The Effect of Technology on the Development of Magazine Visual Design Style

Paul Cleveland, University, My, Mostyn Bramley-Moore
2018
This thesis is concerned with studying the factors which influence stylistic change in magazine design. Of particular interest is the role computer technology plays in the formulation of design style change. This relates to the rate of style change and the application of inscription characteristics into the visual imagery to create distinct visual grammars. The introduction of the computer during the late 1980's as a design tool revolutionised the practice of graphic design. Anecdotal evidence
more » ... uggests computers changed the restrictive practices previously imposed by typesetters, film houses and printers (Patterson, 2004). The purpose of this study is to investigate the period prior to and after the introduction of the computer as a design tool to discover what direct and indirect influences computer technology had on the development of visual grammar associated with print based publications, specifically the graphic design style of selected magazines over this period. The influence of technology within a creative society is a complex process in which interacts with sub cultures and market economics. The intent was to discover if there was a way to quantify style change in magazines and evaluate the usefulness of such information in terms of keeping the visual content vital and interesting to different market audiences. Many magazine editors do not appreciate the relevance of the visual grammar they use in maintaining readership interest. The readership figures and the advertising environment ascertained by market research from companies such as Roy Morgan Research and McNair-Anderson indicate how "healthy" a magazine is in the marketplace. These figures tend to fluctuate and it is common to see re-vamps of a magazine's style to give the flagging image a boost without any survey of readers' preferences in visual grammar. The re-focusing of content and appearance often tries to bring the magazine into a more contemporary design space which is often a reflection on what competitors are doing. The research problem w [...]
doi:10.25904/1912/3528 fatcat:5oyccjdbzjgbbodd4epvywetk4