PRINT is alive: Pearlfisher’s new video animation celebrates the relaunch of the iconic PRINT Magazine

To celebrate PRINT’s 81 years of history, its undisputed influence on visual culture and the iconic title’s bold future, we collaborated on a video to support their digital relaunch. Working closely with PRINT’s newly formed team of co-owners comprised of the design industry’s leading veterans – including Debbie Millman, Steven Heller, Andrew Gibbs and Jessica Deseo, Deb Aldrich and Laura Des Enfants – Pearlfisher created the concept and minute-long animated video asset.

With special access to the PRINT magazine physical archive, which catalogues the design industry’s rich history, we felt a responsibility to pay tribute to the legacy of PRINT by featuring its iconic covers and reimagining them through animation. The video is also motivated by answers to the eternal question, “PRINT is…?” It’s impossible to fill in the blank with just one word. And so, the responses gathered from our global team combine with the visuals of the covers to create an eclectic, yet subjective journey into PRINT. “Being able to amplify the legacy of PRINT’s incredible content and to showcase it in a new way for readers – old and new – holds a lot of layered meaning,” said Justin Sottile, Senior Motion Designer at Pearlfisher New York. “PRINT is alive again. It moves, has a sound all its own and is open for people to interpret just what PRINT means to them and, of course, what it has the potential to be.” The energetic custom audio track, which alternates between the steady snare of jazz and electronic sounds, was also mixed in-house by Pearlfisher Head of Realization, Stephen Kwartler (available on streaming as Qu.One). Publications, like PRINT, are made invaluable not only for the stories and art they hold, but for the purpose and humanity we ascribe to them as readers and creatives,” says Debbie Millman, design leader and co-owner of PRINT Magazine. “We’re proud to continue inspiring and building design dialogue through PRINT and the video Pearlfisher created perfectly encapsulates this mission.” View the relaunch video and keep up with PRINT at printmag.com