04 May 2012

Print vs Digital

I am at a cross roads, I need to decide whether the new and revamped Sketchbook Magazine should go print or go digital.  I will play the PRO and CON game.

Print:

Pro:
1. Tangible
2. Higher source of revenue for ads
3. Vision was always to be in print
4. Print magazine will do illustrations justice

Con:
1. Expensive to print, distribute, and pay
2. Time consuming to get a print issue done
3. First two print runs won't make any money
4. Require a publishing license
5. More staff required which means higher source of revenue

Digital: ( But printing a Sketchbook Book once a year)

Pro:
1.  Quicker, easier to set up
2.  Gain more followers, stir more attention
3. Wider reach
4. Test out articles, tone, mood, stories interest
5. More time to allocate sponsorship and advertisers
6. Time to create a good first issue
7. Cheaper to launch
8.  Can build a stronger database
9. Less staff

Con:
1. Have done the digital thing for a few years
2. Online ads are not as reliable or high
3.  More likely to get a source of revenue from directory, posting jobs

I have met a few publishers this week and so far the feedback I got was more digital and less print. Your thoughts? 

Columnist for Khaleejeque

Just to make me more blog guilty I am now a columnist at the Khaleejesque site. Khaleejesque is a personal client of my agency Obai and Hill. They are one of my most favorite clients, I love representing them. I also write for their print issue and online site. Check out my articles here and let me know your thoughts on them.  






30 March 2012

Guest Curator @ Boticca

Honored to be a guest curator for the Boticca brand!


Creative Entrepreneur: Wafa Alobaidat

Wafa Alobaidat says she has always wanted to “bridge the gap between young and innovative artists and their potential clients.” With her varied background in fashion, Wafa has had the opportunity to do just that. Wafa studied fashion in London, and she had the opportunity to work with fashion designer Liza Bruce and her husband, artist Nicholas Alvis Vega. After graduation, Wafa started a blog called Fashion Ambitions, where she wrote about her experiences working in fashion. It wasn’t long before Wafa decided to take on a new challenge. She was chatting with Luma Bashmi, the Features editor of Sketchbook in London when the pair realized how much they wanted to see a new kind of magazine, one that would showcase new creative talent and feature original illustrations. Rather than waiting for that magazine to come along, they decided to launch it themselves. Thus, Sketchbook was born. Wafa became the editor-in-chief of Sketchbook, which launched in 2009 with an issue dedicated to fashion bloggers. Sketchbook is entirely original, featuring profiles of fashion and culture industry insiders and original illustrations from up-and-coming artists. The launch of Sketchbook led to other opportunities, including a Sketchbook pop-up shop and a digital app. Wafa has taken on a new challenge: she launched her own creative agency, Obai & Hill, with offices in her native Bahrain. She is currently the creative director of the agency, which offers branding, digital and social marketing, custom publishing, and other creative services. With a staff of young creatives and a portfolio of emerging clients, it seems Wafa is truly living her dream. Find out which Boticca pieces caught this young entrepreneur’s eye.

Link: http://boticca.com/guest-curators/wafa-alobaidat/

14 February 2012

Sketchbook Made it to Brownbook

The sketchbook story made it into Brownbook magazine, my fave magazine of all times. This is a huge milestone for me. What a way to start the year. Now I just have to make it into the Creative Review, Magculture, Design Taxi, Wallpaper, and Monocole Magazine. Hope you can all get a hold of the new issue!