my head around 3-D graphics because we are not used to them on a physical plane. I know these sound like silly little quibbles, but that's how I see printed vs digital.

I'm still trying to figure out how I want to go about my thesis proposal. I know I want to showcase comics but I need to incorporate something based off my concentration which is graphic design. For now, I see having a installation of color panels with comic images and making a related book(s). The installation is for the purpose of reading into the imagery without text. The book(s) are for understanding the topic through literary means. I want the color panels to be raised off the wall, either framed or as sheets on canvas. As for the book(s), I'm not sure how much information I can pull legally and how much will be my own? And if this is too boring, should their be an element that stimulates the senses? Like an audio piece or make a series of flip-books? I don't want to digitize the book/images because you lose the importance of print media and physicality of holding that book in your hands.

As for the topic, I want to approach this massive monster as a beginner's guide to comics. Its not just for kids or the Sunday newspaper, its enjoyed by all ages and brings together brilliant artwork and storytelling. (this sounds so geeky) But its true! Comic companies get professional writers from all over, such as television, screen/play, and even novelists. And instead of just simple text to tell you the story, there is great art that brings the characters and scenes to life! Its like watching a film minus the audio and movement.

Journal 8

This past friday, the design students went on a field trip to NYC and checked out a couple of design studios. Our first stop was Chinatown to visit the Common Name design studio who also shared space with Linked by Air. Our class had met one of the owners of Common Name, Kevin, as he was a guest critic at our final project presentation last year in Design 2-B with Niel. Unfortunately, the space was not meant to house 20+ students with baggage but we still managed to squeeze. Kevin and Yoonjai shared their work from their studio as well as work done previously from other design firms. The bounded books were great! I liked the Transformer project in Seoul from 2 x 4. Its a 4-faced pyramid that can be physically turned over to suit the event and each face is a different shape. The building is bound together by a membrane fabric. Dan from Linked by Air shared a couple projects that they have worked on. The one he talked about the most (and probably the longest) was the Yale Art School website and its user design functions. Yale wanted to make the website customizable by its students and show their design skills.

We had to skip Artist Place due to the last presentation going on too long so we headed to the last stop on our itinerary which was the Whitney Museum Design Studio. Although it was a very impressive space, the guide had not much of anything to show us as they had just finished an exhibition.