This issue is all about "Digital Branding" and what could be more obvious than to fully immerse ourselves in digital worlds with this topic? While we present many unusual approaches and projects in this issue that make brands tangible in the digital space, we took an AI as our guide for the cover design. Have we made a designer superfluous? No, quite the opposite. Find out more in the new issue of Grafikmagazin.
Now that everyone is talking about AI and the design scene in particular is taking a critical look at what is being used, we wanted to find out more. What can AI-supported graphics applications do and what can't they do? So we designed our current cover with the help of Midjourney and created 1000 different versions, which were then digitally printed. Was that easy? No. Did it save us a real person? Absolutely not. On the contrary, our art director had his hands full controlling the AI so that the end result was something to be proud of. But it was an experiment that was fun despite everything and we learned a lot from it.
As usual, we have once again brought together many different projects and topics in this issue. The Klingspor Museum, for example, has made its letterpress treasures digitally accessible in an archive. A great excursion into the art of type design. The BuchBauKasten also highlights the value of analog design by showing how many different ways books can be bound and designed. The 5 Years Plan and some remarkable illustrated books, which we also present, show what the end result looks like. In terms of photography, the new issue focuses on man-made worlds - fascinating and depressing at the same time.
Focus on "digital branding"
In our Grafik+ "Digital Branding", we shed light on a broad spectrum of brands in the digital environment: We asked creative coding specialist Patrik Hübner whether the future of design is generative, and studio Weholo how to optimally combine design with technology. Saga Digital introduced us to the fabulous world of online stores, while Jäger & Jäger took us into the magical spheres of digital sound sculptures. These and other projects can be discovered on 18 pages.
The cover
Our Art Director Tobias Holzmann produced 1000 different versions with the help of Midjourney and was both in awe and amazed at what AI is now capable of. But he also realized that we are still miles away from total automation - after all, experts are still needed to evaluate, select and prepare the print job. Thanks to Konica Minolta, who produced the cover using digital printing, digital and analogue forces came together in the finest possible way.
The showroom
In our showroom, what we love so much about our job comes to the fore again: the versatility of our industry, the numerous non-linear biographies full of dynamism and inventiveness! Carlo Stanga left architecture behind and followed his passion, illustration. MetaDesign has been working in brand design for 40 years, still setting contemporary accents and with great respect. Morgane Tubiana from the French studio Clac dispenses with briefings and develops powerful visuals in an individual process. And Berlin-based Studio Last doesn't shy away from the joy of variety - Matthias Last's team creates exquisite print projects on the one hand, but also works with a clear focus on digital branding on the other. Perfect for this issue.
You can order the Grafikmagazin 02.23 with a focus on "Digital Branding" free of shipping costs (within the EU) here.