t-post
By Pat Law™ • Nov 1st, 2009 • Category: Features, The Design DivaWith technology enabling online publications to push content out faster than a FA artist can adjust his kerning with a print layout, and at a ridiculous fraction of the cost, it is inherent that offline publications start thinking of increasing their value proposition before they lose their readers completely.
Think about it.
Why would I want to spend $8.00 on your magazine if I can get the same content, if not better uncensored ones, online? By the time Apple’s iPhone 3Gs is spoken about in your magazine, I would’ve already made my pre-order purchase through eBay because of a news leak via Gizmodo 3 months prior. So how can you increase your value proposition?
There are a few print-based magazines I subscribe to because I recognise that I will not be able to obtain the same value online. The magazines include Colors, Esquire UK, Monocle, and Web Designer. They offer me an impeccable standard of quality I cannot get from online publications just yet. Let’s face it, how many online writers you know are Bafta-worthy? Call me a stationery pervert, but I love caressing the crisp pages of a 4C x 4C 280gsm article too. Against the hustle and bustle of he-who-pushes-out-the-content-first-wins, I think it is safe to say that unlike print-based magazines, there is hardly any romance with online publications. That said, how many print-based magazines out that are worthy of paying for the content anymore?
Instead of whining about the crap going about in the online publications, people from the offline publications need to wake up and sort themselves out. It’s not that we don’t love you. It’s just that we don’t see value in you anymore.
SUPER DRUGS // T-post August 08 Issue No 39 // Design by: Ragnar Persson
CEASE THE…DOH! // T-post October 08 Issue No 40 // Design by: Esra Røise
ALTRUISM – IT’S ALL IN YOIUR HEAD // T-post March 07 Issue No 26 // Design by: Jason Sho Green
Which explains why T-post, the world’s first wearable magazine, is a welcoming change. T-post offers offbeat news with a graphic t-shirt that reflects an article on the inside and the artist’s interpretation on the front. T-post works in the same manner as a magazine, except that when you subscribe, you’d receive a t-shirt instead. What was first conceived as a project amongst friends, T-post is now distributed over 50 countries.
How it works:
• Once someone signs up he starts receiving T-shirts
• The “Members issue” is delivered in 3 weeks and after that a new issue is released every six weeks
• Every issue collaborates with a different designer and the choice is based on the talent and the personal expression that has something new to say
• Each issue costs 19 EUROS and is delivered worldwide
Special thanks to my man Costas of yatzer for sharing this.
Pat Law™ is a Digital Strategist who, in her time in the Adland, has marketed a range of global brands including adidas, Cadbury Schweppes, Chrysler, Harley-Davidson, Hewlett-Packard, Johnnie Walker, L’Oréal, and Royal Salute. Pat also writes for iSh, LOTL International, and Singapore Architect.
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