iPad: The New Medium for Children's Books?

Wow. This isn’t reading, it’s a multi-media experience.

Alice in Wonderland gets an animation makeover in the video below …  it’s frenetic (clearly shown at warp speed for promotional purposes), but there’s definitely a “wow” factor and a vivid sense of what’s possible.

It’s very cool storytelling. It’s fun. But it certainly distracts from the act of reading – an act that’s pretty important in my book (no pun intended).

It’s not unlike the difference between reading a book and watching a movie. Yet entirely different from both because of the interactivity neither a classic book nor movie can claim.

And it begs the question: is this a good thing? Will it discourage reading, by making the words simply part of the visual action? Or will it encourage reading, by making it come alive?

I saw a comment calling this an “imagination killer”. Boy did that ring a bell. But will it be true?

There’s a lot to be said for hearing a story, imagining in your own mind what might be happening, and how and where, and what places look like.  I don’t think this should ever be devalued. But we know so little of the human mind … is it possible that an interactive story like this might expand a mind into even more imaginings?

I don’t have the answers, but I do agree with one thing: Whether animated or straight-forward, the iPad (and its likely successors) will probably be the next big medium for children’s books. Sooner than later.

And what I’m finding particularly strange, is that even a devout book appreciator like myself doesn’t really mind.

Nothing will replace the wonderfully textural experience of holding a book, turning the pages, smelling the paper … it’s almost sacred. But I can accept another medium, one that will show off colors in their brightest brilliance and whites at their crispiest and words their most sharp and dapper. All at the touch of a screen. It’s very neat. Very clean.

I also have to admit, I wouldn’t mind seeing my Fairies alight that screen. Not so sure I want them doing backflips or shaking fairy dust around at the whim of a “reader” … because, of course, I’d actually like them to read the words. But just a little flitting about might not hurt.

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Please feel free to share your thoughts! I’d love to know how people feel about this.

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Book Covers: Center Stage

Finding this site was “kid in a candy store” material.

First I stumbled onto their Books & Logos page … and knew I’d hit gold when the intro sentence read: “Books and logos. The combination thereof is almost enough to send me into a fit.”

Anyone who’s a book lover will appreciate at least some of this, designers will appreciate the rest, and for those of us who are both, it’s drool-worthy – an inspired virtual thrill, a well-presented and joyful clustering of literary visual candy.

(click on image to go to Book Cover Archive site)

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Milton Glaser On Using Design To Make Ideas New

TED Talks (Ideas Worth Spreading) is one of my all-time favorite sources for Great Stuff.  So imagine my delight to find this video of one of my all-time favorite people there as well.

Of course, it’s really no surprise to find Milton Glaser among the TED archives, but I’d not seen this one before. (For those of you outside of the design world, Milton Glaser is the living, legendary icon of the graphic design and illustration world; the guru, the master. A glance at his bio will give you a good overview.)

Having regretfully missed seeing him this week in New York for the launch of his new book, Drawing Is Thinking, this was a sort of virtual, substitute visit.

Milton is a marvel. A man of superior intellect and talent, with a wonderfully unassuming manner for someone of his stature. And as if we need any more proof, he recently received the National Medal of Arts – the first designer to achieve this recognition.

In his 80’s now, he recently told me he’d work as long as he can. Which, as I see it, is lucky for us.

Enjoy the “visit”. He’s a voice, and a mind, infinitely worth hearing.

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The Power of Personal Projects

Ji Lee: The Transformative Power of Personal Projects

Inspiring talk from Ji Lee – now Creative Director of Google Creative Lab – about personal projects and their ability to transform your ideas as well as your career. From his own life experience of boredom resulting in an idea which turned viral and became a design phenomenon known as The Bubble Project”, Lee talks about how he created, financed, and marketed the project single-handedly, and how it ultimately forwarded his professional career. Featured on the 99% site, devoted to “making ideas happen”, and well worth visiting.

(NOTE:  Unfortunately, the “embed this video” code didn’t work for me on this one!  Instead, click on the image above to watch/ hear the video at the 99% site.)

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Week 29: "52 Weeks of Peace"

Oh, the music in the air!
An’ the joy that’s ivrywhere –
Shure, the whole blue vault of heaven is wan grand triumphal arch,
An’ the earth below is gay
Wid its tender green th’-day,
Fur the whole world is Irish on the Seventeenth o’ March!
~Thomas Augustin Daly


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