OUG501 - Interview with print manager at Kolorcraft

Interview

Print manager at a commercial print house

The Questions:

As a printer do you think that print is sustainable in the future? In terms of the economy or any other factors you can think of?

I think while there are physical shops , with large windows bill boards , and letter boxes to display , and post boxes printed material  will display offers there will be the need for print , and is more accessible to a smaller business i think that when the cost of digital screen panels drop it could be an issue , but then they have to be constantly powered to keep them displaying images , and these will never replace the bill board, although i do see the issue regards paper and it does create lots of waste, but can be recycled  like other products , if people supply the effort And after all with out print the progression of graphic design would never have existed , all the above is in a advertising sense  ,there are other markets like garment "t shits " and textile printing that will always have a need and now that digital textile printing machine are on the market this is the future .

Does print have an effect on the way in which it is seen as opposed to digital (online design)?

I think both are different markets , I'm no shopper on the streets but people seem to find it a pleasure and enjoy the walking and visually experiencing shops and want to be enticed to buy a product so it probably creates a visual experience, when i go online i generally know what i want , and just try to buy it the cheapest

Do you think print is valuable to the way in which people consume?

I think print can be more visually attractive especially posters and physical images within stores rather than nothing at all.

After answering all these what is your perspective of print in art & design such as a medium? What about those?

Unfortunately like everything else its driven by the market and fashion (trend) to some extent, for example screen is an expensive process and may become a luxury niche market rather than a popular technique. One day its history the next its popular. Its all about what people are willing to pay for uniqueness and vividness of colour that digital will never achieve.

Other notes from the interview:

Also what about food packaging and birthday and Xmas Cards books, banners road signs vehicle livery and print will never die.