Hasta La Ideas

Check out the new 1 Hour Design Challenge: The Future of Digital Reading. For this competition, we’re extending the time limit to 90 minutes, so you’ll have a bit more time to do your best design work! Watch the video for a quick intro:

THEME:
One Hour+ Design Challenge: The Future of Digital Reading

DOORS OPEN:
September 9, 2009
9 PM PST (4PM GMT)

DOORS CLOSE:
October 14, 2009
9 PM PST (4PM GMT)

BRIEF:
What will reading look in the future? Will we be using printed books, rectangular electronic devices, embedded technologies?This competition challenges designers to envision a rich future digital reading experience, based on a defined set of design research.

Recently, Portigal Consulting undertook an exploratory research project on reading, books, and digital reading devices, entitled Reading Ahead. Here’s what they found:

• Books are more than just pages with words and pictures; they are imbued with personal history, future aspirations, and signifiers of identity
• The unabridged reading experience includes crucial events that take place before and after the elemental moments of eyes-looking-at-words
• Digital reading privileges access to content while neglecting other essential aspects of this complete reading experience
• There are opportunities to enhance digital reading by replicating, referencing, and replacing social (and other) aspects of traditional book reading

And here’s what they suggest for your design explorations:

• Include the sensual
• Support the social side of reading
• Consider the varied modes and rituals of reading
• Develop an ecosystem

HOW TO ENTER:
Watch the video pitch above, get familiar with the Reading Ahead research, and check out the slideshow below for more:

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