I love this guy’s message, work ethic, and results. Fascinating epiphany too – equating the circus with… Well, I don’t want to ruin it. Just watch it.
About Jason Fried
Jason co-founded 37signals back in 1999. He also co-authored REWORK, the New York Times bestselling book on running a "right-sized" business. Co-founded, co-authored... Can he do anything on his own?Read all of Jason Fried’s posts, and follow Jason Fried on Twitter.
Jason Fried wrote this on Apr 02 2009 There are 25 comments.
Paul 02 Apr 09
I think this man has a brilliant point.
I no longer read the paper, as I’m certain the vast majority of you do the same.
However, when I take public transit I have access to two free newspapers that I’ll pick up and read.
One, a simple free paper, with great written articles. I read this one first.
The second one however, has a much more designed look to it. It just looks better – the articles aren’t as great, but I always enjoy reading that paper so much more.
Redesigning the Toronto Star, or the Globe and Mail would revolutionize those newspapers and bring them into a round two.
Garlin Gilchrist II 02 Apr 09
More Useful + More Relevant + Better Designed = Better Newspaper
That equation works for pretty much people create.
This presentation was excellent.
Richard Bird 02 Apr 09
Mr. Utko’s premise has little to do with its context: newspapers.
He brilliantly and simply makes a wonderful case for the value of design in any context, while sharing some very appealing and technically accomplished layouts.
Matthew Riley MacPherson 02 Apr 09
I love that bit about the designer being part of the entire process. That was quite enjoyable :-)
Anthony Brown 02 Apr 09
“To be good, is not enough” – Best quote!
Those newspapers look amazing! It’s too bad our San Francisco newspapers don’t hire decent designers, if they created something like that, I think their impending doom would be diverted.
GeeIWonder 02 Apr 09
Personally, I think content above all else will save some newspapers. And the rest should perish anyways.
pwb 02 Apr 09
I think “newspapers” could be fine off if they simply tried.
Mark 02 Apr 09
It was a good presentation that, Mr. Bird summarized correctly, applies to any context.
Regarding the newspaper business specifically, all industries have their cycles of ups and downs. This isn’t the first “refresh” of the newspaper biz, and won’t be the last. I believe a lot of this “newspapers are dead” talk is overhyped.
Paul 02 Apr 09
Nice one! But the guy says he is from a poor country. If it’s Poland it is not true as its 21st economy in the world.
Chris 02 Apr 09
This man is really good.
Felix 02 Apr 09
@Paul: it is now.
Michal 02 Apr 09
Thanks Jacek really good talk.
Cameron 02 Apr 09
Awesome. Really enjoyed watching that. I find the short talks TED do much more digestible than anything else I have seen lately (FOWA video). The short form really gets to the point and focuses the talk I guess..
brad 02 Apr 09
brilliant
Curtis Hart 02 Apr 09
So Good! The form accommodates design that technology can not—The 2 page spread combine with the portability of paper. Thanks for posting this.
Happy 02 Apr 09
So the Drudge report is the best designed site on the internet because it has basic text. At the same time, this guy’s awesome because he moved newspapers away from basic text. I’m dizzy.
Justin Jackson 02 Apr 09
Form and function Content and design
I don’t know if it’s necessarily because this fellow was a designer
Justin Jackson 02 Apr 09
I don’t know if it’s necessarily because this fellow was a designer, but rather because he was asking important questions: what is the purpose? what is our objective? How can we produce a better product? He got a holistic view, and then based his involvement on that view.
ML 02 Apr 09
So the Drudge report is the best designed site on the internet because it has basic text. At the same time, this guy’s awesome because he moved newspapers away from basic text. I’m dizzy.
There isn’t just one right answer. Minimalist can work at times, complicated collage can work at other times. The key is to differentiate and to not just keep repeating ideas that clearly are NOT working.
Scott Stawarz 02 Apr 09
So, What are your suggestions on becoming on a “designer” as the video suggests.
Sean Upton 02 Apr 09
The claim that design is enough to save newspapers is oversold, I think. I agree with everything said about design - but this is necessary, not sufficient. The issue is less of readership - more people crave more information - we are struggling as an industry finding reasonable ways to pay for good work, whether by great journalists or great designers. The issue is that the advertising business is going through a cyclical contraction during a structural upheaval, and the business of newspapers can only hope to get half of lost advertising back when the cyclical problems end, and perhaps a third of lost revenues vs. 2005 and before. I’m a big believer in accessibility of information being an important aspect of public good - that means well-designed, well-written (usually free) news and information for as many as possible—but good content and packaging alone (and the reader loyalty these may ensure) will not fix a partially broken business model.
Per Jørgensen 02 Apr 09
Ditto Sean. Addressing design is addressing the packaging, which is not the product. The product is journalism.
The newspaper industry is failing because it still fails to make the distinction between that product and its packaging - print on sheets of paper stapled together. The sooner the industry gets that distinction, the sooner it can begin to find ways to deliver the product in new (and, yes, well designed please) packaging - the Internet—in a way that supports itself and the function journalism serves.
BC 03 Apr 09
Amazing what can be achieved by designers when a company leadership has the courage to take risks, and to trust others.
Failing isn’t so bad if it gives you the perspective to do the right thing next.
Lawrence Krubner 05 Apr 09
This is a great video. Actually, every post on Signal versus Noise has been terrific for several days now. The posts have been full of information that I can use. I find myself sending the URLs to my co-workers, which is always the sign of a good post. Since I was critical of some of the motivational/opinion posts lately, I want to say that the posts that offer details about what makes good or bad design are very welcome.
Brian Richards (Canada) 07 Apr 09
One must remember that newspapers are just a delivery system for content… no different than the internet or TV. Having said that, upgrading both the content and its appearance in an appealing, interesting fashion should and does make a huge difference. Of course with instant everything in the wired world, one would think newspapers are becoming redundant. I, however believe there are those, [a lot of them] who still want more than just a soundbite. They [we] still seek details that cannot be found elsewhere, including the internet whose content is not subject to the same level of fact-checking as mainstream media. If there is any doubt about the need for great design, look no further than the potential for the telephone Yellow Pages.
This discussion is closed.