Amazing but True: CAD Magazines Exist in Print

With all the anguish over CADalyst's near-demise, it's hard to keep in mind that numerous CAD magazines still exist in print form. There is CAD&RITNYTT from Sweden (I have Februari issue on my desk), and AutoCAD MAGAZIN from Germany (they continue sending me copies). I'm sure there are more; it's just that I'm not sure who they might be.

Here in Canada, Design Engineering continues in print and on-line form. I know about this one, because twice in the last year they've asked me to write for them. Considering that writing and editing a CAD magazine is all that I used to do (1985-1991), and then did none of it for the past decade, writing for a magazine feels almost odd.

(An article I wrote on Autodesk Fusion was posted today at www.canadianmanufacturing.com/designengineering/features/cadreport/article.jsp?content=20090320_153521_11516 and assistant editor André Voshart tells me it's also tagged on the cover of the print edition.)

Feels odd like... what? Belonging to a steam locomotive enthusiast's club? Good old days. What a real magazine used to be like. Digital magazines just not the same as real ones spanning a bookcase shelf. 

No, it feel odd like... embarrassment. Since 1996, I've been one of those leading the charge for digitized CAD information delivery. And here I am writing occasionally for a print magazine. 

Thus, congrats to the staff of Design Engineering and other publishers who keep going in this print-unfriendly environment. It's a tough slog.

Comments

[Patriiick]

There is also a french printed magazine called... http://cad-magazine.com/
How surprising! Heavily AutoCAD oriented a few years ago, it is now thicker and well, rather well done.

[Ken Elliott]

Radio didn't kill newspapers, and television didn't kill radio. I suspect we will continue to see a reduction in the number of magazines, but not complete elimination. Those that remain will be offering something the others didn't.

Railroad companies saw themselves as being in the railroad business, and were crushed by the aircraft and automobile business. Had they seen themselves as being in the transportation business, they might have stayed strong or grown.

PC magazine rode the tide of the personal computer revolution. But they saw themselves as a PC-focused magazine. As PCs became commonplace, the magazine made as much sense as home-appliance magazine.

The preceding examples all focused on the tool, rather than the profession/task/job. It makes perfect sense for CAD-related magazines to follow the same path. But "Design Engineering" magazine can follow the changes, because their title allows them to cover any issue related to the process.

Ralph, I believe your eZine can do just fine as a sharply focused, low-cost e-publication. But how might you evolve the e-zine, given the above?

[Al Dean]

Ralph

Let's straighten a few things up. Magazines aren't dead, not by a long shot. People engage with print, read it and keep it - generically speaking and with a few caveats. What's lacking in the trade publications within this field is focused content. The majority of content providers do two things wrong.

They're either too de-focussed (ala cadalyst, with its mix of mechanical and architectural) or focussed on the technology too heavily (this is applicable to many blogs as well as print media).

What's missed is that the core focus should be on the process (as Ken points out) - within this space and the one I'm most heavily involved in, is the development of products. Unless you contextualize the technology, then it's pointless. It's like reviewing a hammer, talking about how many have been sold but never hitting anything with it. It's a tool, but the job isn't about the tool, its about hammering.

Designers and engineers are that, designers and engineers - the days of the CAD operator are gone and the trade content providers need to realize that. If you want to talk tech, do it, but do it well, do it clearly, in an informed manner but always put its use into the context of the process it supports.

Print magazines in this field are not dying, they're atrophying, starved by disinterest. Disinterest by their readers and more importantly, their owners and in some cases, editorial department. There's no investment in the titles, in the creation and presentation of content and no revaluation of what's gone before - just pure reliance on a dwindling revenue stream. When was the last time you saw a trade magazine redesigned, reevaluated and repitched to its readership? And I don't just mean swapping fonts and from a three to a nine column grid.

On the upside, we've managed in 7 short months, to launch a print title in the UK, build up an extensive readership across the globe and switch back that tide of interest to enthusiasm. How's that been accomplished? Through research, planning, engagement with readers on many levels and through investment. Investment in design and presentation that actually engages the reader and makes them want to learn and digest more. Most importantly, through investment in content and authors from all manner of fields and backgrounds.

The delivery method doesn't really matter, be it print (which, as we've found, if done properly, is incredibly viral), be it online, be its with 140 characters with twitter...

Comparing print to web, comparing blogs to plain text ezines is redundant. Give people the information they want, across a spread of media. Let them choose how they receive it and optimize its delivery for that medium.

Content is king, always has been, always will be. With content, you build community and that's key.

If you want a look at the print version of DEVELOP3D, I'd be delighted to send it across. Or I can copy and paste it into an email if you'd prefer. Your call mate.

Anyway, my tuppence.. See you soon captain,

Al Dean
Editor + Co Founder
DEVELOP3D Magazine
www.develop3d.com