Investigating innovative content generation and designs for contemporary publications

Abstract

This dissertation reports the research undertaken to arrive at the creation of a print project. The research and practical project were developed to determine whether the print medium would become more appealing to a contemporary audience if content generation methods and styles used for social media platforms are applied to print publications. Literature about the different elements of print publication design and audience consultancy methods was sourced and well-reviewed. An in-depth survey questionnaire was constructed and conveyed online to investigate reading trends of adult persons aged between 35 to 55 years. When the survey reached a targeted 100 participants, the results were analysed. Participant preferences were well considered and interpreted before being adapted into the writing and designing of a book. The survey questions were constructed well enough to obtain quite clear answers from the respondents. This communication practice proved efficient enough to reach the targeted audience and to collect qualitative data. The results meant that there are reasons for the declining appeal of books and print media. The resultant project publication is concise in its content and contemporarily direct and simple in its layout, reflecting the requirements of the surveyed audience. The book provides essential historic information on the coastal towers found around the Maltese Islands, and some lighter reads describing the landscapes surrounding these towers. Interactive features included in the book will enable readers to locate the towers and listen to ambience music through their smart devices.