Paper or plastic?

What do you think is more useful for your work—paper (a.k.a. print materials) or plastic (a.k.a. interactive graphics on your computer)?

I am fascinated by the possibilities of interactive graphics. At the same time, I believe there is value in having something you can hold in your hands.

Here are a few things I like to consider when determining the best project format, but am also interested in hearing your thoughts on the subject.

If you answer “yes” to these questions, you may want to consider using print materials.

• Do we want to capture a snapshot in time?
• Do we want people to have something to physically take with them to remember our product, presentation, or organization?
• Will people want to print this information?
• Will we be creating a piece with a lot of text (reading on the computer can be tiring on the eyes)?

If you answer “yes” to these questions, you may want to consider using interactive or online graphics.

• Is our target audience computer savvy?
• Are most people accessing our information through our website or email?
• Do we have large quantities of information we want to represent on one visual?
• Do we want our audience to be able to actively engage or manipulate the information?
• Will we need to update the information frequently?