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Emerging Technology and Graphic Design in New Zealand

by Guest Contributor

By Laurent Antonczak

Just a few facts to start with:
1. Textversation: 29% of mobile users use their mobile to communicate without talking (text, email, IM, social networking).
2. Over 50% of the world population is under 30 years old.
3. The fastest growing segment on Facebook is 55-65 year-old females.
4. American mobile users:
* Spend 2.7 hours per day on the mobile web
* 91% use the mobile web to socialise (in comparison: only 79% of desktop users)
* 43% are connecting with friends on social networks
* 40% share content
* 38% share photos
(see link below)

So what?
Well, have you considered:
- designing your website for mobile phone? Or having a mobile-friendly version of your site?
- offering specific design solutions for a specific mobile phone’s target market?
- focusing on interface design for smart devices in the next 5 years?
- becoming more familiar with mobile content and interaction?
- creating a specific mobile application for one of your clients?
- using interactivity in your campaigns or ads?
- increasing your understanding of emerging technology

Yeah, yeah but New Zealand broadband is slow and hasn’t got 4G blahblah…
New Zealand 3G is very expensive blahblah…
Well, are you aware that:
- New Zealand is ranked #07 in the average worldwide traffic of “augmented reality”?
- Social Media dominates Asia Pacific Internet usage? [ check NZ stats – HERE ]

Therefore there is great potential for New Zealand to be one of the key players in this area and a leader on an international scale, not just in its own market.

Global or Local; can you do both?

New Zealand designers have as much potential as anyone else to quickly identify and develop a niche market in terms of Emerging Technology and Graphic Design to become world pioneers.

Check this interesting book: Bird J. (1993), Mapping the futures: local cultures, global change, New-York, Routledge.
or even this article [ here ]

Have you got the mindset for it?

In order to achieve recognition and success, I think that Graphic Designers need to understand that practicing design reaches beyond national horizons and involves more and more collaborative practice.

It also requires more curiosity and knowledge.
Check this link: Bray, J. N. (2000), Collaborative inquiry in practice: action, reflection, and meaning making, London, Sage Publications

Are you prepared for it?
Check the next post ;-)

Laurent
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Thank you Pete & Anna for your contribution.
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References
- Socialnomics by Erik Qualman – statistics from US:

- Case Study from Eyefortravel, April 2010

and more info:
- http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/consumer/global-advertising-consumers-trust-real-friends-and-virtual-strangers-the-most/
- http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/social_networking_now_more_popular_on_mobile_than_desktop.php