April 2, 2010
Popular Science +
Publishers Bonnier and design studio Berg have applied their earlier conceptual tablet work to a live magazine app in time for tomorrow’s iPad launch. This video features Berg creative director Jack Schulze talking through the thinking behind the App. We only see the it briefly, but the thinking behind it is clearly and intelligently explained.
According to Bonnier, they wanted ‘to avoid what our friends at BERG call “a wrist screen running clock software” – we wanted to build the watch. It should feel like you are touching the actual magazine, using your natural body language – not looking through the screen and layers of buttons.’
Schulze provides a good introduction to some of the creative issues the new environment raises and a refreshingly open attitude toward editorial design from someone working outside the field.
Away from all the reviews, hints and expectations, this has got me excited again. I don’t like that big red navigation device, but at least it seems to signal they’re dealing with the real issues.
7 Comments
Comment on April 3, 2010 by Tweets that mention Popular Science + « magCulture.com/blog -- Topsy.com says:
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Cassidy Baker. Cassidy Baker said: Popular Science + « magCulture.com/blog: Popular Science +. Publishers Bonnier and design studio Berg have a… http://tinyurl.com/yf5zgxg [...]
Comment on April 5, 2010 by Smith+Fritzy says:
Okay, now that a few of these have come out now, it’s starting to make me wonder users are going to enjoy having to switch between different GUIs from different publishers on how to read/search/scan/etc their magazines. I like some of the implementations they’ve done, and in fact I like that’s a little more simple than the WIRED one. I fear that people are going to get too caught up into “what can be done” instead of a simple and easy-to-use interfaces.
Comment on April 5, 2010 by jeremy says:
That’s always the way, though, Smith+Fritzy, isn’t it? Everyone gets excited by the bells an whistles, before settling down to getting the job done. Even a new version of InDesign brings new effects that get overused for a few months.
Interesting point you raise, though: as all the Apps seem to have different functional detail it’s going to be a confusing time. Just think of all those conventions we take for granted in print: the front cover, the contents page(s), the news section followed by feature well then reviews. I wonder how long before new conventions come into place for the new device?
Comment on April 6, 2010 by Ipad Magazine Reading | THESCRAPBOOK says:
[...] Magculture) [Popular Science + in iTunes [...]
Comment on April 6, 2010 by iPad – The day after | GuteSeiten - curated kiosk & magazine club says:
[...] the way magazines can be read on a new generation of full-color, touchscreen tablet devices.” Via Categories: News, new projects, paper & technology 7. April 2010 | 00:30 | Author: Alain | [...]
Comment on April 7, 2010 by Smith+Fritzy says:
I wonder how much we really need to change. The medium defines the form of communication, right? Seems like this is beginning to pose many more questions than there are answers.
Comment on April 20, 2010 by Mag+ iPad app « I-D Media London Blog says:
[...] http://magculture.com/blog/?p=6148 [...]
