750 word exploration of the dematerialization of magazine publication design As the 21st Century continues to change through technology and designs, a major issue that has arose concerning the dematerialization of magazine publications, and creating online magazines for viewers instead of a hard, physical copies. This can have both a positive and negative effect on society which many outcomes that haven’t happened yet as this is a new topic that it is exploding and changing by the minute. Each magazine and their publication design layout differs from one another depending on the customer, however with online shopping, social networking and interactive online features the concept of reading magazines on your computer, phone or Ipad is just another step into the future of technology. ‘Physical’ magazines have so many contributing factors that help to create the success of each magazines image. Layout , advertising, typography of fronts and print format really distinguish the brand of magazines from one another. However a crucial design factor would be colour. Having colours jump out at the customer on a stand, compared to a computer screen really generates the customer to buy their magazines and therefore their ‘identity’. Online magazines don’t have this contributing factor that is as strong because on a magazine stand there is a variety that you can choose from compared to online magazines which arent presented infront of you for your choice. Having a physical copy of the type of paper the magazine is printed on and the type of paper also really identifies the magazine as a brand. Although online magazines are becoming more popular, they do target a certain audience, therefore always allowing another target market for physical magazine copies. Online publications aim towards addressing a specific target market with their cost friendly, decrease carbon footprint approach to their sales. The invention of Apple’s Ipad has pushed this issue with each magazine creating a brand and able to reach a target market further by online social networking ads and online branding. This approach could really drive sales because as the world is becoming more dependent on the internet and receiving everything on demand, online magazines makes it easier for the customer for their day to day life. Flipping through an online magazine means that the consumer can easily purchase the garments online after they see it being featured in magazines instead of physically going to the shops to find what they are after. In the past 5 years online shopping has revolutionized the way we do our ‘shopping’. Incorporating these two technologies of online shopping and online magazines would be huge and something very unique. All over the world having online magazines allows an individual to view a particular publication from their computer that probably originated from a different country. This increases communication between countries and could really drive sales of particular magazines too. This means that an individual could be working in New York however have an interest for an Australian magazine. It allows the individual to view it on demand and not wait for the subscription to arrive on their doorstep. Apple’s invention of the Ipad and Iphone has also driven sales world wide with the ‘Apps’ allowing consumers to view magazines by flipping and scrolling through pages they like or dislike. Zite’s CEO, Ali Davar explains that, ‘It works by looking at the articles you click on and the characteristics of those articles and then you can choose between which publication you prefer’. You can now buy an online subscription to a magazine so instead of it physically being sent to your house means that, you can receive it on your electronic device, download it and view it on the web. Online magazine publications also decreases the carbon foot print around the world which is a huge topic that needs to be resolved. By saving paper and having the publication on the internet means the stoppage of excessive printing of magazines and leftover waste is decreased, which therefore improves our environment. The future of magazines combined with technological developments of social networking, online shopping and even interactive shopping change rooms means that one day the physical magazine will eventually be obsolete. Although there is so many contributing factors of physical magazines that makes it successful, online magazines are growing by the minute. Making the internet so easy to use, easy to access and a technology that is constantly growing means that magazines will follow this technological process. Reducing paper, promoting cross country interaction, and the spontaneous impulse buying from online shopping through online magazines means that the physical magazine is reducing whilst online magazines are becoming more popular.