In the digital age, one might assume that print has become completely obsolete. With newspapers meeting a steady decline in popularity, it has left people asking if digital is the new norm. Print design is the oldest form of design used purely for visual intrigue. In a way, that primitive nature is the very reason print can become a timeless art medium in this modern day Orbit City.
Print is much like the novelty of choosing a paperback book over an e-book, or sending a postcard over an e-mail. While these formats may feel outdated to the advancements of technology that our society have grown so attached to, there is a certain allure of touch and 3-dimensionality that a screen can not provide like print does. There’s something nostalgic about holding onto a zine made of the works of one of your favorite artist. In this way, print can be considered an art form fit for gallery exhibition. The personal project that of “growing pains.” is an art concept that lends to being handled by the observer. The theme of hardships faced while growing up into adulthood, that the zine “growing pains.” is center around, gently transforms into a commentary on the almost continuous cycle of inner-turmoil with individuality and loneliness that everyone faces at some point in their lives. But this transition can only happen when the zine is tangible, because there is no definitive indiction of a front and back like there would have to be when the zine is presented in a digital space; The zine simply is existing to be experienced.
There is room for both digital design to coexist with print design. Print will forever be relevant to the history of art and will always hold it’s place of importance in design.
This project was created with the intention of being submitted for the Thomas Group Printing's The Chelsy Tomashoff Memorial Scholarship.
If you are a fellow art or design student, please check out this opportunity!
I posted a video over on the tube about my accepted portfolio to UArts. While I’m no expert, I did want to share the paths of thinking that may have helped get my portfolio accepted. In this video, I talk about the pieces I included and some tips and tricks for anyone else in the process of submitting portfolios. While UArts requirements may be different from the college of your choosing’s, I still gave some general rules of thumb that I implemented in my own portfolio submission that may be useful to you.
I used to watch a lot of these types of videos while I was going through my application journey. It helped me out a lot with what I should and shouldn’t do with my pieces. Portfolio reviews can be super nerve wrecking so it’s nice to hear from someone who has already been through the portfolio process.