None
of this would have happened without the great work from our Los Angeles-based
art department. From my first meeting with Marco Aguilera, Design News'
lead art director, I knew we were in good hands as Marco immediately understood
what I was looking to achieve. My principal agenda items surrounding a Design
News redesign involved three issues:
1)
Advance the look and feel of Design News by providing greater
consistency to the presentation of content;
2)
Readily convey the fact that we are now covering each of our four principal
technology coverage areas (electronics, automation, materials and assembly, and
design software/hardware) in every issue; and
3)
Maintain the cutting-edge and fun feel that Design News has long been
recognized for providing.
I think Marco and his redesign team - including Hector Torres and Laura Pappada - delivered well on all accounts. My
hat's off
to them for providing a new platform which Design News can use to build
upon as we advance the property in print and online.
For
the Design News reader, this redesign - beyond its cleaner, more
easy-to-read presentation - should also be easier for you to navigate. My main
goal with issue number one listed above was to provide a consistent look and
feel to the editorial content. Beyond a more appealing look overall, this
redesign should make it easier for the reader to discern columns, departments
and features and be able to quickly access favorite sections of the
publication.
Outlook
Continues to Improve
As
2010 came to a close, signs of business improvement in the areas near and dear
to the future of design engineering all seemed to be poised for continued
upward growth.
Specifically
I refer to the latest (at the time I wrote this column in mid-December 2010)
Institute of Supply Management and Consumer Sentiment reports.
On
the consumer sentiment front, the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan's
December consumer sentiment index came in at 74.2, up from 71.6 in November.
Not only was this number higher than the 72.5 expected by Reuters, it was also
the best level for consumer sentiment since June 2010 and the third-highest
level since the start of  2008.
Meanwhile,
the Manufacturing ISM
Index has continued its undaunted growth throughout all the economic gloom and
doom for more than a year now. The November report marked the 16
th month in a row of expansion for the
manufacturing sector. According to the report, "The manufacturing sector grew
with both new orders and production continuing to expand. November's rate of
growth is the second fastest in the last six months."
Of the 10 manufacturing industries reporting growth in
November, several were industries in which a large number of
Design News
readers are involved. These
industries include: computer and electronic products; machinery; transportation
equipment; electrical equipment; and appliances
and components.
As
the New Year begins, it is my sincere hope that these economic signs continue
to bode well for the entire
Design News audience and provide us with
lots of exciting and interesting design news to share in 2011.
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