UX response

Web magazines mainly fall short because of the intimate factor. The structure, images, layout, size, articles, ect. can all be imitated by the web; but the web never has been successful at creating the intimate feeling of reading a magazine. The web also utilizes many ads on the page, and distracts the read from their experience. To create a digital magazine successfully, the magazine must have the must be a balance between the expectations of the medium (interactivity, video, movement, ect.) and aspects of a magazine (print, layout, image, structure, ect.).

The current digital structure fall into many problems, but most have to do with the innovation of the design and utilizing the medium that they are in. When a user picks up an iPad they immediately touch the screen and navigate through each section. Yesterday, I was at the AT&T store upgrading my phone. I saw many people walking straight up to the iPad and interacting with it. From 7 year old to 40 year old people, the iPad has draw to all people of all ages to use it. If the medium is the message, then the iPad has has to be use in the way that is best implies its message. The interactive nature of the iPad is one of the draws to the technology. A digital magazine should take this into account. People want to have interactivity that make sense, that adds to the narrative structure to the magazine. It has to incorporate more to the magazine.

That is the hook that people will pay for. If it is well balanced and incorporates good narrative interactions then people will buy into it. The hard part is finding the balance. It has to 'feel' like a magazine, but should innovate and expand how people use the medium. People will pay for the experience of a digital magazine.

interactivity [video, movement, social, linked, custom, simple] + balance [print, layout, image, structure] = Digital Magazine