As a business owner, you may have heard whisperings across the web, “Print design is old fashioned,” “Print design is going out of style,” or, “In X amount of years, everything will be completely digital — no need for print!” It’s only normal that you feel the overwhelming existential dread that now you might have to completely rework your entire marketing strategy, both on and offline.
What if I told you that you don’t? At Webspec, we’re in the business of all things tech, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t believe in the fundamentals of marketing and design. There’s a reason why print design has been, and continues to be, an integral part of a business’s brand and marketing strategies. So, what does print design look like in the digital age?
What Is Print Design?
Let’s start off with a little refresher on what exactly print design is. Print design is any design created with the intention of printing it, such as:
- Flyers
- Brochures
- Stationary (i.e., postcards, business cards, letterhead, etc.)
- Books, magazines & catalogs
- Annual reports & proposals
- & More!
In fact, not only does print design use different mediums, but this method of design also utilizes different terminology, techniques, and basic fundamentals. This allows people to specialize in the specific design medium they want. Print design itself has been around for centuries, and you could say it was one of our first methods of communication in the earliest societies of our world.
Understanding What Our Digital-Centric Audiences Want
In determining whether or not your company, business, or brand could utilize print design, ask yourself what your audiences want. In a world where digital media is constantly consumed at a rapid pace, it can be hard to see the reason for investing in quality print work. However, as society becomes more aware of our consumption of media, digital detoxes are becoming increasingly popular. People are taking a break from digital media and spending more time face-to-face with others.
Trends ebb and flow in design every single day. Whether it’s interior design, fashion, hobbies — you name it! As the old saying goes, “What goes around comes back around.” Print media will never truly go away, and it’s only a matter of time before we begin to see an influx in users preferring brands with greater attention to print, rather than digital marketing.
Bridging the Gap Between Print & Digital
Now that we’ve come to terms that print design is essential, it’s important to remember that you can integrate your print and digital strategies with your marketing campaigns. For example, you can post about an event on social media with a great graphic created by a designer, but only your social media followers will see it. Creating a print flyer to go along with it, offering it as a leave-behind, posting it in public spaces, or making it available to the general public will only further your reach.
When you use data-driven strategies from your social media and translate them into print, you’re creating a cohesive feedback loop of brand presence among your users. This builds a multi-channel experience that consumers of all backgrounds can connect with.
Embracing Traditional Design & Modern Practices
Before digital design, brands, and businesses across the world relied on print design that made them stand out among their competitors. It was a competition of who could stand out the most visually. Now, it’s more important to create clear, concise designs. With the ever-changing trend landscape, it can be tempting to create designs that are “on trend.” However, traditional, minimalist design will continue to outlive this notion.
Instead of creating a brochure that is flashy and colorful, focus more on the content and the simplicity. Users prefer clean designs that display content properly, contrary to the notion that the more intricate designs perform better. With strategically designed print materials, your brand will stick out among the chaos of cluttered fliers, brochures, pamphlets, and other print designs.
Conclusion: Print Design Is Here To Stay
Get the most out of your brand and create cohesive, visually appealing print designs that speak to your users. At the end of the day, users will want to have a positive experience with the businesses they interact with. And unlike what some believe, print design will always be embraced as a successful way to reach them.
Connect with a seasoned print designer at Webspec, and let’s talk about what print materials you need to take your business to the next level.
