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novum plus :
Editorial
An open ear, an open mind
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Lots of interesting talks, a superb ideas-packed exhibition and positive feedback our Creative Paper Conference was a hit. But of course it wasnt »only« about paper. One comment that was made in a number of conversations I had was that it was great to get away from the day-to-day work routine, meet up with other colleagues, exchange ideas and take time to indulge in the beautiful (material) side of the profession. Obviously, it was not easy to decide to »sacrifice« two days pressure of work, deadlines, acquisition work, etc. is a familiar story. There are any number of reasons why its never the right moment to step off the hamster wheel for a while. Yet, I believe, it is important to simply enter design conferences into your diary, as if they were as immutable as meetings with customers. Its in the interests of your own creativity, your future output and important for maintaining contacts in the field. Afterwards you realise how useful the contacts and the lecture contents were at such events. Its the best way of developing a feeling for the general situation in the graphic design world and of getting an idea of how your own work fits into the picture. Ideas and thoughts are given new angles: you learn about entirely new things or are prompted to look again at things that might have been off your radar. And its comforting to realise that all creatives share almost the same worries and concerns, whether they are in a large agency or a small studio.
Its good to »treat« yourself to this kind of »further training« now and then, and to realise the benefit that it brings to your everyday work. From my own experience I know how hard it is sometimes to winkle yourself out of the office, but I also know that when I have managed it, I return with much greater enthusiasm and elan.
I had a treat of a rather different kind at the Bavarian Print Media Award ceremony, for which novum was nominated, along with Cicero, in the category »Outstanding technical achievement«, for the sensational year-end issue in 2007. Also in the running was manroland AG of Augsburg, a manufacturer of print systems, and in the end they turned out to be the winner. Congratulations to them, of course. But might I also pose two questions: Is it really possible to compare in a single category a magazine with a printing firm and all its technology isnt this like comparing apples with oranges? And: If, in the year 2008, the ten-strong jury chosen for this award doesnt feature a single woman, I am allowed as a female editor-in-chief to raise an eyebrow, arent I?
I hope you have a wonderful February,
Bettina Schulz
