SELECT QUOTES FROM GDUSA SURVEY RESPONDENTS

 

Print and paper can make a human connection, and have a real emotional impact, that electronic communications cannot. When used strategically, print can make or break a campaign.

 

“WHEN USED STRATEGICALLY, PRINT CAN MAKE OR BREAK A CAMPAIGN”

 

Print design is still the most impactful way to convert potential into action. The element of touch and feel, the longevity of a physical asset creates a lasting connection with the consumer.

 

How you communicate is just as important as what you communicate. In an increasingly digital world, people crave things that are authentic, tactile, and special. Good designers and marketers can use this to make meaningful connections. Print, when done right, creates an advantage to effectively stand out in a noisy digital field.

 

Print design holds a distinctive place in today’s marketing communication and graphic design landscape. Amid the rapid rise of digital media, many companies seem to crave the tangible, lasting impression that a thoughtfully crafted printed piece can provide.

 

“PRINT AND PAPER HAVE WEIGHT BOTH PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY”

 

The use of print in my business has settled into the tried and true practical applications. People are still ordering business cards, brochures, and signage. There are also the event tickets which I order regularly, and the annual reports which clients still want printed. I designed my first book this year, too. I see the evidence after four decades of working as a print designer: people still want that physical item to hold in their hands. The weight and presence are both existential and figurative.

The rise of digital has made print more special because it’s less frequently used. Also, print has a staying power that digital has not mastered. I can refer back to print materials very easily and never find the same article online ever again.

 

I have worked as a graphic designer in higher education for decades and although there has been a decline in printed pieces with the rise of the digital age,demand for print has remained relatively steady.

 

“THE FUTURE OF PRINT DESIGN IS ABOUT TARGETED IMPACT”

 

I specialize in package design and packaging is an integral part of brand identity.

 

Print and paper have weight — physical and emotional —that digital can’t replicate. Holding a well executed piece creates a personal moment of reflection and presence.

 

The future of print design isn’t about mass production — it’s about targeted impact. Limited runs, specialty finishes, and integration with digital experiences will define its role.

 

Print design really works industries where people like holding something physical — like fashion, real estate, food, and hospitality. It’s great for making a strong impression and building trust because you can actually feel and keep the materials. It also helps to use premium papers when you want your design to really pop and feel special.

 

“IN A DIGITAL WORLD … PRINT IS MORE NICHE AND MORE POWERFUL”

 

Print is becoming more valuable as the flood of online is canceling it self out. I think the continuation of print is largely customer driven. My clients find that a percentage of their clients still prefer the tactile experience, especially with magazines.

 

Direct mail, brochures and business cards always seem to be popular with my clients.

 

I work in food and beverage packaging. As long as folks are consuming these products, the qualities of print will endure in my own work.

 

“THE MOST EXCITING PRINT RIGHT NOW IS PACKAGING”

 

Print engages the senses in a way digital can’t — sight, touch, even smell. That sensory connection fosters emotion and memory, at the heart of human communication.

 

The most exciting print right now is happening in packaging. That box is the brand’s handshake, and the design has to carry story, quality, and personality from first glance right through to the unboxing.

 

The classic strengthsof print and paper are increasing because a lot of people are trending towards having a connection with physical printed media. That’s what I am experiencing. Many people tend to ignore digital since they are bombarded by digital 24 hours a day. It is enough already.

 

“PRINT IS GREAT FOR MAKING A STRONG IMPRESSION AND BUILDING TRUST”

 

We are in a society of people who acquire stuff and stuff has meaning to them. To touch and to feel a printed piece gives meaning to the product or event you are branding.

 

In a digital world print stands out. It’s becoming more niche and more powerful — like vinyl records for the design world.

 

Print is evolving, not disappearing. The tactile experience of a beautifully designed magazine or package simply can’t be replicated on screen. Designers who understand both digitaland printare the ones shaping the future.

 

“WE VIEW PRINT AS A STRATEGIC GATEWAY TO DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT”

 

Digital media is everywhere; print media is rare. That rarity transforms print from just another message into a memorable encounter.

 

Print is no longer the center of the design universe, but it’s still an essential satellite. For branding, packaging, and editorial design, print retains a strong, specific value — just with a smaller footprint.

 

“IT IS NOT PRINT OR DIGITAL, IT IS PRINT WHEN IT MATTERS”

 

We view print as a strategic gateway to digital engagement — a chance to start meaningful interactions that continue online. Print gives digital initiatives a long tail.

 

The most exciting print right now is happening in packaging. That box is the brand’s handshake, and the design has to carry story, quality, and personality from first glance right through to the unboxing.

 

“PEOPLE STILL WANT THAT PHYSICAL ITEM TO HOLD IN THEIR HANDS”

 

Print design is 100% of my business but it doesn’t get physically printed. It delivers as accessible compliant PDFs, a distribute-then-print model.

 

The new generation of buyer and end clients do not see the value in print. Digital experiences are faster to market.

 

The most exciting print right now is happening in packaging. That box is the brand’s handshake, and the design has to carry story, quality, and personality from first glance right through to the unboxing.

 

“RARITY TRANSFORMS PRINT … INTO A MEMORABLE ENCOUNTER”

 

I have clients in the luxury market, and the luxury market is one place where print is crucial. Premium print speaks to craftsmanship and attention to detail — values that it is harder to convey with digital media only. Clients selling high-end products or services are more open to premium or textured or specialty papers and techniques like embossing, debossing, foil stamping, letterpress, etc.

 

For many of us, print is still a bread-and-butter skill. From packaging to brochures, there is still a steady client demand.

 

I still believe in brochures. A well-designed brochure doesn’t just inform; it persuades, engages, and leaves an impression.

 

“A BEAUTIFULLY PRINTED ANNUAL REPORT SENDS A MESSAGE”

 

I have been hired to do a number of events and conferences. They are all about experience so it’s a great chance to use multiple media from print (invites, direct mail, programs, maps, tickets) to kiosks to signage to video.

 

Although I recognize that print offers a unique and valuable experience for both designers and clients, I don’t see it playing a significant role in my current work. Digital media and emerging technologies continue to evolve rapidly, offering new and dynamic opportunities that better align with today’s needs.

 

Print and digital design each come with their own environmental costs: print requires physical resources such as paper and ink, while digital depends on energy andelectronic devices. The key to sustainability is making mindful choices in either medium.

 

“I AM EXPERIENCING AN UPTICK IN PACKAGE DESIGN WORK”

 

While digital dominates, print remains essential in my professional life — especially for branding, where tangible materials elevate perception. Print offers a sensory experience that builds emotional connection and leaves a lasting impression. In high-impact moments — like packaging, brand launches, or annual reports — print signals thoughtfulness and permanence in a way digital does not. I see print’s strengths enduring, especially as brands seek meaningful, slower experiences in a fast-moving world.

 

Print, like everything else, is changing. That is the challenge. I believe that designers who can integrate print into omni-channel campaigns will not just survive, but will be in more demand.

 

I am experiencing an uptick in package design work.Brands really need to get people’s attention at the shelf and get them to buy. That is so needed right now when messaging is cluttered and confusing.

 

“YOU PRINT TO REACH THE RIGHT ONES … IT’S ABOUT SIGNIFICANCE”

 

Let’s face the reality. Print design is now a legacy skill. Valuable in some sectors, yes, but most design energy and innovation is happening online.

 

I care deeply about the environment. Neither print or digital is inherently more sustainable. The sustainability of print relies on the use of recycled materials and eco-friendly processes, whereas digital’s environmental impact is tied to energy sources and electronic devices.

 

We advise our corporate clients to print their annual reports whenever possible. A beautifully printed annual report sends a message that an organization is serious, established, and transparent. It isharder to ignore, more likely to be kept, and more meaningful to stakeholders.

 

 

“NEITHER PRINT OR DIGITAL IS INHERENTLY MORE SUSTAINABLE”

 

As an older designer who specialized in print, my goals are to transition from a design services model to creating licensed products that combine my illustration, design and environmental education knowledge. This is to support conservation and environmental awareness as well as integrate with our new lifestyle from an urban environment to living and managing a functioning farm.

 

We’ve upgraded our community publication with a premium aqueous coating. It is the first thing our readers noticed and fell in love with. So much so, our advertising revenue has gone up because of it.

 

Print is more memorable than digital in many applications. If you can personalize it, even better.

 

“MY FAVORITE KIND OF DESIGNING IS FOR POSTERS”

 

I love exploring the tactile quality of printed surfaces and the emotive nature they bring to the experience of a piece of information, product, or brand. I would love to do much more of print projects. However, in my experience, designers are being called upon to do much, much less of it, which is sad because the qualities of print enable us to experience the world in ways that digital alone does not.

 

Print lets you target your audience. You don’t print to reach everyone — you print to reach the right ones. It’s not so much about scale or reach or distribution – it’s about significance.

 

“LET’S FACE THE REALITY: PRINT DESIGN IS A LEGACY SKILL”

 

Working in a non-profit, we are trying to appeal for support based on the valuable work we do. Sending something tangible is a meaningful way to show the direct relationship between the funds and support we receive to the way we can transform lives.

 

My favorite kind of designing is for posters. They are where you say the most with the least — big ideas, few words, bold type, bright colors. There is nothing like it.

 

Package design is one of my firm’s strengths. The ability to specify paper and form is fundamental to packaging that presents a product in its best light. This area will only grow as new products and updates are certain to continue.

 

“THE ABILITY TO SPECIFY PAPER AND FORM IS FUNDAMENTAL TO PACKAGING”

 

We don’t print as much, but when we do, we like to use sustainable sources. Some clients prefer to have a printed piece to review. We spend a good part of our day peering into computer screens, phones and tables. Reading print on paper gives one a break from the light of a screen and a touch of reality.

 

One time initiatives can be digital. We reserve printing for when we can exceed expectations and do something truly special.

 

Print may feel trustworthy because it’s harder to make. But it is not the medium that creates trust, it is the designer and the client.

 

Cultural organizations — museums, theaters, arts groups — still invest in print programs and posters and tickets. It’s all necessary and part of the experience.

 

“THE LUXURY MARKET IS ONE PLACE WHERE PRINT IS CRUCIAL”

 

I work with a winery, and their printed labels, tasting menus, and mailers are basically part of their personality. Their customers love the feel of it — it’s storytelling in print.

 

Large companies seem to be moving toward digital fast. But we finding that small and local businesses still count on printed materials. Menus, loyalty cards, window signs — local places love that stuff,

 

“SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESSES STILL COUNT ON PRINT MATERIALS”

 

Digital fatigue has opened the door to a surprise comeback: direct mail. Everyone’s overloaded online. So when a cool piece shows up in the mailbox, it feels fresh again. Sending a printed piece shows effort. It says, ‘we care about this.’ A PDF just doesn’t hit the same.

 

We still see strong demand for print in the non-profit profit world. A well-crafted donor report or capital campaign booklet can open wallets in a way no email ever will.”

 

The unboxing is the new retail moment, and print design is right at the center of it.

 

“NONPROFITS AND SCHOOLS ARE STILL SUPER INTO PRINT”

 

Nonprofits and schools are still super into print. They want pieces that feel personal and meaningful — like annual reports or event invites that people actually hang onto.Clients say their donation letters get read.

 

Wellness brands, from herbal supplements to meditation apps are really into print that feels soft and premium and gentle — like care guides or product booklets.

 

I’ve worked on a couple gallery posters and museum programs recently. They treat print like an extension of the art — super thoughtful, well-crafted stuff.

 

 

 

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