Print vs. Digital Publication For Designers

As an interior designer, getting your work published is often a career milestone. It’s a major win for gaining business exposure and client inquires, not to mention an incredible honor in and of itself. But as you set out to submit your latest projects, you’ll first have to decide on print vs. digital publication. How do you find the right fit? We’re going to break down the key advantages and drawbacks for both so you can determine the most beneficial avenue for your work.

Note: If you are interested in learning the ins and outs of publishing, we’ve written a course entirely dedicated to New Project Marketing Plans for Interior Designers with a step-by-step guide for submitting your work. It’s an in-depth look at the entire process for new and experienced designers alike.

 

Interior Design: Studio McGee | Photography: Lucy Call

 

 

PRINT PUBLISHING

 

Scoring a feature on the glossy pages of a magazine or a stunning coffee table book is the ultimate bucket list item. Is there anything better than the thrill of seeing your work in print? It’s that tangible quality of holding a published piece in your hands that really is a major plus to print publishing.  Here are some of the other benefits and a few things to consider before sending all your design work to print publishers.

 

The Pros

 

• Notability – Being featured in a magazine or book provides amazing credentials. Consider it a feather in your cap and a fab accomplishment to post on your website or portfolio. It can also offer notability which ultimately leads to more clients.
• High-End Readership – While digital media may get more eyes on your work, print often gives you exposure to a higher caliber readership.
• Better Control of Crediting – Since work is completely offline, you have more control over your work getting the proper credit. There’s no pinning or regramming without credit in this world.
• Great for Your ‘Best of the Best’ Projects – Print publishing is an awesome fit for your more aspirational or high-end design. Consider saving those projects that are your best of the best.

 

The Cons

 

• Slower Timeline – Know that with magazine or book publishing, the timeline is incredibly slow. It will likely be six months to over a year before your project sees the light of day. You’ll need practice some real patience with this option.
• Can’t Share Images –  Along with that slower timeline, you may also have to sit on your project images. Many print publications have strict exclusivity policies, so sharing online is a major no-no.
• Limited Submission Opportunities – In our increasingly digital world, it can be very challenging to find opportunities for print publication. For outlets that do accept submissions from interior designers, the competition is steep and it can take many no’s before you get a yes.

 

 

Interior Design: Sherrell Design Studio

 

 

DIGITAL PUBLISHING

 

On the other end of the spectrum is the fast paced world of digital publishing. Digital media is lighting quick and has the added ability to reach a huge audience. Heck, you can even go viral. This space is perfect for on-trend projects where it might be better to get your work up in lights quickly. Where a magazine is one and done, being published in the digital world can be shared again and again. That design work of yours isn’t going anywhere. This is great for evergreen content and is easily accessible. Below we share a few more pros and cons to having work published online.

 

The Pros

 

• Quicker Timeline – You don’t have to sit on a project reveal for months. Digital media works quick, quick, quick so you can push out new work almost in real-time. This makes it more agile for trends and of-the-moment design.
• Access to Readers and Potential Clients – The digital space offers the chance to be part of the discussion, answering questions, gathering feedback, and potentially gaining a larger following on social media.
• Tangible Analytics – You can better track analytics from a particular article with the ability to see traffic through direct links to your site.
• Wider Reach – Digital publishing offers a broader readership and ultimately more eyes on your work. That leads us to the next benefit…
• Greater Potential for Promotion – Online content easily turns into Pinterest and Instagram content, meaning there is potential for more promotion of your design. Share-able images are a huge traffic driver, and give you the chance to go viral.

 

The Cons

 

• Photography Sourcing – You need to supply your own professional photographs for each project, so sourcing a photographer and having the project shot is on you.
• Images Can Be Used Without Credit – Images can easily be “regrammed” or used on other sites, often without credit.

 

For further reading: Instagram Etiquette for Interior Designers

 

Interior Design: Katie Hodges Design | Photography: Haris Kenjar

 

Ultimately, both ends of the publishing spectrum can be super beneficial to your design business. Take stock of each project and decide the best fit. And be sure to mix it up so your business can benefit from both the wide reach of digital and the aspirational quality of print.

 

To learn more about leveling up your business, check out Studio Sessions; our online mastermind courses for interior designers.

 

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For more tips on elevating your brand and social media strategy, check out these posts:

• Branding Your Portfolio
• How to Start Selling Products as an Interior Designer
• How to Get Your Work Published
• Why Instagram is the Best Platform for Interior Designers
• Optimizing Your Interior Design Portfolio for Pinterest
• How to Make a Hashtag Happen
• Our No-Fail Instagram Editorial Calendar for Interior Designers

 

IDCO Studio is a full-service creative studio for interior designers and boutique lifestyle brands. Offering bespoke branding, web design and social media content creation, we help brands built around beautiful living elevate their digital presence to represent the physical spaces they design. Our recently launched limited-release website templates are the perfect way for interior designers to get a luxury website on a budget. These templates allow designers to maintain control of their content. Want to work together? Shoot us an inquiry here.